Interview with Blogger Mathew Moran

By The Pakistani Spectator • Dec 27th, 2007 • Category: Interviews • No Responses

Would you please tell us something about you and your blog?

I write a few different blogs. The primary blog – or the one with the longest duration and most consistent content – is Notes From The Toolshed hosted at IT Toolbox. I’ll make this disclaimer – IT Toolbox is not my site; I don’t own it. I explain that up front because the title of my book – published by Cisco Press, it The IT Career Builder’s Toolkit. The blog started as an enewsletter I sent out and became a blog in 2004. There are many people, including my mom, who sometimes get confused about IT Toolbox and my blog and book.

My personal writing and music blog and website is here:

http://www.MatthewMoranOnline.com

It links to most of my other content.

I have been a technology and business consultant since 1995 – prior to that I worked for a large insurance company building a document assembly software and process, as well as some business tracking applications. I started writing a career column aimed at Technology Professionals in 2002 and then in 2004, self-published my career book. In 2004, I was “discovered” by an editor at Cisco Press who purchased my self-published book and asked if they could republish it.

I was, of course, thrilled. We added a few chapters and a CD of content and it was published by Cisco Press in 2006. It has been a great experience.

The object behind every blog is the attainment of a state of being. Do you agree with this statement?

I don’t know? The statement seems too broad and limiting at the same time. I think I separate the attainment of “state of being” with the public promotion/awareness of a state of being that you already have.

I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?

I also have a lot of articles published. Anytime a reader contacts me, thanking me for something I’ve written – that is the greatest. I have heard it said that writers in general have a large enough ego to believe they have something to say – and a small enough ego to be surprised when anyone actually reads what they wrote.

A couple years ago I wrote about a very, very severe car accident I witnessed. It had a profound effect on me. Later, the person we helped during the accident contact me and we met for lunch. He went to my blog and read the entry and several members of his family and close friends contacted me – thanking me for being there but also for giving them a window into what had happened.

What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?

I think a lot of the “personal” man on the street type of coverage of political events – whether text/blogging, or audio and video podcasting, has the potential to open up people’s eyes to different perspectives than what is generally reported.

Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?

They can be – although, I am concerned that much of the “new media” technologies are being “wasted” on useless or fairly vile entertainment only. I don’t want to sound like a prude and I am not calling for censorship – but often the most base and ugly new media gets the most attention. It is sort of the epidemic of reality TV gone Internet.

What do you think sets Your blog apart from other blogs?

Because I am great! Just kidding. I try to write a very real, experience and emotional based blog. I don’t separate who I am – there is no difference in my online versus personally persona. I don’t air all my “dirty laundry” as it were – but I do let people into my fears, dreams, and hopefully, through that they see that those things are important parts of their professional life as well.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success, what would it be?

I like to explain things with quirky humor or stories that seem to have no direct relevance to IT careers (for instance) and then tie them in somehow. I wrote a series of entries on how the design of my coffeemaker and the company making it, taught me everything I needed to know about IT. It was fun to write and was a popular set of entries with my readers.

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

The happiest is easiest – the birth of each of my four children. I literally was laughing and crying simultaneously. I wish I could experience it again and again – there is nothing like that.

The gloomiest. I am pretty optimistic but this past year, with my wife and I separating, our home being flooded and destroyed, and some pretty severe financial and professional strife, I have been pushed quite a bit. Still, I don’t really view it as “gloomy” per se – but as a challenge that I hope to address meaningfully this next year – 2008.

What features make this shift more democratic or less democratic?

I think the push to “new media” as a means for information is more democratic – but still the less funded political idea is still in a difficult position. It allows for better grass roots spreading of information – which is good. But the larger political machine is there too.

Do you think [the use of Twitter and other social networking tools by politicians] is bandwagon jumping or what?

Not really. I think politicians – and anyone with an idea – have to look at all sources of publicity and use them. It used to be that TV, Radio, and public appearances were all you had. For a politician not to use new media and social media technologies to reach their audience would be very foolish. It gives your audience a chance to engage you and more easily engage others to your cause.

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?

Australia – some of the wildlife is so unique, I would just love to see it.

The Amazon – again, the wildlife and the terrain seem very intriguing.

The Caribbean – the sea and the nostalgia of pirates plus a love for sailing drives this one.

What is your favorite book and why?

That’s a tough one. I guess, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft – by Stephen King. It gives a no-nonsense perspective on writing – particularly the notion of inspiration versus perspiration.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?

How approachable they seem. I am a very social person – enjoy meeting and speaking to new people. There are times you can tell a person is approachable or not – that is probably what I look for first.

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

I wish I knew. I’ve been compensated based on traffic but for the time spent, it is a money loser – at least directly – hours spent to compensation.

However, if you can built a persona of expertise – I’ve been contacted to speak at events and been paid decent speaking fees. It is difficult to know how much a part of that is my blog versus my book.

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?

No! If planned properly, you should be able to get a couple post a week in a fairly short amount of time. You make determinations in life where to put your time. Some people watch TV – I don’t. Others write blogs using some of their time. Regardless of what you do in life, you sacrifice some things to be able to do others. Blogging is no different.

What are your thoughts on corporate blogs and what do you think the biggest advantages and disadvantages are?

Advantages. You can engage with the people who drive the corporate culture. I think GoDaddy’s founder, Bob Parsons has done a great job of that. Whether people agree or disagree with him, he definitely has an opinion and it is part and parcel of how he runs his company.

The disadvantage or problem is when they are simply PR mouthpieces – and offer no real insight into the company. I have no interest in an ongoing brochure.

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?

You were referred to me by a writer/blogger/technologist in Pakistan. He contacted me as a reader of my blog and we have communicated now almost every week via Instant Message and email. This type of connection is amazing – we discuss our respective cultures and I know that I learn a lot. I think conversation can break down barriers – we find that we have more in common that the news might let us know. A desire for a productive life. Family, friends, and struggles common to every person, etc.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?

Pam Slim – Escape From Cubicle Nation. She writes well and real. Her blog’s title is one of the best – and that alone is worth the price of admission.

http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/get_a_life_blog/

Mike Schafner – Beyond Blinking Lights. He quotes me from time to time – I love that – someone who is smart who thinks I am smart sometimes – who wouldn’t love that?

http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/

Dratz at IT Toolbox – Confessions of an IT Hitman. He isn’t posting a lot right now but his Technologist Manifesto is still one of the best post ever. It was his first post and is worth reading – again and again.

http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/bi/confessions

43 Folders blog – 43 Folders. I love productivity tips – and while some of them are products that I believe add too much complexity for the benefit, you are getting great advice almost every week.

http://www.43folders.com/

Wes Fryor’s blog – Moving At the Speed of Creativity – life long learning is a passion of mine. His beliefs on education run very counter to the norm but are very inline with our family’s.

http://www.speedofcreativity.org/

Is there any thing common you find in creating music or creating blog posts?

Blog post are easier. The only real similarity is that, if you sit down to work on a single item and struggle through the initial lack of ideas – and just work, you usually find that the work pays off. That is part of what I learned from the Stephen King book I mentioned. The idea of a muse – giving you ideas and inspiration – is overblown. Show up the same time, same place, everyday and do the hard work so that your “muse” knows where to find you.

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?

I have never had a strong perception about Pakistan or its people. You read about Musharraf and you read about tribal conflict on the border or conflict with India. Until I had met the reader who referred me to you I was largely ambivalent. Now, I have a perception that, over coffee/tea or dinner – that I would be able to have great conversation and friendliness with you “average” Pakistani – whatever “average” means.

I, of course, worry about the region – because of the way our press positions it and because I have a necessarily Western perspective on how a government “should” run.

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?

Not really. Well, maybe Dratz at IT Toolbox. He’s smart, funny, and definitely more tactful than I am.

How a developing country could become developed one?

Do you mean how can blogging impact that or in general how does a developing country become a developed one? I’ll answer the second with a very loud, I have no idea. While I love history and to some extent, politics, I believe most attempts at social/political engineering have been problematic. I do believe that the US – with its economic power – could do more to open opportunity in developing nations and this could help that nation become more open and more developed. But I don’t really know how.

What is the future of blogging?

While there are plenty of new, engaging technologies – with easy access to create and view video and audio, the future of blogging is still driven by what drove all content – lasting content that is. And that is good content. Great technology will never replace great ideas in the long term.

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?

I’ve always been a writer – blogging is simply one extension of that. It has opened up some marketing ideas and opportunities. Also, it has allowed me to find readers who can more directly interact with me – which is interesting and fun.

What are your future plans?

I write music – I have told that reader from Pakistan that he is my first fan in the Middle East and I am counting on him to make me an “international star”. There is some truth there – while my music is definitely “American Songwriter” influenced, I consider it amazing that I have someone in Pakistan who has heard, enjoyed, and commented on my songs. He even provided the idea for a lyrical addition to a song – one that I am going to use.

I have a couple of book projects – including a few children’s books – and hope to one day convert full-time to a writing income; music and books.

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?

Mostly to the middle-east in general – that most of the US is not Hawkish or aggressive in our view of the middle-East and that, based on my conversations – we share a lot of common ground. That dialogue, discussing those common grounds, is a great place to start our conversations – rather than starting at the differences.

A lot of conversations and media seems to focus on the “cultural divide” but after my discussions, I find much more “human similarity” and the cultural differences end up becoming points of interest rather than points of fear.

I hope that makes sense. Thanks for the opportunity to share with your readers.