Blogging for Passion, Money or Both?

So, I've been checking out different blogs since I started my blog. I started blogging because I've always loved writing. Now that I'm a mom with only chopped up chunks of time to myself, blogging is the perfect way to get myself detoxed from the stresses of the day.

You know, it's just not that easy to just call up a girlfriend and gab. And don't even think about "grabbing a cup of coffee" unless that means getting it to go, with TJ getting the wiggles in line at Starbuck's (I was a true blue Pete's Coffee drinker, but it's WAY too quiet in there with a toddler. I literally get dirty looks shot my way the few times I've been there). Now, dont' get me wrong, I do get out to have early morning coffee and dinners with girlfriends. But you know, it's just not spontaneous. Like when you need it most to vent, muse, or just talk about whatever.

So voila! Blogging became the (3rd) love of my life. (What are the other 3? .. Well, gotta retain SOME mystery, dont' I? :) .. Naw, in time, you'll read all about it eventually.. )

So, I've been practicing and learning the craft of blogging. There's clearly an infinite number of ways to blog, all unique to your own personality. But, for some moms like me, who are juggling ways to take care of family and finances, there is always the question of whether a blog could potentially make money.

Everyone has different opinions about this of course. But, after reading my friend Vered's post about this topic on MomGrind, I didn't realize that people could have such strong emotional reactions to bloggers who do decide to monetize, after they have a successful following of readers.

I think all successful bloggers come to this crossroad - to monetize or not to monetize. If they have nurtured an audience through writing quality posts and through lots of hard work, I don't see anything wrong with getting compensated for the work. BUT.. you know with money, comes the temptation to dethrone a great blogger's first priority: passionate, unbiased opinions without care for any sponsors, advertisers or potential advertisers!

I think that is the most dangerous lure of monetization. There is a important distinction between the goal of blogging well and reaping the benefits of good blogging. If a writer is motivated by mainly by money, I think sooner or later, the inspiration to write is gonna run dry or the posts are gonna go down on quality.

But, if a writer's motivation is to remain true to one's passions, then making money through sponsors who support freedom of your thoughts, then great!

My personal opinion and a guideline that I apply towards life in general is to lead by passion and the rest will fall into place. If my heart is not in it, it wouldn't matter if I made money or not.

Because the truth is, money does have the power to bring freedom for one person, while it can also threaten freedom for another. Money in and of itself is not bad. The deciding factor on money's influence is it's amount of influence and persuasion on motivation and inspiration.

This is not to say I don't struggle with the misplacement of money in the list of priorities. For me, I can worry quite a bit about it, living in Silicon Valley, with the high cost of living and narrow margins. But, worrying about it has never has done a bit of good. So, it's a daily balancing act of focusing on what gives me passion in life and keeping worry about finances always in it's right place: out of my life!