Blogging friend and co-worker, Sharon writes: I want to know what you think are the five most important things you should know to be a successful blogger.

1. Be yourself- there are so many different blogs out there..so many…way too many. The blogs that I read regularly are the ones that are written by people who are just that in their blog. They feel comfortable in their blog when I read it. I have found this to be true with those bloggers that I have the good fortune of meeting and knowing in real life.
2. Define yourself/your blog- What kind of blog is it that you have?  Why are you blogging? Now would be a great time to come up with your own mission or purpose statement that defines your space, why it is in the blogosphere and what you are doing with it.
3. BLOG. WRITE. POST. PUBLISH. Do it with some regularity. It could be every day. It could be several times a day. It could be Monday through Friday only. You are the boss of this blog. Set a schedule and try to stick to it with some regularity. Every blog post does not have to be the ultimate, award-winning blog post to end all blog posts. Some may be so-so but you can only improve with practice, practice, practice. You will define yourself more clearly as you grow and develop the space.
4. Be social. Link up to other blogs whether in a blogroll of your favorites or in your blog posts. Answer questions that may be left in your comments. Say hello. Think of your blog as  something like a cyber-cocktail party or backyard barbecue at your place. What kind of hostess are you? Here is where I confess that I am kind of shy. I have to work really hard to be social even in my own place and I am pretty casual and relaxed…I will have a drink in my hand and wave to you to make yourself comfortable and help yourself.
5. Above all else, do YOUR best and people may like it but more importantly be sure that you like it.

Pretty simple, pretty basic, I know. But because this circus life of mine can be so crazy, I try to keep everything else as simple and basic as possible. I can’t tell you the secrets to a successful, monetizing blog that attracts MAJOR traffic because that is not the kind of blogger that I am. I can tell you that the writers of the successful, monetizing blogs with lots of traffic that I have had the pleasure of meeting face to face are true to these five basic principles too. I think ultimately to be successful we need to be consistent, confident, courageous, candid and curious; not just in blogging but in everything we do.

And with that, my friend, I would say that, in my eyes, you are a success. Truly. The most favorite thing for me about your blogging is that I can hear your voice (the warm, friendly voice I hear when we exchange shift reports at work or just catch up on our lives outside the NICU or blogging world).

Thank you, thank you every one who left me a question this week. Your questions poked, prodded and provoked me in a very good way.