“Why do you blog?”  I have received this question several times so I though the best way I could answer it was by writing a blog post.  I had been encouraged by others to blog several different times over the past two years and had been very reluctant.  My first objection was I didn’t think I had anything to say.  Then as I gained more confidence I actually had a message to share I was not sure if blogging would be a wise use of my time.  Then I read Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World by Michael Hyatt.  If you are even remotely interested in blogging you MUST read this book first.

As I read Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World I realized there were three very specific reasons why I not only wanted to blog, but I needed to blog.  Here they are:
#1 – Be A Difference Maker

All of us have a desire to lead a life of significance.  We will all only be here on earth for a very short time and I desire to help leave this world a little better than it was when I entered it.  There are so many concerning and heart breaking things occurring in the world today.  It is easy to sit around and complain about the way things are, but that is not helpful.  Our culture today likes to point fingers and blame the other side, but that also is not helpful.  The reality is the results our culture is producing today are just the outcome of our thinking.  If we want to truly effect change we must first impact the thoughts and values of the people.

I do not pretend to have all of the answers, but I have been the beneficiary of some great wisdom and perspective the past few years.  The scary reality for me is Beth and I are about to welcome our first son into this world and we are going to have to raise him in this broken world.  Out of love for my God and my family I am responsible to do what I can to correct the course of this ship.  America is headed off a cliff in morals, health, and finances.  We are rapidly approaching a point of no return.  I do not believe we are there yet, but we are dangerously close.  I realized that my business was a great launching point for a platform to reach and impact more Americans to help them grow their thinking and realize the consequences of our decisions and policies.

I write to add value, offer insights, and raise questions that hopefully can help reach more people and encourage them to seek truth.  I am not here to tell people what to think.  I believe telling people what to think is a big part of the reason we are where we are today.  I want to encourage more people to actually THINK about lies we believe just because we are told to.  I hope to inspire others to realize “conventional wisdom” is all convention and no wisdom.  If you receive value from any of my posts please share them with your friends, family, and co-workers who have not been exposed to any of the wisdom I share.

#2 Communicate What I Know

I already had thoughts and opinions before I began blogging, but blogging has forced me to dig deeper into those thoughts and opinions.  Writing a blog post 3 – 4 days/week has forced me to organize my thoughts and develop them through several posts.  I already speak to large groups on a weekly basis and I have observed my public speaking has continued to improve.  Now I am noticing my writing is improving.  I never in my wildest dreams would have imagined I would enjoy writing, but I definitely do.

Writing is an important form of communication and all leaders are required to be excellent communicators.  My blog has been growing my leadership skills.  Also I have been required to be more observant of my surroundings, discussions, and current events to find more content to write about.  I have been amazed at how many leadership lessons are readily available in everyday life.  This discipline will produce large harvests of wisdom in the future as I continue to work through new thoughts and concepts.

#3 Leave A Legacy For My Son

Daniel, I have not met you yet, but I love you.  Your mother and I prayed for you for years before God blessed us with your life.  I look forward to spending many, many years raising you and loving you and sharing every life experience we can together.  I look forward to experiencing every one of your “firsts”.  Your mother and I have made some sacrifices and investments the past seven years so this can be a reality for us, but

In case God has different plans and we do not get the time together I hope and pray for I still have a responsibility to raise you into a loving, strong, humble, godly man.  I pray the words in these blog posts give you an insight into who I am.  I will continue to write and post to leave you the legacy you deserve.  Although we have not met I am positive you have all of my strengths with none of my weaknesses.  I will continue to stay disciplined in my blog posting in order to leave you as much wisdom as I possibly can.  In case this is the only post you ever get to read from me these are the few things you must know:

1. A) God loves you. There is nothing you can EVER do that can separate you from God’s love. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  Fear God and keep all His commandments.  God so loved YOU that He gave His one and only Son, that if you believe in Him you shall not perish, but have eternal life.  Surrendering my life to Jesus Christ is the best decision I have ever made and it is the best decision you can ever make.
2. B) Your mom and I love you. There is nothing you can EVER do that can cause us to not love you. You will never fully understand this until you are a father one day.  You never have to impress us, or meet a standard, or do a certain sport, or pick a career we want you to.  We are ALWAYS proud of you no matter what.  As long as we are blessed to be here on this earth with you we will tell you this as often as we possibly can.
3. C) Love your mother. She is the most amazing woman I know. I never deserved a woman as good as her, but God is so good.  God knew she was exactly the woman I needed to love me so I could grow into the man He desired me to.  She is filled with God’s love.  She is beautiful and kind.  Set her as the standard you look for in a wife.  She is a Proverbs 31 woman.  Even if you and I do not get the time I hope for I have no doubt you will be raised in the ways of the Lord and you will grow into a strong Christian man as a result of her love and guidance.
4. D) Serve others. The world will try to tell you that the key to greatness is to serve yourself. This is a lie from Satan.  Jesus is the greatest leader to ever walk the earth and He himself said,

If you follow the ways of the world you will have a void and emptiness in your life.  There are many good things to enjoy in this life, but God’s love, people and relationships are the only things of real value in this world.  Seek to add value everywhere you go.  You have a great and mighty calling upon your life.  God has greater plans for you.  Submit yourself to His will and you will be blessed in greater ways than you can even realize.

Daniel, I love you – Dad

Question: What is one reason why you want to blog?  Comment below