Do It Myself Blog – Glenda Watson Hyatt

Motivational Speaker

Blogosphere Catches the Christmas Spirit

Filed under: Blogging — by at 7:17 pm on Thursday, December 11, 2008

In an email exchange several weeks ago, social media strategist Chris Brogan suggested that I put together an ebook from my blog posts to generate some income for myself. Awesome idea!

The wheels began churning. I’d pull the best posts from my first year of blogging here and entitle the ebook The Best of…The Left Thumb Blogger. Adding Volume I to the title would enable me to create similar ebooks in subsequent years, assuming this one was a success. 

With Christmas fast approaching, I then began thinking that I could donate partial proceeds to my favourite charity the Union Gospel Mission for its Christmas dinner fundraiser. I headed to bed, feeling good about this plan.

Entering the bedroom, I heard a voice clearly say, "Feed 100 people."

What the heck? 100 people? Are you kidding? I’m only a small blogger with small blog traffic? How am I suppose to sell 100 ebooks to feed 100 people within the limited time before Christmas?

I proceeded with the idea the next day, with the voice’s words on my mind. Due to some delays because of other commitments and a few technical difficulties, the ebook took longer than expected to create, increasing my doubt to sell 100 copies in time. Once created, the project became a community effort:

Some of the Twitter messages announcing ebook proceeds feel homeless people Christmas dinner

The Best of...The Left Thumb Blogger: Volume I

What happened next was amazing and humbling. People – some friends, some strangers – purchased multiple copies of the ebook. Others, not wanting the ebook but wishing to buy Christmas dinner for people in need, bought me enough cups of coffee (using the link below the post) to keep me buzzing for a week!

In less than a week of launching The Best of…The Left Thumb Blogger: Volume I, enough money has been raised to feed Christmas dinner to nearly 80 people in need! And there is still one more week to go!






How heartwarming is that? Giving selflessly to people less fortunate – the blogosphere has definitely caught the spirit of Christmas!

Thank you.

If you enjoyed this post, consider buying me a chai tea latte. Thanks kindly.

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9 Comments »

Comment by Joanna Young

December 12, 2008 @ 12:08 am

Glenda, this is fantastic… but still a bit of work to do – 20 more to go! Let’s see what we can do…

Comment by Robert Hruzek

December 12, 2008 @ 3:48 am

Way to go, Glenda! I’m convinced someone as determined and focused as you can do pretty much anything you want. I greatly admire your ability to snag a vision worth doing – and then, y’know, doing it! Far too many of us stop at step one…

You’re a fireball, Glenda!

Cheers!
Robert

Comment by Todd Jordan

December 12, 2008 @ 1:53 pm

Awesome Glenda! Congrats on your success.
Cheers.

Comment by Howard Greenstein

December 14, 2008 @ 12:16 pm

Glenda,
I met you at Blog World expo. You’re an extraordinary individual. Kudos on your effort here. Thanks for the opportunity to learn some new things AND help feed people in need.

Comment by crossmage

December 24, 2008 @ 7:47 am

Add to your 80 the 165 people in Houston that are being fed because of your inspiration. Hundreds of people were fed because of your idea and your call.

I should write down how all of that happened. 🙂 But for now, just know that it happened and that hundreds more than you knew about were blessed because of your decision to follow that still, small voice.

James

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