It’s Okay to be Ordinary

Think about your best friend. What are some of the best times you’ve had with that person? Sure, vacationing in Cuba or a zip lining adventure are fun. But most of our memorable times with friends are the more ordinary times, right? Watching a great movie together, or sharing a plate of nachos and a drink on a sunny patio are some of the best times. Just chatting quietly at home over a glass of wine can be wonderful. The ordinary times with those we love are what become most special to us. They are the times where we share who we really are. They are the times that memories are made of.

So why are we always so desperately trying to be anything but ordinary online? We work hard to stand out, and be unique. We feel pressured to have the most compelling blog and the most engaging conversations all the time. Ordinary just doesn’t cut it anymore if you want to be a success, right?

Well, it’s okay to be ordinary, too.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t work to create compelling content, or find ways to be interesting and engaging, especially if you want to grow your audience or leverage your online presence for your business.

But think about the ordinary things that happen in your life too. I can see what you do if you post a link to your web site on Twitter. I can understand how much you know if you share your ideas with me. But what if I want to get to know the real you? A photo of the great dinner you ate last night, or the beautiful sunset you saw at the beach could show me a little more about the things that you enjoy. A photo of your daughter’s new pet rat would show me that your family loves animals. A comment on a movie you saw recently would show me what kind of things entertain you.

Yes, my friend, it’s the ordinary that allows your true colours to shine. Because while sharing your work and business and all the things that go with it are important so I’ll know what you do, it’s the ordinary that shows me who you really are.

Share something ordinary with me, won’t you?