Posts tagged blogging

I think it’s time for some changes. I’m starting with this blog.

Since I started michaelnus.com last June due to a cancer scare, I’ve watched it grow alarmingly quickly. Before then I was always a writer and blogger but anything written in my personal hand was just for me and me alone (with the exceptions of songs I would perform publicly on stage). When it came to blogging I was fairly prolific but only on behalf of my clients. I would write strong posts for them and push them out to the web while optimizing their sites for maximum traffic. I was so busy I guess the thought of writing my own blog never occurred to me.

It wasn’t until I met Mark Evans and Casie Stewart that I considered making personal blogging a habit to sharpen my skills in social media, marketing, SEO, PR, and coding even further. The notion was that anything I made that was my own I would naturally treat with care so why not make my own blog. That was two Februaries ago and even then I still didn’t pull the trigger as I was trying to restart my life in this wonderful city we call Toronto while putting lots of energy into SafeKidZone’s online presence in the US.

Then one day in early June I found a lump under my skin on the right side of my chest and had it checked out at the doctor who informed me, as calmly as he could, that I need to get checked for a possible tumor he saw on the ultrasound. That’s when I woke up and decided that I was going to chronicle the things that I’ve done in a blog for all to read. The point was not (and still is not) to brag about whatever party or event I attended but to show anyone who cared to read it that they could do it too and should live their lives as best they can. Sort of a lead by example thing but with many opportunities to join me or go in my place at many of these events (some of you will recall being sent by me to all kinds of cool events at the TIFF and so on).

Eventually I changed the direction of the blog to teach more heavily about the Holy Trinity of Happiness, sprinkled with some tips on how to be a gentleman in the modern age. Still, michaelnus.com is really about you.

In my relatively short time back in Canada a lot has happened. I’ve made lots of friends, lost a few, been praised, embattled, respected and underestimated. Every day I am thankful for all the good that has come my way and curious of the negative. I guess it just comes with the territory of being involved in any social or professional group, especially when some members of that group get competitive. Some folks are good at thinking things through before making a judgement while some take hearsay at face value leaving the victim with an uphill battle to clear their name, which always eats up valuable time. Since the cancer scare I was reminded about how fragile life is and have gone out of my way to make time for everyone and be as good a friend as I could be. The problem with that is the more people you get to know (and I now know a lot) the more you have to divide your time between them to show face and generally tend to the relationship. The winter months don’t seem to help either as people don’t get out as much and pass on many events that are put together because of the bother of having to brave the elements. What happens is that you may not see a friend for long periods during which time they pretty much forget who you are, leaving them subject to distorted speculations about what you’re doing, what you’ve said or not said, and where you’ve been hanging out. In short friends become strangers. Preemptively, I would like to apologize for any transgressions I may have committed and leave the table open for anyone to address anything at all with me personally to get the facts. My ear is open.

Summer is just about here and people are already starting to perk up. The sun and warmth seems to make people generally happier, more easy going, more open minded, patient, and noticeably less dramatic. People are, well, sunnier and change starts to happen whether its spring cleaning, rekindling of failed friendships, new clothes, new jobs, or what have you.

In the same spirit, I’ve decided it’s time to give the blog a major overhaul in layout, design and even content. Blog posts will still come out, but perhaps with less frequency until the final site is up. One thing that will always be a constant, however, is that this blog is about you and since that’s the case I would like to put it to you. What would you like to see more of? What do you like to read about? Where can my expertise in SEO or Digital Strategy be of service to you (perhaps in a question/answer forum or page)? Would you like to see more ticket or product giveaways or less? I ask you because I value each and everyone of my readers and am always listening so I want your input.

Humbly yours,

Michael Nus