I have been writing BrianDoddOnLeadership.com for almost two years. Each week IÂ provide five or six posts that I trust add value to your leadership journey.
People often ask me how I do my research or where I get my inspiration from.  Many of these questions are from new bloggers or individuals attempting to develop a system or strategy to gain traction for their existing site.
We are all different but the following is the strategy I personally employ.  While this strategy may or may not work for everyone, my hope is that it reassures you to know that developing an audience and platform is possible for anyone – including you!
First, let’s look at some foundational elements:
Start with a Purpose. If a leader wakes up at 2:00 AM (which sadly I often do), what questions are going through their mind? What are their concerns? If they then turned on their computer and went to the internet to find a solution, would this site provide the needed answers? Bottom line – I want to answer the questions that leaders are asking and provide solutions.
Content Follows Purpose – The premise of this site is to view life’s experiences through a leadership grid. If you are a regular reader then you know I see leadership principles in every area of a person’s life.  This drives my wife and daughter crazy sometimes but it is simply how I’m wired.
As a result, I then write about what I daily see, feel, and hear. I just do it with a slant towards leadership. Whatever I’m thinking about, whatever I’m feeling, and whatever I’m experiencing (with appropriate filters of course) is then discussed from a leadership perspective.Â
My blog then flows out of my life and becomes a combination of a personal journal, a reservoir of intellectual capital (stuff I’m learning), outwardly processing ideas, a celebration of life, a process of dealing with disappointment, and on some days a biblical devotion.
With that as a backdrop, the following are the 12 primary sources I get quality blog content from:
- Magazines – I currently subscribe to Fast Company, Sports Illustrated, and Sporting News. But I also read Time, Fortune, and Harvard Business Review if they have good leadership articles.
- Newspapers – primarily the USA Today.
- Television Shows – I love the CNBC series Titans. Click the links to read about Jack Welch and Steve Jobs.
- Sports - Sports is measureable. Someone wins. Someone loses.  There is teambuilding and overcoming adversity. A perfect metaphore.
- Family – My favorite posts are about my wife and daughter. But I have to be VERY, VERY careful-:) For my all-time favorite post click here.
- Church – The best leadership happens in local churches because you are leading volunteer armies.
- Current Events – Once again, you must answer the questions people are asking.
- Books – Leaders are readers. To read a post from the best book I read in 2011, click here.
- Daily Activities – Nothing teaches me more about leadership than life itself.
- Movies – I enjoy great story telling. For a list of movie reviews, click here.
- Scripture – The greatest leadership book ever written is the Bible.Â
- Conferences – Hearing great speakers is always a great source of information.
Leaders, that’s where I get my content from. I hope it provides some options for you. Let us know where you get your content because I’m always looking for additional streams of information.
As a gift to you, here are some of my favorite posts from the last several months:
- I Was Wrong About Saving Seats At Church
- Is It OK To Thank God For Your “Smokin’ Hot Wifeâ€
- Auburn Head Football Coach Gene Chizik Is All In At A Local Book Signing
- 5 Words Every Leader Must Say And Master
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