Bruce Lee is the most influential martial artist to ever live.
In the book “Tao of Jeet Kune Do” he shares many of his philosophies on life and fighting. The great thing about his teachings is that they can be applied to just about anything, including successful blogging.
Let’s examine what Bruce Lee can teach us about the art of blogging.
1. Drive to succeed
“You can win if you want to badly enough,” means that the will to win is constant. No amount of punishment, no amount of effort, no condition is too “tough” to take in order to win.”
Becoming a successful blogger is damn tough. The fact that such a tiny fraction of bloggers actually make a living from it underscores just how challenging it is.
While the above is true, to have any chance of reaching your goal of making a living as a blogger, you really have to want it. It can’t merely be a passing thought, or a fantasy you have when feeling inspired. It has to be a fire that rages within you from the moment you awaken to when you hit the sheets at night. If you don’t have that kind of passion, your chances of becoming a professional blogger are slim.
2. Seize Opportunities
“If you think you have the opening, you should let it fly and not be half-hearted about it.”
When opportunities arise, don’t hesitate. Instead, make the move and put your full effort behind it:
If you notice a popular blogger hasn’t posted in a while, this could be your golden opportunity to submit a guest post. Don’t hesitate, churn out your best material and let it fly.
If you come up with a killer idea for a post and decide to save it for when your blog has a larger audience, that’s a mistake. It’s far better to write that post now and submit it as a guest post to a large blog which will grow your audience, now. The time to increase the popularity of your blog is now, not tomorrow. Seize the opportunity.
3. Use Your Energy Wisely
“A relaxed technician expends mental and physical energy constructively, converting it when it does not contribute to the solution of the problem and spending it freely when it does.”
Blogging is hard work, so using your energy wisely is essential to your success.
Don’t allow nasty emails or comments from haters to diminish your energy. Instead, use all your existing energy to further your goal of making your blog even more successful.
Likewise, if you’ve reached a temporary plateau, don’t feed the flames of frustration. All that frustration drains you of energy. Instead, use your energy to write guest posts, and brain storm new ways to broaden your reach and gain new subscribers.
Your energy is the currency for which you can further your objective. Use it wisely.
4. Practice
“Each performance of an act strengthens the connections involved and makes the next performance easier, more certain, and more readily done.”
Are you writing daily? If you’re a blogger you’re a writer. The best bloggers make writing a consistent habit. You don’t have to post everything you write, but you should create a habit of writing as consistently as possible. Not only will this lead to you writing better blog posts, but the time it takes you to write posts will decrease as well.
Practice your craft as much as you can and it will only improve with each passing day.
5. Passion
“We are told that talent creates its own opportunities. Yet, it sometimes seems that intense desire creates not only its own opportunities, but its own talents as well.”
Don’t get hung up on whether or not you have the requisite talent to become a successful blogger. Talent isn’t a fixed phenomenon. On the contrary: You can significantly improve your blogging skills by reading and writing daily.
If you want to become proficient at writing headlines, you can do it. If you want to write quality openings in your blog posts, you need only study and internalize the proven methods that work for other successful bloggers.
If you want to write great content, you’d be wise to follow blogs like Darren’s and to read often and widely.
Apply the wisdom of Bruce Lee today and you’ll be kicking-ass in no time.
About the Author: Ted Pendinun is a part time actor who aspires to one day have a blog that inspires many. In his spare time he enjoys surfing, martial arts and going on whale watching expeditions.
As a Martial artist I´m a Big Fan of Bruce Lee, and his philosophy is really awesome. As you said it can be applied in anything in your life. Training with passion everyday to achieve your goals.
Great post
Does that mean I also need to die halfway through writing a post? :P
awesome post man,,,its all about dedication
I like Bruce Lee and I like Darren Rowse’s ideas and tips :)
Thanks.
Hi Darren,
Excellent!
This is what all I need. In fact, the using energy wisely stuff is so true. It is easy to get caught up in useless stuff and go to bed with a head ache and blurry eyes.
BTW, How was (or is?) your trip?
Hi
I really like how you connect blogging and Bruce Lee.If one wants to get success he has to be consistent with all the above points
Thanks For Sharing
-Abhishek
Nice post! But Bruce Lee also said, “Any technique, however worthy and desirable, becomes a disease when the mind is obsessed with it.” So, there’s a subtle border of sanity somewhere. I guess :)
Holy Shnicker-Bockers this is a good post!
Ted, I’ve been trying to get a guest post on Problogger for a LONG while, and here you are without even a blog to link back to and you get one published.
I gotta hand it to you, man!
Let me tell you something: When you finally start a blog I’m subscribing.
You hear me, Ted?
Capish?
P.S. – I have a strange feeling you’re going to the TOP
Hi Darren,
You must have the desire and passion to succeed. Passion is like fuel to drive you further when the chips are down.
@ Designer Freelance: His philosophy really is awesome. He’s an inspiration. And I had a bug to connect his philosophy to blogging and nothing was going to get in my way of doing that :)
@ Zombie Plan: Let’s hope not, haha… I have heard of people dieing from blogging. But blogging is not about death, my dear friend.
It’s about life!
;-)
@ thanos: Hey brother. Thanks! Dedication is where it’s at :)
@ Vladimir: Hey, buddy. I like Darren Rowse’s ideas and tips too! But this is my guest post ;-) Though to be honest, he’s taught me a lesson or two on blogging ;-)
@ Abhishek: Consistency is importante! No doubt. Thanks for chiming in :)
@ Dave Schulz: Interesting point. Though, if you’re obsessed with writing great headlines, I can see that as a good thing :) The famous Brian Clark has pounded that into my head, relentlessly! ;-) Darren also has great posts on writing effective headlines :)
@ Bamboo Forest: Hi there. When I do start a blog… you subscribing would mean a lot to me. Thanks!
Yeah, I’m really grateful to Darren Rowse for publishing this post of mine. But I gotta be honest: I spent a LOT of time working on this little gem :) And, well, I’m a big Bruce Lee fan, so it was simply meant to be.
the TOP? I feel the same about you ;-)
Hi Ted,
I am big fan of Bruce Lee. Love his dedication for his art. That’s how I put all the effort to my blogs.
If one thing that you need to succeed with your blogs, don’t quit and keep learning. Blogging is a long term thing.
I have been watching your activities for a long time and I think what you sahre is simply amazing. I have discovered that blogging is not for the faint hearted, it take time, passion, and a real fighting spirit to make money online.
I loved this post. I try to adhere to all these little mantras as much as I can. Although I find I do write every day, I don’t always post, which for me is a source of personal frustration. But it is something I am working on!
For someone without a blog this is a pretty impressive blog post. Your perspective invokes thought from bloggers like we. Good work man, look forward to your blog launch.
Out of curiosity, what could it be possibly about because I know you have it figured out somehow.
Bruce Lee vs Darren Rowse. Who would win?
Blogging with passion for some time will make give us the much need practice on how to write good and unique contents. Thanks for writing it up in a post. And I really like your way of connecting Bruce Lee with the blogging world.
Awesome. For me, the passion is the key. If you have passion, you can push through everything. I’m seeing the fruits of that slowly on my main blog, and making it a habit with this newer blog, too… thanks for the reminder ;D
Darren Rowse would win in a back-link competition…
:]
I absolutely adore that book. I’ve read it several times since I was in highschool, and I always get something new out of it.
You are absolutely right that it is completely applicable to our activities as bloggers. Thank you.
Darren this is the reason everyone is inspired of your blog…Difference thinking great:)
To be successful at anything, you must have the Drive and Passion. Thanks for putting up the ocassional motivational post!
Interesting point about using your energy wisely. The Internet can be a major energy drain if you let. I believe goal setting and focus are the keys to using energy in the most efficient manor.
Thanks for your timely advice. Discipline is the key to successful blogging. When I first began blogging a couple of years ago I thought it would be easy. It’s not. It takes a lot of creativity and tenacity to keep on truckin. Thanks to good mentors like you… I keep on keepin on.
Great post! It sounds like this book would be worthwhile to read by anyone.
@ how to approach a woman: Bruce Lee’s dedication to martial arts is unbelievable. His congruency never ceases to inspire me. And in fact, I need to model his tenacity even more! booya baby!
@ moneywise: Well, this is a guest post my friend. Please read the byline! :) Yes, blogging does take a ‘fighting spirit’. That’s a good analogy.
@ Supermarket Soap: Writing every day is a wonderful practice. Though… I don’t think you need to post every day, so don’t sweat it!
@ Teddy: Hey Teddy, this is Ted ;-) Thanks buddy!
Thank you for looking forward to my blog launch! It will be about kicking-ass! Really, we’ll see how it all turns out. I just hope GREAT!
@ Dave Schulz: haha, Excellent question compadre!
In a fight? I’m sorry to say, Bruce wins. Blogging about blogging? Darren will be victor. Definitely!
@ Sathish: Thanks pal! Yes, writing with passion is a sure ticket to improve your writing. We need to LOVE what we write and not just think about stuff like gaining subscribers. Booya!
@ Jess: Passion is where it’s at brother.
@ A Sitting Duck: haha, too true. Darren would definitely win in that endeavor my friend.
@ Joshua Noerr: It’s a very thought provoking book, no doubt. Yes indeed my friend.
@ Robin: Darren is an inspirational guy, isn’t he?
@ Mike: You’re welcome Mikey!
@ GolfGurl: Yeah, it’s not so easy. You know, writing ain’t so easy.
By the way: any chance you’re a good golfer? ;-)
@ David Stillwagon: It’s a very thought provoking book and really gets you into the mind of Bruce Lee.
P.S. — Love all the comments. Keep them coming and I’ll keep responding to them like my life depended on it!!!
:)
Lee also talked about how the best way to do something is always the simplest way.. rings true for so many successful companies and bloggers
I agree with this and that is what drives me every second of everyday! I will get there or die in the process! I know that may sound crazy to some, but I don’t care! I’m focused on where I want to go and determined to get there!
Great post! Bruce Lee was a master and his death was a great loss.
@ James: Definitely. He emphasizes simplicity often. And I believe, as you say, the simple technique is usually the best one.
@ Jason: Good luck, brother. You got the fire inside you. Keep that flame lit my man!
@ tchetcha: Indeed a great loss. He had so much to offer in so many ways. This word, though, is lucky he graced it, even if it was just for a short while.
Man, oh, man, I love responding to comments.
Booya baby! Time for me to go out tonight and get wild and crazy. But, fear not, for when I return or tomorrow morning, I will come back here and see if anyone else has graced my humble little post with a comment.
Keep ’em coming my people. I will respond at will!
;-)
Thanks Ted! I love blogging and can’t seem to get enough. My love of sports is what led me to blogging and so glad it did. I really love the challenge of it. I still love sports and will always have a sports blog, but a strange thing is happening, I’d rather write about blogging and the challenges it presents to me as I transition from “Blue Collar” to “Blogger”!
Great post bruce lee! Lol sowi Ted! I love the way you rhyme the post with bruce lee philosophies. Thanks for sharing and keep the good work up. *jackie chan* speaking :D
Nice post. I have to agree with you here, haters can sometime let you down a lot, I have encounter haters all the time in the tshirts business, they will always be someone who hate and like your work. Just don’t let that pound you to the ground and never get up.
Anyway great work using great philosophies and use it to apply to blogging. Really enjoyed it.
Enjoyed the parallels you illustrated between blogging and Bruce Lee’s philosophies. Passion is the key. Lee had one of the largest libraries of martial arts books in the world. He was constantly dabbling in new techniques and drills in order to find his “truth in combat”. He was a legend, not only for his movies, but also for what he contributed to the martial arts–an open mind.
i have really enjoyed this. its good to take example from the past. but to put it into practice, excellent..
Hmm… these days to become a Bruce Lee is “easy,” but blogging career isn’t damn easy. :)
Nice blog, Bruce was a solid man no one could compete him.Blogging is really very hard dude, and i need info about currency ,how could i? :*
@ Jason: Blogging’s your heroin my man.
Wow, you really do love blogging! I can relate to you regarding sports: Love ’em. Love the challenge.
I do like how you sorta compare the challenge of blogging with the challenge of sports.
Keep it up Jason!
Anyone else want to comment on my post???! I want to respond to MOAR comments!
Love this stuff ;-)
211 tweets so far and 21 likes on facebook.
Anyone want my autograph? ;-)
Whoop whoop!
This is great. I like all these points they can be applied to all aspects of life.
Hi Ted Pendinun,
Sorry for not reading the byline. I didn’t realize that this is a guest post. But I do find the difference. Normally a guest post at Problogger consists of a line saying “This is a guest post written by …” or a short note about the author at the start or the top of the post. Sadly yours is only at the end of the post. Apologies for not noticing it.
Great stuff and great thinking. I think that your role as a part time actor has contributed greatly to this article.
Passion, Practice and Using Your Energy Wisely are very important. Too much time can be spent engaging in area’s online that don’t benefit your blogging much. Have a clear time efficiency plan, know how you will spend each time segment and make sure you can justify the time spent doing whatever task you are doing. This is what I try to do because I limit myself to 20 hours per week of blogging related activities and I can easily lose too many hours engaging in something unproductive or that provides little benefit.
Ted,
You put a smile on my face and I started laughing and people are looking at me like I’m crazy! How long have you been blogging?
It’s nice to see Bruce Lee’s philosophies extend beyond the realm of martial arts. Most people see him as a fighter, conveniently forgetting that he also has other dimensions that add more color to his personality.
Hello my lovely party people.
Enjoying some Quaker Oats with extra cinnamon as I respond to some more lovely comments from my lovely fans :)
@ Nick Wetta: Thank you. The points are gangbusters!
@ Find All Answers: I accept your apology, Mr. answer man…
But really, the byline at the end of the post is most crucial ;-) I’m a forgiving chap, though. So no worries mate!
Thanks, brother. I used to be a juggler in the circus, too. That may also have helped.
@ Justin Germino: Well said, brother.
@ Jason: My name is Ted Pendinun and I’m new to this whole thing. Though, I do blog like I’ve been at it for a while, don’t I?
BOOM SHACKA LACKA
@ Jhay: Well said. He was a very interesting man, way beyond merely a fighter.
P to the I.
Ted I think you will do very well as a blogger from my point of view. I’m shocked that you are new to this and you already have a great handle on things. I have never approached anyone about doing a guest post on my site and would like to have you be the first. Let me know if you are interested. I hope I’m doing this the right way! I look forward to hearing from you, thanks for your time.
Thanks For Give Spirit Like Bruce Lee Auuuuuuuuuuww I’m Just Newbie Blog
This is true in the current economic climate using your talents wisely is the key to success! We are holding a Beat the Recession seminar helping our clients existing and new to do just that.