why blogging for profit is like collecting underpants.
April 24, 2008
*Ahem* now that I have your attention with that subject line 
I’d better explain… and it sort of involves coffee, which I love.
It all started with an episode of South Park*. A local coffee shop is being threatened by a large conglomerate called Harbucks. But this isn’t the point of my post.
As a sub-plot, the son of the coffee shop owners, Tweek, tells his friends that Underpants Gnomes are stealing his underpants.
It turns out that the Underpants Gnomes are businessmen, and they try to explain it to the children.
The Underpants Gnomes have a three-phase business plan, consisting of:
- Collect underpants
- ?
- Profit
None of the gnomes actually know what the second phase is, and all of them assume that someone else within the organization does.**
So what does this have to do with blogging for profit?
Many people want to know what is involved with Phase 2, but that really depends on the desired outcome of Phase 3 – your desired profit.
(Many people will help you with Phase 2, for free, and that’s great. Many people will also sell you information on Phase 2, but that’s another story. And as far as I know, Phase 1 doesn’t involve collecting underpants. Unless your blog is about collecting underpants, that is.)
When I first started thinking about blogging, quite some time ago, it was before I knew that what I really wanted to do was write, and write for others as much as myself. I had seen the people like dooce, ProBlogger, and Steve Pavlina, making serious money, and I thought, “I want to do that, can’t be too hard, I’m smart.”
Fast forward…
Reading lots of blogs…
Meeting some really great people…
Lots of research…
Realizing that, you know, making money from blogging isn’t my goal after all, it is to write…
Nice custom theme… (thanks guys)
Wow, this is hard work, but lots of fun…
Blogging and having fun…
If you want Phase 3 to be monetary profit, Phase 2 is probably really hard, and you probably have to be in the right place at the right time to make serious money strictly from blogging and advertising.
But that’s okay.
Something magical has started happening here at 6 weeks, and I really noticed it when I did something crazy – I started branching out with my writing, and I’m starting to really figure out the “?” in my plan. As more and more people are finding this place, the comment strings are getting longer. And the people are starting to interact with each other. People are meeting new friends here, just as I met some of you at Men with Pens and IttyBiz.
It is taking on a life of it’s own. Phase 3, the profit, is not a monetary one for me, at least not right now. It is more than that. And more than I imagined.
When something you write encourages thought, encourages communication, encourages new friendships, that is something truly special.
Do what you love, and the money will follow.
And I love what I’m doing. I’ll figure out the money part later. There are lots of ways to do Phase 2, but right now I like doing this. Thanks everyone, I can’t do this without you.
PS – keep your eyes on your underpants.
–
Inspiration for this post came from an early morning Twitter (with James & RJ – yet more proof that Twitter is useful), and my wife Cathryn, as she thought I should add a little humour – we’ll see if she laughs at this… now I need some coffee.
*Not everyone likes South Park, as it is sometimes over the top. So my apologies if you don’t like this show – that’s okay, it isn’t for everyone. Hopefully you still like my story…
**From the Wikipedia entry, including picture.
They sounded rather dangerous, those Gnomes… vicious little creatures, really…
James Chartrand – Men with Pens’s last blog post..When You Don’t Want to Be Big Business
That’s why “going commando” is the only safe option, if Underpants Gnomes live in your part of the world…
Hmmm,
Once again, you and I travel the same road..
I did my Naomi homework in my journal this morning, just now in fact with my coffee, after the Pen Man article.
See, I don’t waaaaant to make money doing a “how to” blog so when I started my homework, it kinda sounded like whining, which is allowed in my journal cause that’s where I can be gut-wrenching honest with myself.
I want to write inspirational books, sell them, become a motivational speaker and a Life/Business Coach for small busnesses. I have a LIFETIME of experience with all of that and could really help other small businesses get started and keep on track. But I don’t think a blog is the money-making platform for that…is it? Maybe just as a way to build relationships and as Naomi said, let people know what I REALLY do. So here we are back to community.
I am still learning and watching. Right now the making money part isn’t that crucial. It would be nice, but I have food with my meals, I just want to do what I want to do at this point in my life and know that I am helping others and making a difference.
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..Blowing out Candles
Wendi,
Yes, it is a wonderful coincidence, isn’t it. I’m looking forward to the journey with you.
We are so alike in that regard, wanting to write books and to inspire people. Yes, we could use a blog to do that, but the question we have to ask ourselves is, “do we want to do that?”
So for me, for now, this is a great way to meet people, interact with them, and make a small difference, because the small differences grow to be big ones.
Keep on doing what you are doing. You do it well.
Time to go to work,
Work all day,
We need underpants hey!
We won’t stop until we have underpants!
Yum tum yummy tum tay!
Those gnomes never did figure out how to make a profit, did they?
Friar’s last blog post..Super-achieving for a Cup of Coffee…
Friar,
No, that is true, they never did make a profit. Well, at least from collecting underpants. Perhaps they are making money from syndication? And they got more than their 15 minutes of fame
You know, that sounds like it could be *our* company song…
I’m happy to hear about your growth.
I’m trying to figure how to get more visitors to our blog (isn’t everyone?). I feel like we’re writing good, unique stuff that’ll make people smile & laugh and depending on their temperament, maybe get them to think.
And I’m putting in the legwork, too. Finding new blogs. Commenting. Guest posting. Trying to establish relationships.
I’d like to think that in this World Wide Web, that good thoughtful content with some work will eventually rise up. But I’m not seeing it.
Of course, it could be that our content is actually confusing, narcissistic tripe and we’re just fooling ourselves. Nothing like some good self-doubt to keep me grounded.
cool dad’s last blog post..My ears are burning. In a good way.
I was wondering how underpants were going to figure in. I’d forgotten all about that episode.
Good stuff Brett! I love that you LOVE what you’re doing here. That’s what keeps me coming back, because it comes through loud and clear in your writing. Bravo!
Nicole’s last blog post..All Things to All People
Thank you, cool dad.
It is really a small thing in the grand scheme, but it is a sign that I’m doing something right. And that is good
You *are* writing good, unique stuff. Good, thoughtful content will rise up. It just takes time. I know I have a long way to go, but I’m having fun. And if this blog remains only a place where I can meet my friends and have my say, that is perfect. I’m working on some other very important projects in the background that will take me where I want to go.
Keep doing what you are doing – I think it is great, and you’ll get there.
-Brett
Nicole,
I always loved that episode so much more than many of the others (Mr. Hankey is up there too…)
Thanks for your words of encouragement, it means a lot to me and lets me know I’m on the right track.
PS – I keep going back to your blog to look at Gilly… she makes me smile
Oh my God, that was awesome. I may have to steal this analogy. If I forget to give you credit, please come and kick me in the head. Or send your children to play a particularly violent game of “road”.
@ Wendi — Ebooks.
Naomi Dunford’s last blog post..Let’s Play a Game — What’s Your Small Business?
Thanks, Brett. Guess I needed a little outside encouragement. I ask our readers what they like and what could be better, but they like it all the way it is. I guess that’s why they’re our readers!
I read Skellie and Darren Rowse on occasion, but it seems like they’re talking more to business-type blogs. I do look for applications to a more personal, trying-to-be-entertaining blog like ours.
I’d love our growth to be more of a grassroots thing, but maybe it takes a more business-like approach to stand out and grow. Anyway, thanks again!
cool dad’s last blog post..My ears are burning. In a good way.
By the way, Brett, what are you doing answering your Blog comments right now?
Umm…shouldn’t you be working? : – )
“The expectation is that you put in your 7.5 hours a day, and stay focussed on your work without being distracted”.
Friar’s last blog post..Super-achieving for a Cup of Coffee…
Brett,
Yeah, you had my attention. Good grief, I’m easy. I have my eyes on my undies, now what was the next step?
Do what you love…. that advice just never gets old. Write for the love of it. Have patience. Don’t expect most of the money to be as a direct result of the blog. All very wise. Be a friend, and your friends will follow you anywhere. You are the best example anywhere of that. Get better locks, so gnomes don’t invade. *Nodding head.*
*Adding to note to self: write about Zorbs and underpants.*
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Chapter the Next, Wherein the Author Gets Fan Mail
I can’t resist a post that mentions underpants. I doubt many people can. I may do this myself tomorrow. Mostly because you asked.
This is awesome. I never intended to make money blogging, but then I never really thought I’d get a reader base, either. The last blog I kept was a journal of sorts about my time in Italy, and it never got anywhere. Mostly because I was unaware that bloggers need participate to get noticed, and none of my friends were commenters at the time, but there you are.
Now then. How does one make a profit from another business? Like, say, writing?
Tei’s last blog post..Good Ink. It’s What I Do.
Great undie analogy Brett.
I feel the same way about my blog. Basically I started out just showcasing my writing and pictures, and I really don’t know where it will lead. I’m glad to know many people feel the same way. Like Wendi and Tei.
And then Naomi pops up and mentions ebooks. Do these things really sell? Does anyone have any experience with them?
And cool dad, I just want to visit everyone’s blog and encourage them to go on. I think I will make it a point to visit and comment on 5 new blogs a day. I will give everyone some good comment love. And where can I find you! Brett’s place! Naomi’s place! Men with Pens place!
I enjoy encouraging people. And I enjoy the community.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..The Sea of SEO
I thought I left a comment earlier but maybe I forget to press “Submit”.
Anyway: I’m fortunate enough to earn about 25% of my income directly from advertising revenue. However, that’s very unusual: most bloggers make very little – I think Darren Rowse has done several surveys on this and it’s usually the case that the vast majority see only coffee money, if that.
There are reasons for it: I have a tech blog, naturally the ads tend to be techy, naturally techy ads tend to be worth more than what might run on a general “these are my thoughts today” site. I have a longish post on this that also talks about ways to improve your ad income: http://aplawrence.com/foo-web/blogger-advertising-strategy.html
And no, I don’t like South Park
But I do like your blog.
Tony Lawrence’s last blog post..More on PTR Records by Anthony Lawrence
Ellen,
Caroline Middlebrook talks a lot about her ebook. She gave hers away for free, but makes money from affiliate links in it. She is a relentless Internet networker, and just putting a few of her ideas to use will broaden your reach. Call me out if it doesn’t.
Reading her blog from when she started (about a month plus before I did) through to today would take some time, but you will become so wise about what works, what doesn’t, and the slow-and-steady grind that’s required, it is well, well worth it. She is totally honest and gives real numbers all along her journey. Love love love her.
Commenting regularly at places you love, where everybody knows your name, is really important. Reaching out regularly to blogs you haven’t been at before can have a nice effect. Good idea. Lately I’ve been having fun with something I didn’t think about when I began in this geography-free universe: purposefully seeking local bloggers, meaning authors within 15–20 miles of me, and commenting on their blogs. People like to know that they are not alone.
Try Caroline’s blog. If she were my own sister I couldn’t recommend her more highly, for people who wonder whether there is money to be made directly from their blog.
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Chapter the Next, Wherein the Author Gets Fan Mail
Whoa, go out for lunch and a couple of meetings and *boom* – this is awesome, exactly what I was saying in my post!
@Naomi: thank you – feel free to steal the analogy, and I certainly wouldn’t kick you in the head – I might send my kids to your house though, and their secret weapon isn’t “full contact road”, it’s just eating… a plague of locusts has nothing on my kids…
@cool dad: you are welcome. We all need that from time to time, and all of you here do that for me. I’m certainly not an expert at this game but my two cents would say to keep on doing what you’re doing, and learn as you go. It is amazing how quickly things can pick up. One of the things I like about your blog is that it balances out the “business blogs” when I just want to read something nice.
But keep going, eventually you’ll get there.
@Friar: if they wanted me to focus without distraction, they’d give me a private office and stop sending me emails telling me not to slip on the ice
we’ll talk about that one tonight again I’m sure…
@Kelly: heh heh, I always used to say that too, I’m easy but I’m not cheap… you had to be there.
If you’re enjoying yourself, it shows and that’s what separates the great blogs from the rest. (Thank you for saying what you said, by the way.) Either get better locks, or don’t wear underpants!
(and no, I’m not telling you which of the two I do – that’s for my confessional blog…)
Everything you said in your response to Ellen is so true. Come out and be a part of this great community, give from within, from your heart and soul, and people will call you a friend. There isn’t much a friend won’t do for you.
@Tei: I’ll be looking forward to that post, underpants bloggers unite!
It is interesting how this works, it needs a certain activation energy I guess and then it starts to move, like a chemical reaction. You can see it at your blog, too. You have what it takes, and before you know it you’ll be driving a *new* car and you can retire your ‘classic’.
@Ellen: we (you, Wendi, Tei, myself, probably some others) are all moving along the same road, sort of – we’ll stop at different restaurants, eat different food, and because of driving style we’ll get the various towns at different times, but we are going the right way, I think. Days like this are proof of it.
If we are having a good time, if it doesn’t seem like work, then we are ahead of the game. And doing this is the best part of the free time I have.
Kelly is right – you can make money with ebooks. I don’t think it is really easy to do it, there’s probably a lot of work involved (I may try it myself in the not too distant future), but hey – try it. If it doesn’t work, try again. Keep on trying.
We all have something special to give back to the world. Perhaps it can be bundled up and traded for a reasonable fee.
(beer donations accepted)
Wow!
Thank you so much to all of you so far today. This is exactly what I meant when I said something magical is happening here.
And it is because of all of you, because of my friends.
-Brett
Brett
I wouldn’t be apologizing for making a reference to South Park.
If people don’t like the show, well, I would just refer them to Eric Cartman:
“Screw you guys! …I”m goin’ HEWM.”
PS. Get back to work, eh? You are not meeting your “expectations”.
Friar’s last blog post..Lookit what I can do….
Friar,
Well it’s true that the subtitle of my blog is “fail early, fail often”… everyone here is pretty honest and if someone didn’t like the show they’d tell me
My definition of expectations differs from that of “the old guard”, as you know…
@All:
Seriously, I was just re-reading everything today, you are such a rockin’ bunch of friends. I am happy that I took that first step, reached out and commented on a blog. I can’t remember whether it was Men with Pens or IttyBiz, but I guess it doesn’t matter. That I did it is all that matters.
So go for it everyone. Take that first step. Try something new. Even if it’s collecting underpants. You can figure out Phase 2 and profit somehow
Hi Tony,
I didn’t forget about you, I guess Akismet likes South Park and you do not
hey it isn’t for everyone hence the disclaimer…
(See Friar, people here are honest, and that’s what I like about Tony, he tells it like it is.)
Thanks for the link to your post, I will have a look at it as I find that your writing is very informative. I’m sure I’ll learn a few things. I’d also say, perhaps you consider yourself fortunate to make that much from your advertising, but I’m pretty sure that you worked damned hard to get there, so don’t discount that as one of the reasons. It is more than just luck. I’m amazed at how far back your archives go…
Thank you for your compliment about my blog, and as always, your honesty.
PS – I’m still laughing at your post about Q10… I love the back and forth between the hardcore *nix guys and some of the other people.
I dunno about working damn hard.. I just work a lot
But yeah, it’s not “luck”. It’s volume : http://aplawrence.com/Web/blogging_success.html
Averaging just a tad less than two posts a day for more than ten years puts a lot of words and phrases into Google’s massive yet simple minded brain.. and that translates into a lot of traffic and a lot of traffic means a lot of ads served and a lot of ads served means a lot of clicks..
and somehow those clicks have something to do with my underwear.
But enough of that. It’s my poker night. High stakes: 10 cent ante and a four raise limit (20 cents if a pair is showing). I must go gird my loins in preparation for the battles.
Does underwear count as “girding”? Maybe it depends on the style?
Tony Lawrence’s last blog post..More on PTR Records by Anthony Lawrence
Brett,
Tony goes back to 1997 (he left a link to a good post over at MCE today that mentioned his longevity) which is so cool! There were what, 3 people writing blogs then?
Yeah, I’m no South Park fan at all, but the points you made from it were excellent. Plus nothing pulls readers like a good underwear headline.
The first blog I ever posted on must have been Keith Ferrazzi’s. I so love the way his brain works. Put relationships first… just like a certain man with very odd shoes.
Later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Chapter the Next, Wherein the Author Gets Fan Mail
“There were what, 3 people writing blogs then?
Well, we didn’t call them blogs, but yeah, not very many folks posting regularly. Just a few of us.
Some that were pretty pretty popular then are long gone. Others are still here.
As far as I know, most of them wore underpants, though I confess that I have posted when not wearing anything at all.. a small bennie of working at home after the children have grown up and gone..
Tony Lawrence’s last blog post..More on PTR Records by Anthony Lawrence
I love South Park. ’nuff said.
Harrison McLeod’s last blog post..When You Don’t Want to Be Big Business
I like South Park. Especially the Canadien one, where a bunch of mimes are running around saying “Bonjour!” “Bonjour!” I can’t do it justice. Watch it.
@Kelly – Thanks for all of the info, great stuff. And reaching out to local bloggers is a really good idea also.
@Tony Lawrence – Do you think camera Adsense stuff would do well at a photography blog? I don’t want anything garrish or ugly. The writing always comes first for me, but it would be nice to get paid for all the work I do on it!
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..The Butterfly Effect
@Kelly,
I know! He mentioned it one time before as well, and I had to go check it out. He certainly is a pioneer with this stuff (kudos to you, Tony!)
I find that it is like all art (uh oh, I called South Park “art”) and probably most people. There is something good in everything. For instance, I don’t listen to (say) Emimem’s music, but some of what he says is very good, inspirational (even if the language is a bit colourful).
Or kind of like how Darth Vader turned good at the end of Return of the Jedi. I think you can always take something good from anything.
I’ll have to take a look at Keith’s blog tonight. I agree, put relationships first – I think everyone around here does that, which is why we have a good thing here
(admires his odd shoes)
@Harry,
Did you ever see that web site where you could draw your own South Park character? If you haven’t let me know and I’ll find it for you…
I admit though, to watching Battlestar Galactica more than anything else these days
I love the space battles
Ellen,
I’m pretty sure I’ve seen that one, and the one with Terrance and Phillip, and Ugly Bob (poor Celine Dion…), or is that the same one? Anyway, it’s true, we Canadians have heads that aren’t attached at the jaw
Now, the question, what to post about next…
Snow Zorbing Underpants Gnomes!
Ellen,
PS – I *love* *love* *love* your post on The Butterfly Effect. That is so awesome. I am glad that you wrote that.
Tony,
I don’t suppose that you have a post about how to get Akismet to let Tony’s comments through to my blog
I really do want you to have your say here!
You certainly do write a lot (I remember your word count from my Q10 post, *impressive*) and it is good stuff. Have fun at poker night, tonight is my “bitch ‘n stitch” with Friar and our accomplice, The Fallen One (he doesn’t have a blog yet, but if he ever does, we’ll all die laughing, such is the depth of his wit)
And if I told you I was wearing pants when I wrote this blog post, well, I’d be a red-faced liar
@Brett: Here’s an exclusive just for you (and Kelly): Click Here
That’s all I’m going to say on the subject of a picture.
Harrison McLeod’s last blog post..When You Don’t Want to Be Big Business
You say “gnomes”, I think “house elves”… Creecher stealing all the underpants or something and then someelf like Dobby scolding him…
Mark Dykeman’s last blog post..8 Things About StumbleUpon That Annoy Me
Good one Harry.
Is that the Canadien? Or is that you? Draw a motocycle next!
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..The Butterfly Effect
@ Brett – I told you I would write it, true to my word. Glad you liked it.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..The Butterfly Effect
@Ellen: That would be me.
Harrison McLeod’s last blog post..Participate in RSS Awareness Day
Harry,
That is *exactly* what I am expecting. All this fawning, and then the discovery.
Gosh, I love a good click here.
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Chapter the Next, Wherein the Author Gets Fan Mail
@Harry – aha, now we know what you look like! You need to Photoshop that onto a picture of Lucifer
@Mark – oh, that’s funny, I forgot about that!
@Ellen – I’m happy that you wanted to do it, your version is great. Perfect, actually. And you know, it makes me feel good to have shared that with you, as you now share it with us. Like the butterfly effect, someone else will read your post, and build on it.
Very cool
(I think I have smiley-itis today)
That’s my 15 minutes of fame, to be the blog upon which Kelly *finally* gets to see a picture of Harry.
My work on earth is done.
Well, except for raising 4 kids and putting them through school. And taking over the world, with my co-conspirator Friar.
@Kelly: I clicked. Apparently I can’t resist either, you temptress, you.
@Brett: I would have made one of James, but they didn’t have those funky Canadian heads as an option.
Harrison McLeod’s last blog post..Participate in RSS Awareness Day
@Harry,
I clicked on Kelly’s click here too… guilty as charged
The Canadian heads would have been great. I’ll dig mine up and post it, my SP alter-ego dark side dude with a sawed-off shotgun and a chainsaw (but really, I’m a nice guy…)
Brett,
What I really want to know is whether the forearm of the one and the entire arm of the other are stock photogs. They’re not bad, as body parts go…
Harry,
It is you who are the sneaky, yet brazen Sagittarian flirt, & everybody knows it.
(I have a little collection of those type of pix, BTW. They crack me up.)
Later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Chapter the Next, Wherein the Author Gets Fan Mail
@Kelly: a direct quote from James: “Oh for god’s sake…you didn’t. You sent THAT?”
He says that’s something he would do. Not me. Good to know I can still surprise him after all these years.
Harrison McLeod’s last blog post..Participate in RSS Awareness Day
Harry,
Hehehe.
I am expecting an email from him at any moment, saying “And you clicked? Two fools!”
Is it better than thinking you look like that boy James linked to? Hmm. Mysterious Man With Pen has something to hide…
Kelly’s last blog post..Chapter the Next, Wherein the Author Gets Fan Mail
@Kelly,
Did you check the metadata of the pics?
I cannot believe you people are having this discussion.
James Chartrand – Men with Pens’s last blog post..Participate in RSS Awareness Day
James,
It is starting to resemble some of the comment strings at your blog
I’m cracking… digital whack-a-mole… must comment at Men with Pens… must comment at 6 weeks… Twitter… ack… clone not hatched yet!
(pchttt!)
Ah… beer…
All right Brett, I confess, you’ve outgeeked me. Other than reading the source code, I don’t know how to dig any deeper. I know how to find metadata on my photos, on my computer, but can you really get into stuff that’s been posted or are you pulling my leg?
Speaking of source code, check your description and keywords.
Later,
Kelly
P.S. James: You love it.
Kelly’s last blog post..Chapter the Next, Wherein the Author Gets Fan Mail
I come here for the barefoot running pictures.
Seriously Brett you have accomplished what many bloggers dream of – creating a thriving community of rocking people who show up and participate. All that and great writing too.
Karen Swim’s last blog post..Finding the Strength to Lace Em Up Everyday
@Kelly,
Beer gone now
I’m sort of pulling your leg a bit on that one… but then again, if you save a photo from a web page, and open it up in Nero… I see you have or had a Canon PowerShot A630, you used Adobe Photoshop CS2 on a Mac…
LOL I agree, I still have quite a bit of cleanup here and I forgot about that! Thanks for the heads-up, my friend.
@Karen,
Well then, I won’t disappoint! I’ll put some more pictures up soon
thank you, I’m very happy with how it has gone so far, and I’ll do my best to continue. But you know, if for whatever reason it turned out to be a flash in the pan, it won’t matter – I’m going to keep on writing… that’s the fun part.
Life is an adventure my friend. Even the flashes in the pan keeps it interesting and helps us to keep challenging ourselves to grown, learn and explore. I’m just happy to have a seat at the party.
Karen Swim’s last blog post..Finding the Strength to Lace Em Up Everyday
Karen, that is so right. I don’t think it will be, to be honest. Or perhaps it will be many flashes – really, what is a flash in the pan? You hit upon something great, something then changes, and you don’t adapt.
That’s not how it is supposed to work. Fall down seven times, get up eight times.
I’m happy to be sitting next to you at the party
@Brett
Make sure you DO keep on writing. Look what you have going on here…
I called you the Pied Piper today somewhere else.. I think it fits. You write, they follow.
Oh, and thank you for the very kind comment. I appreciate it.
Until the morning…I need to save some for the muse.
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..Having Faith
Wendi,
Worry not, my friend – you are right, and I’ll modify what you said to look what *we* have going on here
as all of you are part of this and I cannot do it without you, such is the beauty of it.
Thank you! I really like that actually, and I consider that a great compliment. I’ll have to use that as a screen name or a blog name someday
You are very welcome – I can see it in your writing, you have a passion for it. Have a good night, my friend.
Brett,
Dang! I’m not that much of a stalker. I do go in for source code if I see something cool being done on a blog, but that’s it.
You got me perfectly, so I know Nero works, but ack! It appears Nero is not available for said Mac.
Ah well, not sure where stalking would really get me, anyway.
Later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Chapter the Next, Wherein the Author Gets Fan Mail
Kelly,
LOL you could probably use any photo viewer to do the same thing, and I’ll be delving back into that world soon anyway (I’m finally ordering a MacBook Pro this weekend, *yes*)
That’s great, I clicked on your link and “WHOA.” I love it!
Brett,
I was looking for one with a bike in it, for Harry (found some)… or a suit, for the ladies (found plenty)… but the sites some people put up really are stalkerish so I settled on OMG.
LOTS of barefoot pix, though. Really! I think you have something in common. Hehehe.
I demanded that Adobe Bridge tell me something about the forearm, before admitting geek-defeat here, but it gave me a raspberry. If James hasn’t gone too hotshot to view stats, he’ll know I tried ‘cuz there’s a thousand clicks on the About page tonight.
(To insert emoticon, or not to insert emoticon, that is the question.)
Until later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Chapter the Next, Wherein the Author Gets Fan Mail
Brett,
So like you, I had on my mind to wander over to your site for a while now, today I took the plunge, just in time to find my undies!!!!!
CHEERS.
I have you RSSSSSSSsd see you often!
Great looking site.
Harmony
Harmony’s last blog post..The Moment And Money
[...] Legree, who blogs at 6 Weeks explains why blogging for profit is like collecting underpants. Brett talks about love of craft but he never does ask (or answer) the question that’s on [...]
@Kelly,
I know what you mean about stalkerish, it scares me sometimes… okay, will do – perhaps a few more pics of my funny shoes this year
once I get out on the muddy trails you can get some good shots.
James will appreciate your love, no doubt. (emoticon free, although one slipped in above)
@Harmony,
I’m happy that you stopped in today, nice to see you – and I’ll be returning to visit you tonight (last night was sort of my “night off”). Thank you for the compliment, and may I return it to you also – I like your site, it makes me feel at ease…
@Kelly – I see you have it in for Keanu now. Have you given up on Leonardo? I think Leonardo is the more intelligent of the two. Plus, he wrote you a letter.
@Brett – I tried to link to the Butterfly post of yours directly, but your site wouldn’t let me. Is there a reason for this?
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..The Butterfly Effect
Ellen,
That is strange – there is no reason that I can think of, at least nothing that I have done intentionally – I’ll have to see why this didn’t work for you… thanks for letting me know.
I re-read your post again today. Still beautiful.
Ellen,
Leo has it bad for me; he wrote me the letter, after all. He’s too short and not my type anyway.
Keanu? Exactly my type.
You know how six degrees of separation works?… without being odd (can this be said with a straight face without being odd?), you never know when someone I know might know someone….
Actually I know one five-degrees path already, but every person along the line would refuse to make the intro. Need a better path.
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Chapter the Next, Wherein the Author Gets Fan Mail
@Kelly – I always thought that Harry was your type. Quite a few degrees of separation there!
@Brett – The post will probably be up until Sun so everyone can bask in the Butterfly F’s. For people who don’t know what I’m talking about – Father and Friar
Then I promised Harry and James I would write something about RSS feeds. Which I’m collecting today.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..The Butterfly Effect
Does anyone know how to get all comment from blogs in one feed? Does that widget do that for you Brett? The spring widget?
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..The Butterfly Effect
Where is Friar today, by the way? Did he fall under his desk due to too much merrymaking last night?
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..The Butterfly Effect
Ellen,
Harry and James are virtual men (from here). I have real hormones. This is a problem.
Besides, that desire to take *somebody aforementioned* to a hockey game and see how the conversation goes, goes further back than knowing my beloved Pen Men. Besides that besides, how to choose? Forearm-and-guitar or whole-arm-and-part-torso? Maybe the tattoo says Winona Forever, which is right out?? & besides both of those, Harry doesn’t love me. Well, not after this, anyway.
Sorry, dudes, ’cause I know you’re reading this…. eeeeek.
Brett, when this is bugging you, hit us over the head, okay? Naomi just *thinks* she knows OT. I will leave many serious comments over time as penance…
Later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Chapter the Next, Wherein the Author Gets Fan Mail
@Kelly: Rest assured that none of my tattoos have a name in them. That’s the number one rule of tattoos – never EVER get anyone’s name (or portrait) etched into your skin. Unless it’s your kid or your parents – those are the only exceptions.
Harrison McLeod’s last blog post..Second Round Victory? Are the Men Going Down?
@ Harry and Kelly
My basic rule for tattoos is that they should have a story connected to them that you would be psyched to tell your grandkids. Think about it. Would you be psyched to tell your grandkids, “Well, once, grandma got very drunk, and she had this boyfriend she was desperate to keep, so she tattooed his name on her bum, and he left her anyway. Good night, sleep tight.”
Ditto for ‘Once grandma just wanted a tattoo because all the cool kids were doing it, so she got a heart. For love.’
Nuh-uh. Tattoos must have cool stories. That is all.
Tei’s last blog post..Finding Your Client’s Voice. Hint: It is Not In the Fridge.
@ Kelly – I only check my daily hits, not my per page
But stats are integral to my survival. Growing like a weed, they are…
No tattoos on me. None. Nada. I’m all clean, ma!
James Chartrand – Men with Pens’s last blog post..Second Round Victory? Are the Men Going Down?
Swoosh! Two points for James.
Kelly’s last blog post..Chapter the Next, Wherein the Author Gets Fan Mail
My goodness – I have a busy day and come back to all THIS?
I’m confused. Now I have to slowly, slowly read through every comment made after I left and figure out what the heck y’all are talking about!
Tony Lawrence’s last blog post..But I need windows! by Anthony Lawrence
I read this last night and got so inspired by underwear talk I wrote my own post about undies!
Today I realized I’d forgotten to leave a comment in my inspired haste so I came back to thank you for lighting a fire under my muse and I find this raging party! Wowsers!
Remember that scene in Risky Business where Tom Cruise is sliding around singing “Old Time Rock and Roll” in his briefs? Right now, that’s about how I imagine you Brett
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..Briefs are Not Just Underwear
@ Kelly – Ha! forearms and cycles and guitars. I hear you. You get some real lovin’ little honey. Women don’t do pictures anyway.
Swoosh! What’s up with that? Is James Darth Vador?
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..The Butterfly Effect
@All – apologies for taking so long to get back here, meetings and dinner and bedtime oh my!
@Ellen – yes, the little spring widget, or rather the link right to the left should allow you to subscribe to all comments – I did it myself, actually, and it works well (thanks Harry!)
I think Friar was stuck in meetings like me – the merrymaking was good, we raised our steins in your honour
@Kelly – please *do* continue to write whatever you feel inspired to write here, I want this place to be as much about freedom of expression as anything else – and I’m LMAO at how this is unfolding – no need for penance, save it for the confessional blog…
@Tei & Harry & James & anyone else who cares – I only have one tattoo (for now) – a chaos symbol. If I get more, they will probably be chaos symbols also.
@Tony – glad to see you back, yep, sometimes it is hard to explain what transpires (and I’m going to have to have a word with Akismet, why the heck doesn’t it like you? Sheesh, you’re a great guy.)
@Melissa – well, your post is *awesome* and I’m glad you went and worked on it first.
Remember that scene? I still have the sunglasses
Ellen,
Swoosh is the ball through the net. Basketball. Two points (for being tattoo-free). Coulda been swish, I suppose, but I suspect that wouldn’t have helped.
Brett,
This *is* pretty far gone. TGIF…
Later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Chapter the Next, Wherein the Author Gets Fan Mail
Hehe my cousin has a tattoo of the Chinese symbol for chaos on her back. She told my aunt (her mom) that it said peace. Unfortunately my uncle’s wife (who is Chinese) saw it and asked why her back said chaos, in front of her mom! Appropriately, chaos ensued.
No tattoos for me… although I used to want one in high school…
You mean I have to have a PLAN to make profit? Awwww damn…
I thought this was enough:
1. Code a program
2. Release it to the masses
3. Bring in the riches
!!!
(I’m kidding, really!)
Allison’s last blog post..Taste and Create 7
@Kelly, yes it has gone into left field, but I don’t mind…
it will keep Tony busy
@Allison, your plan is good, but it doesn’t involve collecting underpants, so you should add that in – it’s more fun, trust me
Ahem.
1. Code a program.
2. Release it to the masses.
3. Threaten to steal underpants if they don’t use it.
4. Hold underpants for ransom.
5. Bring in the ransom… er… riches.
Allison’s last blog post..Taste and Create 7
Allison,
6. Rinse (a lot).
7. Repeat.
Kelly’s last blog post..Chapter the Next, Wherein the Author Gets Fan Mail
Allison,
There you have it. Bulletproof business plan.
I love it
Brett,
If there were an emoticon for “raises eyebrows six times in a row like Groucho Marx,” I would use it. Daily. I’d probably like emoticons a lot better, too!
Later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Chapter the Next, Wherein the Author Gets Fan Mail
Kelly,
You and me both. We need to invent that, and patent it.
^^
. .
^
o
(my feeble attempt to make an emoticon of raised eyebrows)
Ha! It takes three minutes to put together, but boy is it cute!
Too tired. It took me three minutes to type that sentence because I kept missing the intended keys. Had to finish my post for tomorrow, now I’m to bed.
Until later, friend.
^^
. .
^
o
Kelly’s last blog post..Chapter the Next, Wherein the Author Gets Fan Mail
LOL it is a byproduct of my day job, I’m used to overcomplicating things, glad you liked it though.
I can’t wait to see your next post – talk with you soon, my friend.
^^
. .
^
o
Dang! Who the heck are all you cool people? I need to come over here more often, and earlier, so I can follow the convo as it’s going. Trying to catch up a day and 4,384 comments a later is really hard
@Wendi
Just read your comment about what you’re working on, and I’m so so hoping the case study helps. In addition to Ali, also look at Valerie Young (Changing Course) and Laura Bryant (Trust Yourself to Transform). Similar model, worth exploring to see how they differ.
@Brett
Will try to get here earlier next time!
Crazy party, man
Crystal’s last blog post..Making a Million With 1000 True Fans: Big-Ticket VIP Access for a Few
I should patent that.
Allison’s last blog post..Taste and Create 7
Crystal,
Yeah, I’m not sure what happened here, but it is good. Thanks for being a part of it – you’re not late, my beer fridge is big and there’s lots left
Allison,
Go for it, call it “sushibrows”, you know, you have a bite and it’s soooooo good that your eyebrows go up and down!
Hehe… I meant the underwear-stealing business plan!
Allison’s last blog post..Taste and Create 7
Kelly and Brett, here you go! Click here please!
And Brett… 90 comments?? Man! This blog is… dare I say it… the rockinist!
Allison’s last blog post..Taste and Create 7
[...] Legree always has something interesting to say. And today he explains Why Blogging For Profit Is Like Collecting Underpants. And Ian Denny is telling us to Deliberately Displease People For Better [...]
Allison,
Oh, yes, I am a sucker.
I desperately want to see a picture of that recreated in sushi moderne. It’s already in my head. LOL!
Later,
Kelly
P.S. Ellen, Brett, and other sadly interested parties: Click here for pix of my Friday night fun. You’re jealous, I can tell.
Kelly’s last blog post..Tip of the Week: The Simplest Way to Avoid Naming Disasters
[...] What, you thought I blogged for money? No way, I blog and write for ice cream. And underpants. [...]
@Crystal Late here too, but glad I am … have had such fun reading all the comments!
@Brett Haha! Excellent post, thank you! I haven’t quite worked out the “?” in my plan, but I’m definitely enjoying myself while I do!
“When something you write encourages thought, encourages communication, encourages new friendships, that is something truly special.”
You’re so right and your comments strings show that your writing is a great example of this … thank you!
Keep on loving it!
Dianne Murphy-Rodgers’s last blog post..The Freelance Writing Learning Curve
@Harry What’s IS your tat anyway? Curious minds want to know!
@Tei & @Harry I couldn’t agree more about the rules of tattoos. I would add that you should want said tattoo for at least a year prior to getting it. It’ll be there forever, no need to rush things.
@Brett The Underpants Gnomes are some of my favorite people…er, gnomes. I loved that episode of South Park.
@Allison,
Well by all means then, patent the eyebrow emoticon *and* the underpants business plan
And I liked that ‘click here’, very nice…
@Kelly,
Your link didn’t work! We need to see the pics, we need to see the pics
@Dianne,
I think sometimes it is more fun trying to figure it out, than it is when you finally *do* figure it out. Much like your quote on Twitter:
“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end” ~ Ursula Le Guin
Thank you for sharing that, I felt it would be nice to put it up here.
And thank you for coming to visit, and for your kind words.
@Sandie,
I’m not surprised that you liked that episode, it fits right in with your cool geek persona
Oh, no!
Click here.
Kelly’s last blog post..Tip of the Week: The Simplest Way to Avoid Naming Disasters
Kelly,
That looks just like one of the physicists where I work!
^^
. .
^
o
Is he an utter bore? Then it must have been him. He’ll be back by Monday, trust me. He ain’t coming round here no mo’.
With friends to set me up like these, who needs enemies?
Kelly’s last blog post..Tip of the Week: The Simplest Way to Avoid Naming Disasters
Brett, you’re very welcome! Thank you for sharing the quote! It’s true what you say about figuring things out, it’s the figuring out that’s most fun!
)
Dianne Murphy-Rodgers’s last blog post..Student Mum
@Kelly,
Totally… so it had to be him. Yeah, I remember some good setups like that myself
scary stuff.
@Dianne,
Hey, I couldn’t resist as it is such a nice quote.
[...] do something, and perhaps you don’t know what the next step really is, all you know is if you collect underpants, you will [...]
[...] You may see Melissa’s brilliant panty twist on writing at Writing Forward in her article called Briefs are Not Just Underwear. Melissa was inspired by Brett Legree from 6 Weeks who wrote about why blogging for profit is like collecting underpants. [...]
Oh, look at that, my ping arrived here before I did. I joined in the underpants fun because I enjoyed your and Melissa’s posts so much.
I agree, above all, you have to love what you do.
Jaden @ Screenwriting for Hollywood’s last blog post..Most Famous PG Underwear Scenes in Cinema
Jaden,
Well, I’m glad that you joined in the fun and your version is really good. Especially the granny panties on Scarlett… who needs a g-string when you have that
[...] you’ve decided that you want to become a veterinarian, but you’re not sure how collecting underpants is going to help you, or at least you don’t know what the “?” is in your [...]
[...] On one hand you tell your family you run a blog and they think you have an online journal, on the other hand people that regard a professional side on blogging start “make money online” blogs with strategies that are as good as the ones to get rich by collecting underpants. [...]
[...] than wait around for one of the Underpants Gnomes to explain it, I set out to discover for myself what it takes to switch painlessly to a Mac and [...]
[...] 2. Brett, 6 Weeks [...]
[...] wiggling his eyebrows. By Brett—free until 2012, or thereabouts. Posted by Kelly Erickson on 17 January 2009 in Tip of [...]