10 years of blogging

10 years to the day that I published my first blog post on this blog site.  How I and this blog material have evolved is very significant.  232 blog posts (including this one), with overall viewership at 136,225 (at time of writing) across the site.  Though the stats don't motivate the content on my blog but good to know.  Thank you to the readers that keep returning and following my journey.

Me - "Originally following a 'call' in mid-2013 to trust the process of expressing not impressing."

A surprise hobby it turned out to be, which brought me so much clarity, opportunities and personal and professional impact.  This blog site evolved into an online space to reflect and discuss my work and life.  To the left is what I defined as it's purpose.  Further details on my rationale, writing approach and other open journaling benefits of my blog are in the blog post 'Why openness is good' and 'How to create an authentic blog'.  But here's an extract that captures a bit of this; "My blog is largely for personal expression so I can look back on my journey - journaling mainly about me, for me, with some intended for other audiences blog post.  As well as "...writing/typing to think, rather than think to write/type."  My writing style is usually anecdotal, descriptive and reflects my accessible, pragmatic and simplified nature.  It is part of my reflective process; digesting, consolidating and forming new directions and focus points.  The process of writing blog posts allows me to gather my thoughts, freshest thinking, think things through and make sense of the mess that is my note taking.  Which is a reflection of my mind - lots of thoughts and ideas that need to be joined up.  In most writings the process is more important than the outcome of the blog posts.  And I rarely revisit my blog posts, unless the need calls.  I keep things as real and authentic as possible - recording and journaling thoughts, feelings and outputs in the moment which adds further richness, rather than jut relying on-post reflection.  If I have experienced something and has made me think, I just write on what happened etc."

Some blog posts can be academic, which some are, especially in the Career development category.  But I am more confident when creating and expressing through my own unique reflective, pragmatic and accessible way.  I've talked about some very deep and extremely personal things in here, Personal development category, that contain lots of heartfelt learning and wisdom, and not always from positive experiences.  As in sync with my personality, I am open and honest person.  When I write here, I am often at peace and self-alignment - something that generative Artificial Intelligence cannot replace.  Often with a sense of joy when producing something of purpose work-related or leisure, usually digital, whether that be creative writing, a presentation, document or video.  In fact that is a way of engaging me through a purposeful output that can be used.  The cathartic reflective writing process allows me to be with myself.  With hope that it may help or inspire others as a result of my learning.  Some blog posts are external facing, but as I say this is predominantly for my own expression to look on my personal and emotional growth and impact and self-confidence.  Because oh boy do we need it in these modern workplaces!  Not many will praise you, so you have to acknowledge and praise yourself.

Me - "I really have found a way that works for me.  And I do feel a sense of personal success with how I use my blog.  Perhaps a reason is that I don't treat it as a service for others..."

Not many in my professional and perhaps personal networks know that I have this blog. Even though it is in the public domain, I don't particularly make the effort to share the content publicly.  For a number of reasons, namely fear of attention and the anxiety of people's responses.  Even though I have never and won't enabled comments on any of my blog posts.  I used to share my blog posts on my social media platforms but not as much as I used to, I think this d**kish experience and not wanting to 'join the noise' made me less motivated.  As I state on my blog "I write about me, for me, and my own authentic expression, articulation and development." I have pondered over this for a while, on whether I should or shouldn't but again as I state on my blog " However, people that have an interest in others' personal journeys and the learning technology specialism, may find the content helpful." Therefore, I probably should start to share some blog posts, in no particular order and frequency, as and when I feel comfortable to do so.  I feel my reflective material is worthy of being widely known, but that may come with unwanted criticism which is what I don't want.  If I do start to share my blog posts more widely, and whilst I welcome positive and debate-type responses, I will unapologetically call people out for actual trolling (provoking negativity), and will maintain my space and energy.  But generally I'm not looking for attention on them, but I do share links to blog posts as and when relevant in in-person and online conversations.

Using a medium like this also allowed me to make my personal and professional journey more visible.  The ability to view the journey I have taken from back then to now.  Outside looking in it could be viewed that I had what I have now at the start.  But that couldn't be further from the truth.  Hard work, facing the ugly, uncomfortable conflicts, pushing myself outside my comfort zone, asking, fighting, resisting, all led to this.  My working class attitude in me lives on.

I've definitely learnt a lot more about who I am, and developing my professionalism, through journaling and reflecting on my life and work experiences.  Below I summarise the top pieces of learning acquired through my 10 years of blogging, in no particular order.

1. The often I write the better the quality and clarity of my focus, articulation, thinking and memory.  Including improving my vocabulary.
2. I can articulate myself better non-verbally than I can verbally - hence being a better writer!
3. I am a slow learner.
4. I like to talk about what I am doing/have done/have learned/what should and shouldn't have happened - useful for if I forget and helps when providing anecdotal evidence.
5. I am a master of democratising my learning and expertise; through sharing my learning and outputs/outcomes.
6. Develops my skills and provides a base for my reflective practice and scholarship.
7. Ongoing writing and reflection provides evidence for future professional accreditations and qualifications.
8. I can repurpose my writing and thought power into other outputs.
9. My writing is becoming more mature as I grow older.
10. I am slow at processing complex verbal information, therefore I note take a lot which often ends up in blog posts here.
11. Open reflector and sharing honestly about my vulnerabilities, anxieties and negative experiences - with a positive outlook.
12. I naturally use workplace opportunities, for example questionnaires/interviews, meetings (group and one-to-ones) and panel interviews, as learning opportunities to develop knowledge and observe language and practice.  As well as expressing and disseminating my own expertise, as a vehicle to develop my own knowledge and identify gaps. 
13. I am a proud and open introvert, that in certain situations (and whom with) adapts to being extrovert.
14. I visibly realise my strengths, weaknesses and successes and embrace each of them.
15. I am more intelligent, influential and powerful than I perceived I am.
16. I am inspirational and influential to others.
17. Inspiration for writing is always on constant supply - there is always something to write about, hence at least one blog post a month.

What working class means to me

For my pre-37th birthday celebrations me, Gary and two friends, Martin and Stu went to Revolución de Cuba for an alcoholic afternoon tea.  We some how ended up on the topic and conversation of what working class means (to much passionate debate!) - related to what Stu may be covering as part of his research for his PhD.  As this topic resonates deeply with me; strongly present in my upbringing and life, which is reflected in this blog site and specifically in blog posts such as 'Growth - from roots to shoots' and 'You can't take the Tarn...'.  I wanted to capture my fresh overall response as it came out, in a sketchy 'thought note', to maybe explore further at a later date.

For a bit of context, I was born and raised in Barnsley, South Yorkshire - an ex-mining town, and I am currently living in one now.  Despite the negative criticism Barnsley and similar places may receive, I am extremely proud and protective of where I came from and the accent I have, and endeavour to maintain this part of me.

Without any research on the definitions of working class, which I haven't upon writing this to avoid any influence.  I want to anecdotally capture some responses of what I think working class means, to me personally - purely based on my experience and feelings of it.

I think working class means the true graft and labour, getting your hands dirty being on the frontline - at the coalface and fighting through poverty, in towns and communities that don't have the same funding opportunities as others and are often run down.  Proper working class material.  Not hiding behind the scenes and shying away from such work and effort required to reach the shared outcome.  But there is a clear cut difference from academic, non-academic and working class.  I find many academics and non-academics, often from rich backgrounds, claim they are working class.  I also get the sense, especially through media, that it is becoming a buzz/marketing word for some people.  Well yes we all 'do' things, but that to me gives no right to say they are working class.  It is often used as a pseudo context.

Me - "Many have been given it on a plate and don't value the educational opportunities available and subsequent accomplishments.  I had to ask, fight and push myself hard to be where I am now."

Working class often had to work physically hard and longer hours to make ends meet (survive!).  Yes I am thinking of older roles such as working in shops, factories, mines, nursing/caring etc.  But this comes from my true industrial upbringing; my father, grandads and other family members worked in mines, and on my mother's side healthcare, administration\and factories.  Which leads me to think that working class is also biological, in the sense that it is hereditary, passed down through genetics.  Laced in my DNA and engrained in my own personality and character, whether I want to use it or not, it is there.  Therefore it can be a mindset (attitude/relationship/value) and serve as a motivation, like the ol' mucking in whenever, wherever and whoever with type of thing to achieve the desired/shared outcome - doing a genuinely good job and completing satisfactorily/high standards.  Or if there is a job to be done, let's show willing and get up, show and up and get on with it.  From this attitude, I have a strong instinct to provide security and financial stability.  Both when I was single and living alone to being married.  I also possess a strong proving element (the northerners are stupid generalisation) around my own education, and upskilling, which is what this blog site is founded on; the self-directed education and career I have forged from my poor educational start, which was accelerated from doing an apprenticeship.  Another top working class trait includes being frugal with money!  Conversely, Gary has a similar upbringing and has that legacy in his family.  However, whilst he understands the principle above, he doesn't share the same connection and motivation for what working class is.  So this could mean that yes he has working class in his blood, but doesn't choose to engage with the mindset and use it for motivational purposes.  Which makes me realise that being working class is why I am passionate about my education (lifelong learning) and career and continually wanting to better myself.  It has been the fuel and backbone to my work/professional efforts all this time, and how I have now arrived at this point of all my achievements and successes.  I could be labelled as a work-a-acholic, which most likely derives from my earlier goal of wanting to make something of myself.  However, as I have been reflecting on recently; I am wrestling with the thought of setting boundaries and learning to say no work-related things.  To avoid burnout and give space for other personal interests and developments to flourish.  Which gives me a sense of relief that I can just be, and have any nagging goals and chasing capitalistic tendencies.  I need to remember that I am rich with my life and experience - it's not always about financial and ego status.

To conclude, working class to me in three words is hereditary, mindset and motivation.  And that working class is a deeply complex topic and means different things to people.  Depending on they were brought up and how well they resonate and apply the term.

EDIT:  Later in August 2023, I reflected on a session that was part of the Trent Institute for Learning and Teaching (TILT) Annual Learning and Teaching Conference (ALTC), which occurred earlier in the Summer.  I didn't attend this particular session, but obtained the presentation later on.  One of the slides included the text "Motivation is a product of good teaching.  Not a prerequisite."  On the topic of this blog post, this stuck out to me quite strongly, as in my experience this wasn't the case at all.  I didn't have a good teacher that taught me motivation.  My motivation is in-built as I explain above.  Yes sure feedback and praise on my strengths will have helped, but by no means did I have a stand out teacher that really nurtured me.  Which reminds me of what I said back in 2020:

Me - "I've not had an inspirational teacher (within a course/programme) - not that there isn't any, I've just not had that fortunate experience like so many have really."

On Friday 25th August.  As I said to my current intern in one of our Friday catch ups, on the topic of career development.  Because of my own career journey, I'll always be passionate and encouraging of others developing their careers.

EDIT:  In September 2023, related to this topic, in my blog post 'Achieving SFHEA and SCMALT', said; "I decided to just press on with it, and in my own pragmatic style, and that is authentic to my working class attitude.  Intentionally avoiding overusing academic language as it's easy to fall in the trap of just shaping a conversation how you want with little conviction of the actual 'doing the work'."