Cartoon by Hugh

I've been working with business coach, Alicia Arenas, for the last two months in order to help better define my business focus and my brand. I've been feeling for the past few months that I've been operating a mile wide and an inch deep, and I think it's important to really focus on what you're truly passionate about in order to achieve all-encompassing success.

During one of our early sessions she asked me to list everything I was doing at the time.

It was a really long list.

Which was basically the problem.

It included blogging, writing a column for Examiner, contributing to several other blogs/sites on a regular basis, speaking, training, consulting, writing [at east] two books, and more.

Alicia then asked me to name the one thing, out of all of those things, that I loved doing the most.

My answer couldn't have surprised me more.

My blog.

I love to write on my blog.

On the days I can't write I am frustrated.

We talked about why this is.

First and foremost, I love to write.

So, why my blog, and not my Examiner column, or books?

I think it's because I feel that I have the most freedom of expression on my blog.

I can talk about anything I want.

I can say how I really feel about things.

I can curse.

I can give people names that describe how I truly feel about them, like Evil Boss Lady, for instance.

And, I think my blog helps me better connect with my friends, colleagues, and prospective clients.

It gives me a platform to state my perspective on issues, to respond to things others have written when I have more to say than is appropriate for their comments section.

And, do you want to know what my dream job really is? Hanging out with the love of my life in our PJs all day and earning enough support our rock star life by blogging.

So there you have it.

I've been on Twitter for more than three years now, and while I thought that allowed me to connect and express myself - and it does to a degree - I really had absolutely no idea as to what I was missing out on until I started this blog.

It's allowed me to connect with people on a whole new level.

And I've learned a lot through the blogging process.

Probably the most critical thing I've learned is that it's important to be brave.

It's important to let others in. To let them get to know you.

What you think, and what you really feel.

It's ok to admit your mistakes. Your imperfections.

In fact, I've learned that people respect that. They can connect with you when they see that you are a real person and that you, too, screw up sometimes.

I mean - if you think about it - that's one of the most human elements of building relationships and deeper connections with others.

Aren't you relieved when you talk to someone and they admit a mistake or something they wish they'd done/could do differently to you? It makes them seem human, and I don't know about you, but I often find myself thinking, "Well, if _______ did that, and I know how much I like and respect this person, then I must be ok too."

Today my good friend and He Said, She Said co-host Todd Schnick wrote about how "playing to an empty house" will sabotage your business and your attempt to build community. "The simple, profound act of caring for your community, serving your community, helping your community - you will grow an audience. See, what most folks do is try to force it - and they actually work against themselves.

If you become known as someone who serves first and sells second - you will be playing to a FULL HOUSE - and a crowd that wants to be there!"

I believe that one of the very best gifts you can give your community is the opportunity to get to know the real you.

I've written a lot about blogging here, and one of the things I say a lot is that you should be brave.

Your readers - your community - will appreciate it, and they'll respect you for it.

I'm not saying that it's always easy.

IT'S NOT.

In fact, as I sit here getting ready to hit "publish" - I'm a little nauseous.

If I can do it, you can do it.

And once you start I think you'll find that you've got support, and that you're not alone.