In this post I will share a very inspirational interview which I had with Pro Blogger, speaker and career coach Jonathan Milligan. This interview would be extremely helpful for both novice and experienced bloggers alike.
Jonathan was an Executive Recruiter who started blogging in 2009 and never looked back. He has more than 10 years of experience in counseling and guiding professionals to build their careers. Currently he is a Pro blogger and writes at Blogging your Passion and at JonathanMilligan.com. He is also a part of Blogging Your Passion University where they share expert tips on how to create successful blogs. Apart from blogging, he also serves as a Deacon in his local church and he is a leader of the hospitality ministry. Jonathan is based in Jacksonville, Florida and he lives with his wife and two kids.
1) Please tell us more about yourself?
Jonathan: I am a former Executive Recruiter who decided to start blogging. Back in 2009, I was looking for a way to help more people with finding jobs. Starting a career coaching blog seemed to be a great way to leverage my experience so I went with it. A few years later I was earning a living blogging.
2) How and when did you decide that you have to pursue blogging as a business?
Jonathan: I began to receive email from all over the world from job seekers looking for career advice. This led me to creating an online job searching video course. On opening weekend, I made about 15-20 sales, including two sales from Australia. That is when I knew it was possible to earn money blogging.
3) Do you follow a schedule to post blogs?
Jonathan: I do but honestly, I’m not always as consistent as I want to be at meeting my deadlines. I believe firmly in the importance of adding new content to your blog. So, I definitely feel pressure when I don’t post as often as I would like.
4) How many articles you usually write in a day?
Jonathan: Since my online business has grown, I’ve had to back down writing every day so I can spend more time working on the business. Right now, my writing day is on Tuesdays. I usually get out of the house, go somewhere quiet, and write several blog posts.
5) Blogging changes things. It changes the way we think ( I do feel it). It makes us help people in realizing their dreams and in that process we are remade. In which way you think blogging has helped you?
Jonathan: I encourage people to blog because of what it will make of you in the process. Blogging has challenged me to live differently. I blog a lot about personal productivity and this has improved my own performance for sure.
6) What are your short-term and long-term goals in pro blogging?
Jonathan: While I do set 90 day goals, I am a big believer in having a guiding theme over setting long-range goals. A theme gives you the “why” and then the “how” appears along the way as opportunities arrive.
For example, last year my theme was connection. As a problogger, it can get lonely working at home all of the time. I wanted to connect with other bloggers on the same journey. Today, I have a mastermind group I have formed that I meet with every Thursday in a Google Hangout.
7) What are the realistic challenges you have faced while blogging full-time?
Jonathan: Changing your mindset from an employee to an entrepreneur. You have no boss when you are running an online business so you have to have ways to stay motivated if you are going to make this work. I have a whiteboard in my home office that works like a boss to me. It has my 90 day goals listed and reminds me of where I need to spend my time.
8) What is Get Productive 30 Day Challenge? How does it work?
Jonathan: About a year ago, I decided to take many of the productivity blog posts I had written and place them in a logical, step-by-step challenge where you tackle one action a day. After 30 days, you will be twice as productive.
9) How do you help a fellow blogger?
Jonathan: First and foremost, we created Blogging Your Passion University in order to share how we have built successful blogs. We have courses from beginner all the way to advanced.
10) What would be your advice to a person who wants to pursue blogging as a career?
Jonathan: Start a blog around a long-standing passion of yours. Building a successful blog does not happen overnight. We teach the “brick-by-brick” philosophy, which encourages you to see the long-term benefits of blogging.
11) Is there anything you wish to add, about blogging?
Jonathan: There has never been a better time to get started. You have a gift that is super valuable to someone. With that gift, you can help others and earn income in the process. Blogging is the perfect avenue for building a business on the side. It works for you while you are working in your 9-5 job.
Terrific interview. I know Jonathan from his Blogging Your Passion University. He’s a great teacher and gives us clear and practical steps to take in building our blogging businesses.
I agree with you both that blogging challenges your thinking. Since I write about emotional healing and faith, I have to make sure I am living what I write. There’s no way I can be phony or shallow. My readers will know it instantly. Plus, it won’t help them.
Thanks a lot Tawnya for sharing your thoughts. You are right. The first step is to believe in ourselves and to do the right thing.
All I could say about Jonathan is: Exceptionally inspirational! He makes it (blogging) look very simple.