Some of the most interesting content is salacious and downright scandalous. I’d like to imagine myself brave enough to admit things I’m not proud of about myself on my blog, but the prospect is terrifying. The more benefit I get from engaged readers, I lose from having people who aren’t pleased with my choices seeing me bear my intimate thoughts.
And yet, the most entertaining stories I tell involve misdeeds, misnomers, and embarrassment. Since the slate can’t be scrubbed clean, it’s hard to imagine sharing receipts. So, how does one balance the urge to have a stable life, while also creating compelling content.
A couple approaches seem to work. First, you can try pseudonymity. I’ve written extensively not under my own name, and while the work I produce is in my own humble opinion excellent, it’s harder to take seriously because I can’t bank on my reputation as a truth teller.
Another approach is to grin and bear the consequences social and professional for speaking truth. This is a little more daunting but also freeing. You know where you stand easily, but at the cost of standing highly. When I ran a free speech organization, I learned some of the consequences of speaking so openly.
A final approach that most people use is to keep their mouth shut. This approach is fundamentally safe, but few rise to power in general. So, overrated.
Power is addictive, and it’s hard to imagine getting to much of it while giving away too much.
On the other hand, having a popular media brand behind you is its own sort of power. A unique kind of notoriety.
Isadore Johnson's Website 