Liz Strauss called me out as an S.O.B. this week.
Usually I wouldn’t get too excited were someone to call me that. But in this case it is quite an honor. Liz uses the acronym to mean something a little different than our usual understanding. In her case, S.O.B. stands for “Successful and Outstanding Bloggers”. Here is what Liz has to say about the folks she calls SOB’s”
They build relationships and take the conversation to their readers, contribute great ideas, challenge us, make us better, and make our businesses stronger.
I thank every one of our SOBs for thinking what we say is worth passing on. Good conversation shared can only improve the blogging community.
And Liz knows what she is talking about.
Over at Successful-Blog Liz has built a thriving community by excelling each of the areas she highlights with her SOB award. For example each Tuesday evening at 7 PM Chicago time Liz hosts Open Comment Night. It’s a time when folks from all over the world come together and chat via comments on one post about everything and anything. It is kind of like instant messaging, only slower. The discussion can be serious and silly – often at the same time. Here is how she describes it:
Here’s how it works.
It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME
The rules are simple — be nice.
There are always first timers and new things to talk about.
It is not unusual for the OCN post to have 400+ comments before the evening is over.
Another feature of Successful-Blog is the SOB Cafe each Friday. Here Liz highlights good posts from various articles she’s found while exploring blogs of folks she’s called out as SOB’s. Again from in her words:
We offer the best in thinking–articles on the business of blogging written by the Successful and Outstanding Bloggers of Successful Blog. Click on the title shots to enjoy each selection.
Liz is a leading champion of the Net Neutrality fight. She posts information and links to articles that keep abreast of the issue daily.
Oh, and she also writes tons of articles about writing, business, customer service, thinking, blogging, strategies, you name it. Whether you are a lurker or like to speak your piece Successful-Blog is a stimulating place to spend some time.
And did I mention I nearly had the privilege of meeting Liz in person? I was this close (he said holding his thumb and forefinger barely apart) when I was up in Chicago on business. Unfortunately for me my company changed my itinerary and sent me home early. Ah, well.
Anyway I am definitely a fan of Liz and of Successful-Blog. I’ll wear the SOB Badge with honor. Thanks Liz!
Chris,
Wow! What nice things you’ve to say — the privilege is mine. I get spend time with all of the great people — great people like you.
We will meet and we will touch our thumbs and our forefingers together. Then we will talk of things serious and silly, because that’s what friends do.
Liz
Liz, You know me. I’m just a Popeye person (“I yam what I yam, and I ain’t no more”)
I just calls ‘em as I sees ‘em.
I realise this is an ‘older’:!: post, but I just had to leave my thoughts with you…
It is posts such as these which truly humble me and give me that kind of “there’s hope for the Internet yet…
” feeling. Which, I gotta tell you… it’s a wonderful ‘hope’ to have, let alone being fortunate enough to have it ‘bestowed upon’ you 
I’m a ‘fledgling of a fledgling’ in the ‘world’ of blogging (at best!), but intimidated by anything technical I am usually
not. When my technical/personal/_____ knowledge or understanding is challenged, I am compelled to seek my own kind of (at times so terribly elusive!) “…whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me…”.This is not always a ‘fun’ kind of personal standard to meet, but it’s not always supposed to be fun, I guess is what I’m tying(!?) 
to say.
In these technical/personal travels, it is the consistent quality (both technically and what I see as ‘personally’
) that I see and revel in 
amongst the writings of individuals such as yourself, Chris, as well as Liz. And I’m still only ‘discovering’ even more of this ever-inspiring and refreshing “big on integrity” [still 'relocating' my words/vocabulary 
] mentality which both encourages, excites and inspires me beyond words. (As I am certain it does others…!)
Stumbling upon (nix ‘intrusive branding’ thought!’ your post here Chris – an ‘integrist’ (c’mon words – wake up!) pointedly and so poignantly lauding the efforts of another was just… ‘inspiration overload’ (and the words are going, going…
) – I couldn’t not respond to share my gratitude and general … ‘feeling of grace’ 
– which writers such as yourselves afford any(and every!)one on a daily basis, and even more so in the context of these kinds of genuine, humbling ’shout-outs’ (’shout’-backs! 
).
A million “thank you so kindly”s, both of you –
…you make the Internet a wonderful place to be (and that can be no small feat, as I imagine you both know quite intimately…!)
Peace, and again, “write on”
, both of you…
~Rae (attempts graceful exit…
)
Ankakay, Thanks for those kind words! [shuffles his feet nervously with his hands in his pockets]
Really, though, when you get right down to it I’m just trying to take on the Popeye philosophy. “I yam what I yam. And that’s all that I yam.”
(It works better if you add a “Ya-kukukukukukk” after you say it.)
Helping people learn while keeping it fun? I think that’s about the best thing anyone could possibly say about me.
Thanks so much!
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