Slacker Manager tryouts (sold blog, need new author)
Like the post title says, I’ve sold Slacker Manager and the blog needs a new author. Which story do you want to hear first, the one about selling the blog, or the one about the search for a new author? Let’s start at the beginning…
It’s been a good few years and Slacker Manager has served well as a creative outlet for me. But my interests have shifted. I’m a decent manager/boss and I definitely continue to think about how to do better. But I’m just not interested in blogging about it any longer. I’ll keep blogging at my personal blog and I’m going to work on a couple of side projects as well.
I’ve sold the blog to b5media, which is the network that Slacker Manager has been a part of for the last few months. There’s a great crew running b5, and they’re awesome at building community within the blog network. There’s always interesting stuff going on within the Business Channel (which is where this blog resides). They’ve been cool enough to let me help with the selection of the next blog author(s).
The way I’d like to do this is through some real-life tryouts. I’ll open up the blog for folks to post, kinda like Free For All Friday, but for several days. If you’re interested in being a Slacker Manager author, just register and start posting (if you’ve previously participated in Free For All Friday, login here). b5 would like to see 7-10 posts per week on the blog, which means at least a post a day and more if you’ve got the creative juices flowing. Slacker Manager runs on Wordpress, and some familiarity with that software is helpful, but not required. This tryout will last through July 27, 2007, after which time we’ll evaluate the quality of posts and get in contact with folks.
Topics are pretty much what you’ve seen here for a while: general business, management, lifehacks, business book reviews, leadership, marketing, software reviews and so on. A little levity is always appreciated and we’re looking for authors who know how to foster the community around this blog. Slacker Manager gets decent web traffic and has about 8,500 RSS subscribers. It’s a paid blogging gig and, because of the traffic, it’s good exposure for the author(s). The actual pay depends on the number of authors, but there’s lots of room to grow the monthly paycheck. Paid blogging gigs are nice, but we’re not looking for someone who wants to get paid. We’re looking for someone who needs to write about these topics because they need the outlet. The pay is the perk, but the writing is the real joy. If that’s you, register or login and let’s see what you’ve got.
Sad to see you going, Bren, but I think we all know very well how interests can shift so this move makes total sense.
I’ve lurked around here for quite a while and have found it a huge help in managing my help desk (your review of “Death by Meeting” was a lifesaver – I don’t know how many times I’ve suggested that book to people). I’ve even been able to cite the blog as a reference in various papers I’ve written on managing help desks and student employees. This is an excellent resource and, while it’s sad to see you going, I’m happy to see the blog is sticking around.
Now I just need to decide if I want to try out. Guess I’ll chew on that this weekend.
Again, it is sad to see you go, but I hope it’s all for the best and that you enjoy where your interests are taking you!
Thanks for the kind comments, galfridus73. I love knowing that the blog has been helpful to some folks.
Definitely consider the tryout. Should be fun! There are a bunch of people signed up and getting ready to go for it!
Sorry to see you go, Bren. I’ve enjoyed your blog for almost 3 years and you are one of the influences that got me blogging. Your early header picture of the guy with his feet on the desk still sticks in my mind. It’s nice to know that there is light at the end of the blogging tunnel and that you have successfully sold your masterpiece!
Good luck on your next endeavor!
John
The mind boggles. This, I presume, is a management blog. This implies some familiarity with the basic principles of motivation. Yet, you expect somebody to take up a writing job where ‘the pay is the perk’.
You are abandoning the blog precisely because you’re ‘not interested’ in it any longer. Could this be because the pay (such as there is) is so poor? You now wish to inflict the same ennui, boredom and scant compensation upon some poor fool who will get on the treadmill where you get off.
If someone is so desperate to write, does it occur that they might just as easily set up their own blog? After all, if the joy of writing is their only motivation, such things as traffic and income will not matter.
This initiative will fail spectacularly, because it is ill-conceived, giving no thought to the fundamental managerial principle of what motivates people to effort.
Not sufficient room here for proper expression.
http://www.daverothacker.com/rothacker_reviews/2007/07/slacker-manager.html
@John: Thanks for the good wishes!
@Amusis: nice bait, not biting.
@Dave: left comment over there.
Wow Bren, you’re leaving this place? You’ve sure built up quite a following, and I’m glad you started this, because I’ve learned a lot from you, and I’m glad to call you friend now!
I’ll be visiting the new blog now, to learn, to laugh, and to keep in touch. I hope you’ll keep doing great stuff there too!
Bren!
Bold move my brother. Like your style and love the fact that you’re following the priorities of your life. Best wishes. I’ll see you around…somewhere…somehow…someday.
@Phil: Good to know I’ll still be hearing from you, now and then!
@Tim: I was just up in your neck of the woods, hanging out at the “coffeegarage.” I’ll be back next month…we should meet up!
A belated “best wishes in your new endeavors” Bren – your blog is one of the ones that has always motivated me. With Skip moving away and you unblogging, we still need to find time to meet up at Taco del Mar or Rose’s Deli.
Congratulations!