Earlier this year I had an idea: why not ask personal development bloggers for advice on personal development blogging, compile them into an ebook and give it out for free?
I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a swell idea to me 
Unfortunately, that idea never materialized as I became caught up in life and work.
A few of the personal development bloggers I’d started to email had already replied me though, and I’d always felt sorry to have their work languish in my email.
So this is what I thought I’d do: share the idea online, and if anyone else is keen to do it they can pick up the idea and run with it.
If you’re reading this and are keen on doing this ebook, here’s what I have for you. These are the replies that some personal development bloggers have already shared with me, please be so kind to include them in the ebook.
And to all those who submitted their contributions to me: I’m sorry I let this slip. It was my fault. If someone decides to go through with this ebook I hope it makes a difference to the personal development blogging community.
Lessons Shared by Personal Development Bloggers
David Seah
“I use my own life story as a vehicle for expressing my ideas as they become clear to me. I write from this perspective because I love hearing about how other people have solved their problems. I appreciate the spirit of camaraderie and friendship that accompanies their storytelling and advice. This in turn has inspired me to be generous with my best ideas, my personal insights, and the weird tools I’ve designed. I’m passing it forward. I try to maintain this spirit of generosity on my blog, and a certain percentage of like-minded people respond. And ultimately, they are the ones I am writing for: the positive-minded, conscientious, creative, and kind-hearted people that make this world so awesome. We can all use a little boost from time to time, and if I can help provide that, I think I am doing my job as a blogger.”
Chris Marshall from Martial Development
“Don’t publish anything on your blog that you wouldn’t write on a job application; because, someday, your blog might be your job application.”
Halina from Inner Travel Journal
“The Internet is already full of personal development blogs. Who needs another one? Do you? Well I hope you do! I hope you blog because it brings you new insights, it helps you grow, it fills you with excitement and joy. If it does, it will also resonate with others and motivate them to participate in discussions and to spread the word about your work. Happy Blogging!”
Maria Palma from The Good Life
“Share your life experiences with your blog readers. People like stories that they can relate to.”
Liz Strauss from Successful Blog
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to have a beginner’s mind about everything. Beginners are truly curious about the human condition, positive about every new bit of information, and always willing to listen.”
David Zinger from Die Happy Today
“My best advice is not mine but from the Buddha who said: we must be a lamp unto ourselves. Don’t cultivate a Zen Habit, don’t bop like a Boing Boing, don’t copy Copyblogger. In fact, don’t try to be anything other than who you are. Be yourself as much as you can possible be, and then be it a little more, and the power of your authentic voice will enliven your writing and make your content more compelling.”
lexander Kjerulf from Positive Sharing
“Find the fun. Blogging requires openness, generosity, creativity and zest. If blogging is a chore for you, you will never do it well. When, where and how is blogging so much fun for you, that you just can’t help but do it? I blog in a neighborhood café in the early mornings. And you?”
Alex Shalman
“Being a personal development blogger is a huge responsibility. By declaring that you are blogging about personal development, and following through in your articles, you are indirectly implying that you are in it for the people. The possibility that I have created for myself and my life is the possibility of being someone who operates with the greatest good of all in mind. It is important to figure out what your own possibility is, than be, do, and have. The rest will fall into place.”
Ashley Cecil
“My advice to your readers is ask themselves what is it that they have to offer the world via the blogoshere that no one does? Readers can only absorb so much pop-culture gossip and personal interpretations of existing news. Be a unique voice and be consistent about your frequency of posting. If you want professional results from your blog, take it seriously, be innovative, respond to useful feedback and watch your analytics. Oh, and screen your comments.”
Alvin Soon from Life Coaches Blog
“Help one person with your blog. Keep your focus on that, and the rest will follow.”
Adam Kayce from Monk at Work
“Above all, don’t forget why you got into this business in the first place; take care of your self and your own mindset, and the rest will joyously follow.”
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Your blog probably isn’t worth reading if your Mom will not even read it.
November 27th, 2008 at 7:07 am
I really agree with most of the lessons learned shown above. Blogging takes time and effort and you need to make sure its soomething that will be able to relate to the reader as well as keep them hooked. Great Job, keep up the good work.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Hi Alvin,
Thanks for sharing my thoughts here! We certainly do need more personal development blogs right about now. It’s a great way to share your journey as well as inspire others.
Great job on this post! There’s still time to write the ebook
January 19th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Is there anyone who doesnt have a productivity blog?
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:08 am
I enjoy reading personal development blogs. This is a good post. Thank you. I am interested in picking up on your project. I have the energy, time, and blogger savvy to do so.
+Baker
January 27th, 2009 at 3:56 am
I love the idea of sharing blogs on line. My blog is specifically for personal writings from others. It is kinda like a public journal. Don;t write anything on there that you don’t want others to see. I agree with Liz and what she writes on her blog. I too enjoy reading personal development blogs. I wouldn’t mind picking up your project either like BAler. I have the energy, time and passion to do it. Although I am a beginner blogger I am not a beginner at personal devleopment.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Hi everyone,
You don’t have to ask my permission
If you want to continue this project, please feel free to go ahead and do it.
March 10th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
The beauty of personal development blogging is that it allows ordinary people to see that the struggles they have with relationships, anxieties, career desires and a host of other areas are common to many others too.
March 15th, 2009 at 12:17 am
It’s a project well worth pursuing and with a positive mind can be successful and rewarding. It’s a great idea to give out free advice for personal development.
April 18th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
This is a good ideas to discuss about certain thing with blog. You mentioned about sharing ideas which is what bloggers should pay attention to and this is good so there will be online newspaper which we don’t have to spend money on buying it anymore just go online.
May 7th, 2009 at 3:56 am
Its been really great reading all your comments on personal development. I really believe in the importance of personal development. And do believe that it is under rated to a degree. So I will be keeping in touch to keep an eye on updated comments. And I will check out the AR forum too. So Great. Thanks for all the useful info.
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Its all about business
July 7th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Being an owner of a personal development blog takes great responsibility. You can encounter a plethora of people with different attitude and behavior. So, I do suggests that before a blogger to start his/her personal development blog, he/she must know the very basic of Psychology.
July 9th, 2009 at 3:16 am
Great idea, do it!
August 26th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
This is/was a great idea; It’s a shame I am only beginning to put my work into blog form now. I’d love to be involved next time.
August 27th, 2009 at 5:17 am
Great feature here, i am soon moving into the extension of blogging and persona development is such an area of importance in todays modern world. Thanks for sharing with us all
September 9th, 2009 at 3:09 am
Good points to know. Thank you
October 4th, 2009 at 3:20 am
This goes along with a quote that we have all heard which is that if you do what you love you will never work a day in your life. And, people will be able to tell if you love it or not. They really will.
November 10th, 2009 at 2:32 am
New too blogging and checking out sites. I am also doing a professional journal besides my web site (WordPress)
November 14th, 2009 at 3:47 am
Great stuff. Personal development should be in the “Kaizen” category – continuous. Writing helps that, I’ve found.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:55 am
Blogging is a great way to reach out to folks too. Informative and educational blogs go a long way to help people you will most likely never meet.
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:22 pm
Very good post! Thank you!