Engage Brain Open Mind: 6 Things Bloggers Can Learn From Dr. Seuss

6 Things Bloggers Can Learn From Dr. Seuss

via Kikolani by Matt Krautstrunk on 8/10/11

This guest post is by Matt Krautstrunk.

Dr. Seuss is perhaps one of the most pronounced authors of all time. He wrote short stories that not only captivated the minds of our younger generation, but taught us valuable life lessons. In a world where so much information is being passed around on the web, it may help us by taking in some simple Seuss.

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“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” Dr. Seuss throughout his life can teach us lessons with his quotes, but also with his personal life story. Here are 6 things that bloggers can learn from the legend, Dr. Seuss.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

Lesson: Never stop learning.

Reading will keep you relevant and true; learning is something you must choose to do. Never underestimate the value of learning something new, from new social media sites to a new piece of technology like the 4G Slide Android Phone.

There is always a better way to blog, market, or reach your audience. Learn from people, learn from experience and learn from example. Think about content critically. Asking questions like, “how can this apply to my blog?” and “where does this fit with what I already know?” The more articles and content you read, the more confusing things get unless you are learning from each.

The Cat in the Hat was created to help children learn how to read. In 1954, Life Magazine published a finding that concluded children were not learning to read because the books they were assigned to read was boring.

According to Best Books For Kids, “William Ellsworth Spaulding, a textbook editor at Houghton Mifflin, took this onboard and compiled a list of 348 words he felt were important for first-graders to recognize. He asked Geisel (Seuss) to cut the list to 250 words and to write a book using only those words. Spaulding challenged Geisel to write a book ‘children can’t put down.’ Nine months later, Geisel, using 236 of the words given to him, completed The Cat in the Hat. The book was an instant success.”

You can never underestimate the importance of learning.

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” – Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

Lesson: The future is up to you.

You are free to write whatever you please, it can be bees or it could be cheese.

Often used as a graduation quote, the lesson can be applied to almost anything in life. Do what you love, and blog about what you know. If you hate what you are writing about, it will often translate to your page.

Today, content is so transparent that it is important to make sure you put love in to each and every post you make. Social media has allowed small, passionate bloggers to create communities around their work. You can never do this if you have no strategic direction.

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss

Lesson: Don’t dwell on the past and learn from mistakes.

PR blunders and marketing sorrows, make your blog more prepared for tomorrow.

As bloggers, success rarely ever comes overnight. It may take months if not years to establish a niche in the blogging community. Dr. Seuss didn’t publish his first book And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street until he was 33, after it was rejected 27 times. It takes persistence and forward thinking minds to create great things in this world. Dwelling on the past will only burden you.

“A person’s a person, no matter how small.” – Horton Hears a Who!

Lesson: Value each and every one of your customers.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a pauper or prince, as long as you are engaging an audience.

You should value each and every one of your visitors individually. Have a boutique approach to your blogging. Although it is important to create content for scale, most niche communities are founded on captivating small audiences.

“So be sure when you step, step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s a great balancing act.” – Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

Lesson: Think before you act.

Everything you say, and everything you do, will have a consequence to you.

Life is a great balancing act. Everything has a consequence. So whether you are humanizing a blog or you take controversial stances on popular topics, be sure to step with care and great tact. Holding an opinion is important for any writer/blogger.

“I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!” – Dr. Seuss

Lesson: Plan for unexpected change.

We all face risk from time to time; it’s those who prepare that shimmer and shine.

Ted Giesel (Dr. Seuss) attended Dartmouth College, where he worked on the humor magazine section called the Jack-O-Lantern. He soon would become the editor in chief, before being forced to resign from the Jack-O-Lantern for getting caught drinking gin in his room.

There were a lot curveballs thrown Seuss’s way. He continued to contribute to the Jack-O-Lantern under the alias “Seuss” which he would keep for the remainder of his career.

Dr. Seuss can teach us a lot about blogging, marketing, and entrepreneurship. His concepts were so simple that they leave room for interpretation. Seuss is an inspiration for people ages 5 to 95, but he didn’t achieve stardom from luck alone. He followed his passions and did what he knew best, and so should you!