The Pakistani Spectator

Pamela Slim is the queen of blogging world. She is the leading change agent of this planet right now illuminating the lives of thousands and thousands of people around the globe, intentionally and unintentionally. TPS is so proud and so ecstatic to present her cherished and diamond-studded words in this exclusive interview with her to the beloved readers.

Would you please tell us something about you?
I am a writer and coach who helps frustrated employees in corporate jobs break out and start their own business. I have been self-employed for over 11 years, first as a management consultant to large corporations (for about 8 years), then as a coach and writer. I am working on my first book, Escape from Cubicle Nation, which will be published by Penguin Portfolio/Berkley in the Spring of 2009.

Your blog Escape from Cubicle Nation has changed the lives of thousands throughout the world, how does it feel to you?
I feel exceptionally honored and privileged to reach a broad audience through my blog. When I get emails or comments from readers that say that my writing has somehow eased their transition to self-employment, or offered support and relief during their struggles, it makes me feel as though my life has meaning and purpose. I can’t ask for a better gift than using my work to make a positive change in people’s lives.

What do you think sets Your blog apart from others?
I try to be as straightforward as possible, and to include the realities of self-employment. Many people offer excellent advice for how to start a business or market or sell a product, but they don’t help people know how to get through the emotional difficulties of doing it. That is often where people get stuck – they know what to do, they just can’t muster up the courage or conviction to do it. I also like to share the really difficult parts of being an entrepreneur. It is definitely not all easy or glamorous, and I want people to know that. I use humor whenever I can, since that tends to make people retain the information better and enjoy reading.

Besides of your regular commentors and visitors, there are thousands and thousands of people like us who silently visit your blog, and catch your each alphabet as a precious gem, does it pressurize you while writing the next blog post?
My goodness, since you put it that way, now I am nervous! Actually, when I write, I don’t imagine thousands reading, I just visualize one person. I try to write as if I were having a very personal conversation with one person. That way I get into the mindset of what people struggle with, and don’t write extremely vague and generic content.

Please tell us something about ganas consulting?
Ganas is the company I started in 1996 which is the “business” side to my blogging life. I used to offer consulting services like executive coaching, leadership development, change management and employee communications, but now I only offer my coaching services for employees looking to leave the corporate world and start a business. The word “ganas” is Spanish for the intense desire to do something, inner motivation and drive. It is the feeling that you get when you are really excited and motivated about something. It cannot be manufactured – ganas comes from a pure emotional state when you are doing the right thing at the right time. It is how I like to feel when I work, and how I like my clients to feel as a result of our work together. (interesting side note: some of my readers from Malaysia have told me that “ganas” means “brutal” in Malay. So I guess it is not a totally global term! )

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?
The ability to build strong relationships. This led me to great friends and mentors who helped me in each phase of growth and development in my career. It helped me to reach out to very connected and experienced bloggers who supported my message and introduced my work to their audiences. And it helps me to write, as I like to share information in a conversational tone.

I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?
I have had so many! Perhaps the most exciting was the first time that I got a link from a high profile blogger, Guy Kawasaki. At the time, my blog audience was very small, and I was used to just a handful of people visiting my blog. Guy linked to my post “Open Letter to CXO’s Across the Corporate World” and immediately, I had tens of thousands of visitors. I got all kinds of comments and incoming links. It was so exhilarating to feel the power of a connected web, where I could reach so many more people than I thought possible. I still get chills when I get a link from a very popular blogger like Seth Godin. The novelty doesn’t wear off!

What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in business right now?
I think the pervasiveness of the internet in every facet of business is the most exciting thing. I am not necessarily a “gadget head” who uses tons of applications and technical products. But I do think that the fact that individuals all over the world can connect, share, collaborate and give feedback to each other through and around products and services they buy is very exciting. Anne Zelenka’s new book Connect: A Guide to a New Way of Working from GigaOM’s Web Worker Daily explains this extremely well.

Do you think that these new web technologies are effective in making people more responsive?
It depends! When used well, web technologies can help us all be more connected and efficient. When used poorly, they can lead to tremendous disorganization, procrastination and time wasted. So the more we can “lifehack,” looking for systems and tools to increase our efficiency and effectiveness, the better.

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?
Wow, that is a profound question!

I have to say the happiest moments of my life were the births of my two children. I have never felt such profound connection to the earth and cycle of life than right after seeing my kids for the first time. It helped that birth is such a powerful and painful experience. Seeing a precious little baby after such an ordeal really heightens the joy. And I have to say my kids are pretty cute, so that helped me feel tremendously proud and excited to see them.

As for the gloomiest, it must have been a low point when I realized that a long-term relationship was sapping my life force. As with all bad times, it had an upside – a couple of years after leaving the bad relationship, I met my husband, and now am so clear what a gift he is in my life.

Do you think [the use of Twitter and other social networking tools by politicians] is bandwagon jumping or what?
I don’t see it as bandwagon jumping, if it is used with the right people at the right time. The whole political process is somewhat contrived, so it doesn’t quite fit into an “authentic marketing” strategy. But I am not opposed to politicians using social media tools to get the word out.

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?
I have always been fascinated by sacred sites around the world, so it is hard to choose just three. But the top that come to mind are:

1) Angkor Wat, Cambodia. I don’t know why, I am just drawn there.

2) The British Isles, where I want to do some digging on my family roots that are from Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

3) South Africa, where I have many good friends

I would love to visit Pakistan as well!

What is your favorite book and why?
I have a weathered copy of Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, which I have had for over 20 years. I just love the poetry of the words, and the power of the simple lessons he shares on topics dear to my heart. When I am going through a personal struggle, I often read his passages “On Pain” and “On Love.”

What is your favorite food, dress, and song?
I love really, really fresh, well-prepared sushi. I could eat it every day and not tire of it.

I am not too particular about dress, but I do like simple, well-tailored clothes.

I love so many kinds of music, but feel very drawn to traditional Navajo songs from my husband’s Native American culture. The music makes me feel grounded and loved, and the spiritual tones are very uplifting.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?
I notice their ability to connect through eye contact. Those that are really comfortable and open usually offer a big smile and a twinkle in their eye.

Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?
I have a funny story about that. About a year ago, I wrote an article for another website. They were working with a freelance editor who told them that my writing was “amateur” and that I “used too many exclamation points.” I was pretty devastated when I heard this, and self-doubt crept into my consciousness for a week or two. I told my Dad about it. He is a professional writer and photographer who basically told me not to worry about it and encouraged me to keep writing. Last month, when I sold my book to a very distinguished publishing house, my Dad called me right away and said “send your acceptance letter to that editor with lots of exclamation points!” It made me laugh really hard. The experience taught me to distinguish between useful and irrelevant feedback, and not to sweat it if a few people really disagreed with me.

How did you develop the passion for martial arts?
I stopped by a martial arts class on a whim one evening after viewing a flyer in San Francisco. I was totally mesmerized by the style (capoeira) which led me to train like a maniac for 10 years, teach thousands of students, and even lead study groups to Brazil. I love the connection of mind-body-spirit that martial arts provide, as well as the great lessons in personal growth.

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?
Blogs can certainly utilize advertising to generate some revenues. Problogger.net and Copyblogger.com are great sources for other really specific ideas. But in general, I think the real benefit of a business blog is building a strong relationship with your audience. If you write really useful, targeted information, people will appreciate it and this can lead to sales, referrals and mainstream press coverage. I have never tried to make money directly from my blog (using advertising, etc.), but it has been a huge part of my overall marketing strategy which has led to lots of great business partnerships and deals.

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?
I am stunned by the amount of really exceptional writers who blog. These are people who don’t write for a living – they may be stay at home Moms, or software engineers or artists. But I love to read their intimate takes on life and work.

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?
No, I think the opposite may be true! Successful bloggers tend to see their time writing posts as very strategic. In order to justify the time spent writing, you must view your blog as the core of your marketing efforts. When done well, you don’t need to spend time doing lots of other marketing activities like speaking or advertising or cold calling. But of course, it depends on the nature of your business, and what you are trying to accomplish with your blog. Serious blogging is not for the faint of heart, and I think you need to really enjoy writing to make it worthwhile. Otherwise, it just becomes one more chore, and that shows through to your readers.

What are your thoughts on corporate blogs and what do you think the biggest advantages and disadvantages are?
Corporate blogs are only as good as the amount of truth they convey. Robert Scoble certainly set a high bar for a good corporate blog. Many others struggle to offer the same amount of transparency. In general, I think it is a great ideas for companies to blog when they do it in the spirit of really wanting to share, connect and learn from their customers.

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?
Bloggers can, and already do, connect the world. I have a theory, tested only in my own life, that when you love one person from a particular background that it makes it really, really difficult to make broad, discriminatory remarks about that group of people. For example, I spent time living in Mexico with subsistence farmers. Many of them had come to the U.S. as farm workers, mostly illegally. Because I developed a deep love and affection for people in that community, I can never fall into the “anti-illegal immigrant” rhetoric so popular in U.S. media. The same is true for people I meet virtually. After doing this interview with you and sharing some of myself with your readers, and I am going to feel more of a personal connection with the people of Pakistan. I will view the news I read about your country with more personal interest. I will be more curious about your daily lives, joys and sorrows. All this humanizes us more, and is the really beautiful side of building relationships through blogs.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?
I love Garr Reynolds from presentationzen.com, Seth Godin, Ramit Sethi from iwillteachyoutoberich.com, Guy Kawasaki and Kathy Sierra from headrush.typepad.com (that blog is offline for awhile due to some very unfortunate attacks on Kathy including death threats, but hopefully she will return, as she is a very bright and interesting blogger)

Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?
The post that certainly garnered the most attention was my “Open Letter to CXOs Across the Corporate World.” Also, quite interestingly, a post about my son’s first swimming lesson was very popular. http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/get_a_life_blog/2007/07/dipping-your-to.html

In the developing countries like Pakistan, where jobs are less and the skilled manpower is more, don’t you think your approach of self-employment is more than applicable there?
I think wherever you have a highly skilled and literate workforce, there is the opportunity to leverage the power of the internet for work. To look at classic outsourcing models, many U.S. companies are concentrating in areas like China and India that have a skilled workforce who works for lower wages. But I have to think that working in a cubicle can be pretty miserable for anyone, anywhere. I don’t want to discount the value of a solid job, since I realize that all of us must take care of our families with the resources and opportunities that are available to us. But I would love to see a world where one group is not marginalized for the benefit of the richer, more politically and militarily powerful one. That has been the story of the world for so long that I think we are ready for a change.

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?
My perception is that they are very kind, smart and open people who have had to deal with a tremendous amount of suffering due to political and social struggles. I should know more about the culture, and I am motivated to learn, after spending time on this interview!

What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?
That could be a trick question! I have a very dear friend from college who is Brazilian and does all kinds of work in native culture, environmental protection and community empowerment. She bristles at the words “developed” and “developing” because she says that we have it all wrong – “developing” countries should not aspire to grow in the same path as the “developed” world. That has led to depletion of the world’s resources, warfare and greed. I have to agree, at least with most of what she says. The benefits of “development” include access to health care, education and clean food and water. But the lessons the “Northern” countries need from the “South” are those in human connection, the importance of family and the need for sustained growth.

You are primarily a champion of change, advising people to not to depend upon corporations for their lives, and open up their own wings. Can the same notion be applied to developing countries, who should learn to depend upon their own resources and people, rather than to lean on developed world?
I think that all of us should learn as much as we can about possibilities for earning income in a way that is supported and grown from our deepest personal passions and interests. We should also be self-determined, and be able to sustain ourselves. All of us can probably look inside our countries to see people who have ancient practical wisdom about living in harmony with the earth and meeting basic needs without outside dependence. But this does not mean that we should be totally isolated from one another. My dream is to see a world where we have healthy interdependence, sharing the best of our worlds with each other, and helping each other learn and grow, regardless of degree of technology or gross domestic product. I realize I am quite the idealist. But I would rather aim for this ideal than see the world continue on what I feel is a frightening path.

What is the future of blogging?
I think blogging will be more and more integrated into everyday business, and we will hear less about it. It is not to say it will be less important, it will just be more pervasive. Of course the more people that jump in and start to blog, the more ways we will need to filter and sort information. I think blogging will play a significant role in the near future.

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?
It has made both my personal and professional life better and stronger. Blogging (as my main marketing stragegy) allows me to work from home, which means I can spend time with my kids who are still very young (3 years old and 5 months old). I do not have to be on the road speaking or meeting with clients, as they all come virtually. Sometimes it does become a bit of a strain to keep up the volume of writing and still sleep (as I write this, it is 12:30am!), but it is well worth it in the big picture.

Professionally, it has been the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I have met more wonderful clients and partners and garnered more press attention in the last 2 years than in my prior 8 years as a self-employed consultant.

What are your future plans?
I look forward to writing and publishing my first book. If that goes well, I see writing as a key activity of my business, and hope to do more books in the future. As my kids grow older, I would love to do more speaking and traveling. I would also like to do a few key in-person workshops here in Arizona. There is something very rewarding about working with a group of people face to face. I have some interesting projects in the works, so I look forward to seeing where they take me. I tend not to make super clear, definitive 5-year plans, but rather follow my passion and see where it takes me. So far, that approach has served me well!

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?
Thank you so much for your interest and attention! It is my great privilege to share my story with you. Thank you so much for the opportunity!

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