Email Confession: I Want to Remain Anonymous

Hi Donna,

Started a blog a few weeks ago.  I have been unemployed for over 10 months. What sparked the blog is my husband getting laid off.

I did a lot of what you said - looked for blogs about job hunting/unemployment and most of them are shut down (i'm assuming people eventually got a job) - LOL!

Not sure if you have any other advice.  My biggest obstacle is I want to keep anonymous for many reasons-

 1.  Bashing my old job/mgmt

 2.  In case I do get a job/dont want to hinder getting a job.

 Any info would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you for your time!

-JC

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thanks for taking the time to reach out to me.

yes - quite a few blogs started by unemployed people who talk about their unemployment journey tend to fizzle out. i'm inclined to believe it's because they continue to write about what they don't have - a job - instead of using it as a way of "writing" themselves into a better future and new opportunities. there's not a stitch of data to support what i said. that's merely my opinion.

what are you wanting to accomplish with your blog? what's your reason for writing?

Hugs & Handshakes,

miss donna

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Originally I started to document my fun and ridiculous interview stories but now its growing into situations my husband is in and job search/interviewing/networking tips and thoughts based on my 10 months+ of experience.  Its hard being anonymous because I have a nice Facebook and Linked In following but I know most of those people personally and cant be sending them my blog when I am mentioned former managers, jobs etc.  I started a new Twitter but only have 8 followers.  I am following ANYTHING related to unemployment.  I am also posting on the Rants and Raves section of Craigslist one to two times daily.  Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time!
-JC

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ok got it.

so now that you've explained why you're writing, what is the outcome you desire? you didn't explain that part.

fill in this blank: By blogging, I want/hope to accomplish ______________________. make sense?!

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Help people get jobs, make money, get my thoughts out there?

Totally makes sense.  Hope the above makes sense!  LOL!
-JC

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 alrighty then...now we're getting somewhere!

1. help people get jobs - by continuing to blog about the negative aspects of unemployment and bashing your ex-employer, you won't accomplish this. all it does is serve as a constant reminder of your past. you are more than that. you wouldn't have survived in the sales industry all those years had  you not been. you can help people get jobs by sharing your expertise. what lessons do you have to offer someone trying to break into sales? what insider knowledge do you have that would be valuable to someone on the outside? those are the kinds of things people want to read which will help them get ahead.

2. make money - it can be done via blogging, but it takes time. it's pretty much impossible to do if you blog anonymously. having said that - expose yourself. people read blogs because they want to connect with the person behind the blog. we want to know that they're human. you have to be relatable and the only way you can do that is by allowing your readers to get to know you. ads are just one way to monetize. you need multiple income streams. once you establish yourself as an expert, you can then seek out speaking engagements. be bold and creative when it comes to your monetization plan.

3. get your thoughts out there - refocusing on all of the above will allow you to do just that...in a much more constructive way, i might add.
i hope this helps, JC. i appreciate you taking the time to send me a note and for trusting me enough to want to hear my thoughts (see #1). :)

let me know if there's anything else i can do for you and don't be a stranger!

Hugs & Handshakes,

miss donna

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Thank you so much for your amazing advice. You are absolutely right. I do need to move on. Unfortunately, I had a really horrible boss who put me down and treated me like garbage. Its hard to come back out of that after dealing with it for over four years. Even before your email, I have started to post more about tips rather than going backwards. I will definitely keep in touch.

THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH!!!!
-JC

It's not always an in-and-out situation. Getting to the root of the problem takes two way communication. Listening is critical.
Do you have a question for me? Feel free to send it my way.