Not too long ago, I took a three-day course on financial management for non-financial managers. For those of you who think that’s a signal to doze off, let me say that it was a fascinating seminar led by an accountant who was by turns lively and cautious. And, as a result, was able to explain basic (and important) financial principles in a way that made them both entertaining and easier to grasp.
The heart of these tools (he said) is the balance sheet, an at-a-glance snapshot of a company’s assets, liabilities and equity.
And that got me thinking about what a balance sheet for this blog might look like. So I’ve decided to reflect on the past year and see where I net out and if I created any blogging value.
MY(pr)PALETTE BALANCE SHEET – DECEMBER 31, 2007
(unaudited – not unedited)
ASSETS
- 72 posts
- 24 tags
- 42 comments
- 16 member blogroll (and a total of 55 blogs/feeds followed)
- 12 Technorati authority rank
- 1 & 2 rank of blog on Google (in a search of Martin Waxman)
- Goodwill: sense of humour, voice, outlet for writing and publishing
___________
LIABILITIES
- Posting something dumb, unfunny or downright dull (too many times)
- One-way, column style of writing
- Reluctant blogger (at first)
- Too much time spent poking around the blogosphere
- Less personal hours to devote to reading books, watching movies
___________
EQUITY
- Blog voice
- Posts I’m proud of
- 240+ readers per month
- Comments from people I don’t know
- Technorati rank
- Google juice
Retained ideas:
- 3 unpublished blog ideas in various stages of writing (that may or may not ever see the light of day)
_________
My analysis?
- Reduce liabilities (e.g. spend more time reading books, consider following fewer blogs, writing less posts)
- Increase equity by refining my blog voice and encouraging more conversation
And the outlook for 2008?
- Target: 5 to 6 posts per month with time off for good behaviour in the summer and December
- Stick to what I know and really like (PR, media, social/cultural observations)
So what’s the bottom line?
Overall, I’m pleased with the 2007 results. It’s been a fun and enlightening experience for me.
I hope you’ll let me know if you think the assets jibe with the liabilities and equity and whether I’ve created some posts of value. And I hope you stick with me for another year.
Thanks to all of you for tuning in.
Happy 2008.
