Debbie Wilson asks “Why?”
June 23, 2006
Debbie Wilson, author of Cool Tools for Purchasing, declares 2006 to be the "Year of the Blog". For those of you not familiar with her site, Debbie, amongst other things, publishes periodic commentary on procurement issues. Her opinions are poignant and I read her stuff as soon as it hits my in-box. Jason Busch calls Debbie the first blogger in the [spend management] sector.
In her latest piece, she asks "What are [procurement] bloggers getting out of this?" It's a valid question. Earlier this year Jason wrote a piece on why he blogs. Reading this was instrumental in my decision to start blogging although my reasons for blogging are not nearly as lofty. Jason says that he blogs because he saw "a void in the analysis of the spend management sector" and because he could "make a buck" - both noble sources of inspiration.
Unlike the noble Jason, I blog for myself. I suffer from the unfortunate affliction of regularly mulling over procurement issues regardless of whether clients are paying me to do so. Despite this constant procurement hum, it is not until I've written down my thoughts that I can concisely discuss them. Writing publicly forces me to write well or at least better. My readers are like personal trainers who encourage me to get out of bed on a Saturday morning and organise my thoughts from the previous week.
So, to you, my readers, Thanks! And to you, Debbie, I hope that answers your question.
Entry Filed under: Vendor Management. .
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1.
Michael Lamoureux | June 26, 2006 at 12:18 am
I was going to do a double post today on my own blog, Sourcing Innovation, but since Doug beat me to the punch with a great entry of his own, I’m going to post a nice big comment instead.
In her blog entry, Debbie has surmised that most individually published blogs will end up going the way of most newly independent business consultants. This has left me “intrigued, disgusted, and amazed”, since if I were to use my own first thought of “muddledandbefuddled”, I’m sure the Seussians would hunt me down and put me in a box with a fox and a knox wearing smelly soxs.
I strongly disagree. The current popularity of blogging goes beyond the initial popularity of personal web pages, which surged first when universities allowed their students to have personal pages and then when the first online communities (like geocities) allowed anyone to have a free webpage, and then waned when the average person lost interest, but to independent publications, independent radio broadcasts, and free performances and lectures.
After all, why does a performer (like a musician) put on a free show? Why do individuals voluntarily write articles for independent (free) publications? Why do academic lecturers and professors teach - especially when they can often be making much bigger $$$’s in industry? Because they like it. Because they want to. and/or Because they think someone might benefit from it.
Now, since blogging is the current fad, I have to fess up and admit that Debbie is probably right in that a lot of the new blogs will probably not last, including those started by individuals not interested in using the blog for networking and career advancement, because, as she points out there are some downsides - in particular, you have to keep updating it with new content, and this can get draining - real fast!
For example, my personal goal is one post per day. Plus I’m slated for at least three posts a week over at e-Sourcing Forum for the summer. Plus Jason Busch of SpendMatters has invited me to comment on some of the topics he posts on (although my comments will be relegated to the comment section until I can match prosaics and wits with the finely honed writing skills of the economists, classicists, and historians - a tall feat for a mere techie), which I am also inclined to do as I’m trying to keep my blog purely focused on forward looking innovation, best practices, problem solving, and technical issues - and leave the topics that Jason does best to SpendMatters. All in all, this is essentially two posts a day for the next three months, on top of a full consulting workload - and this isn’t easy, but isn’t that true of many things that are worth it?
I’m an independent consultant, as I have been for much of the past 12 years, but I did not take this on with a prime motive of networking or profit (although I will admit that if the blog and/or the companion site get popular, I will sell advertising to cover the hosting fees and the cost of having a professional designer give it a touch up). I did it because, even though there were a lot of really (really) good blogs out there (I have a growing list at Sourcing Innovation Blog List), none I was aware of really focused on innovation, problem solving, or best practices from the viewpoint of a former technical guru, as most of the sites are maintained by marketers, business gurus, or consultants.
Now, I may not be a “guru”, but I do have a wealth of education (PhD) and experience in certain technologies and processes and I have been designing and implementing sophisticated e-commerce systems for over ten years and (advanced) sourcing systems for over six years. Thus, until a better alternative presents itself, I feel I can offer something to a part of the sourcing community and intend to do so until such time as I feel otherwise - be that tomorrow, next month, next year, or the day I myself end up in the recycle bin. But regardless of when my blog disappears, it will not be because I found my next contract (I had a long-term contract in place months before I formally started Sourcing Innovation), got too busy, or just got tired of writing it.
But I’ve always had my own unique, strong, viewpoints. Thus, I’m hoping that more bloggers will chime in and share their thoughts.
2.
hudgeon | June 26, 2006 at 9:08 pm
Hi Michael. Thanks for the comment. I’ve been reading your stuff with interest for the past week or so. I hope you’re able to maintain your planned pace.
3.
Michael Lamoureux | June 29, 2006 at 11:33 am
Looks like Debbie Wilson is making a move … and joining Gartner …
http://www.purchasingautomation.com/articles/blog.shtml
4.
Debbie Wilson | June 30, 2006 at 1:17 am
I loved your response, Doug, quite refreshing and honest—I can truly relate to that idea of mulling over things and wanting an outlet! And Michael, I haven’t seen your blog, but it is an interesting fact that a growing percentage of personal webpages on what I believe is the largest site, myspace.com, are being made private. Even teens are realizing the downside of broadcasting every private thought!
Best wishes to you both,
Debbie
5.
hudgeon | June 30, 2006 at 6:26 am
Thanks Debbie. Good luck in your new role!
6.
PurchaseRealm&hellip | July 18, 2006 at 4:28 pm
The Day The Blog Died…
No doubt the rumors of the blog’s (as a concept) death have been greatly exaggerated one too many times. It’s safe to say that there are millions of blogs, maybe even tens of millions. Citing any particular statistic is just……
7.
Matthew W. Grant | August 10, 2006 at 3:50 am
Doug,
The fact that you write as you say because your are, “regularly mulling over procurement issues regardless of whether clients are paying me to do so” is what makes your blog so good and thoughtful. I think that is the hallmark of anyone who has a passion for a particular career - he or she is passionate about it reagrdless of monetary considerations (though they do make it even better, don’t they?).
Matthew
8.
hudgeon | August 10, 2006 at 10:05 pm
Hi Matthew,
Thanks for the kind words. I’m not sure where passion ends and compulsion begins …