I’ve been blogging on and off, professionally and personally, since 2001 but I’ve never really found a consistent groove for my personal stuff. And I think I’ve recently figured out why.

This window into my blogger soul is thanks to James Victore.

Victore, an American graphic designer and teacher, started a weekly video series called Burning Questions a few years ago. Each week, he sits down in front of a camera to answer questions from viewers. He’s a kick-ass blend of Yoda, Bugs Bunny, and Mr. Rogers. He’s just great.

The idea that’s had the most impact on me is his ongoing discussion of the concept of “in the particular lies the universal.” This is the aforementioned insight that has really helped me.

This line seems to be most often attributed to James Joyce. When Joyce was asked about his consistent return to the people and city of Dublin as subjects for his writing he said, “for myself, I always write about Dublin, because if I can get to the heart of Dublin I can get to the heart of all the cities of the world. In the particular is contained the universal.”*

As I look back on my past attempts at blogging for myself, I think I’ve always felt like what I wanted to write about was too small. My ego/id/monkey mind would sit there and say, “no one is going to care. Why waste your time? And you’ll probably do it wrong anyway.” And I would listen because I didn’t understand the value and uniqueness in what was happening to me.

If you ask a group of 1st grade kids who considers themselves creative, just about every hand in the room will go up. Ask the same question in 5th grade and the number of kids who still think of themselves as artists will likely have dropped by a large number. Creative kids who make it to high school are a distinct minority.

Part of being successful in school is learning how to give the “right” answer. Your own answer is inconsequential because it’s not on the test. The corrosive thing is that this need for things to be on the test starts to shut down your personal point of view if you let it.

Real success in life involves a different set of skills connected to your own personal voice.

This may sound crazy but I think the past few years of Next Food Network Star are a master class in this new skill set. A main focus of the show is the demands made on each finalist to develop a unique point of view to share with the audience. You can’t be the quirky science guy because Alton Brown has that locked down. Giada has bubbly California covered. Bobby Flay has friendly Brooklyn grilling on the patio taken care of. The contestants on the show who succeed tap into a personal take and can share it in a way that resonates.

What frustrates you?

What makes you happy?

What have you learned in the last month?

What do you hope to learn in the next year?

All this day-to-day stuff I used to think of as too-small-to-matter junk is ripe to turn into good work that may help other people if I approach it with care and respect.

How fun this that? Thank you JV!