The one question we should all ask

It's now about how great you are. It's how great you make people feel. Jadah Sellner.

It was late in the night, about 4 hours past my usual bedtime, and a girl who I’d never met grabbed my hand and said, “You are so brave.”

“Oh gosh, I don’t know about brave, but thank you.”

“It’s not a compliment,” she quickly replied.

I didn’t know what to say, so I said thank you again and pulled my hand back. “Oh, I guess it is a compliment,” she pondered.

To be honest, it was late and I’m assuming we were both a few wines in and not really making much sense. I’d heard a few things over the night though. A group of women stopped me to tell me that I’d changed their lives. “You have!” they enthused. I could feel myself going a bright shade of red. “You’re so inspiring!” another group shared.

This isn’t a post where I brag about the things people told me once they drank some wine. No, I promise it isn’t… because weird.

I just came home from the ProBlogger conference. It’s a blogging conference that I attend most years, and I love hanging out with other bloggers and learning stuff. This year I learnt one thing within the first two hours and I was done. I walked in and out of most sessions afterwards because I wanted to keep this thing in the front of my mind. It’s not just for bloggers though, it’s anyone that lives and breathes {i.e. You!}.

I was sitting in a session with an American woman named Jadah Sellner. She co-founded Simple Green Smoothies. When I’d looked at the schedule I wasn’t sure it was something I’d attend, because Green Smoothies? Been there, done that, got the Nutribullet to prove it. But I was there, and I was listening. She asked one simple question, and it was the most important question of the whole conference…

What value are you adding?We can go so caught up in social media platforms, or business, or SEO, or other strategies… but it all really should come back to this one question: What value are you adding?

I think this is what we taught in Clever Cookie as well… what is it that you’re offering your readers? Are you entertaining them, being useful, teaching them something, inspiring them… how do you add value to their lives?

And further than blogging, it’s relevant for life too. What value are you adding to your own life and to others too?

I know this is deep for a Monday.

Hearing Jadah ask this question was a bit of a light-bulb moment for me. It reminded me why I want to blog, about the things that I love doing most {photo a day, the gift exchanges, Scatter Love, connecting with people, doing really good stuff!} and why I want to make that a priority. More good stuff! More being brave, more changing lives and more inspiring.

So that’s where my head is at after the conference: dreaming and being inspired and planning.

Do you go to the conference? What was your one best take-away? And if you didn’t go to the conference, what ways are you adding value to others’ lives?

56 thoughts on “The one question we should all ask”

  1. I went. I was there, and I’m a bit bummed that I didn’t meet you. But I was super inspired by Jadah as well, and I did meet her 🙂
    My biggest takeaway was from Jadah too. I can be a bit of a procrastinator and want to learn all about something before I do it. I think it’s because I don’t want anyone to tell me I did it wrong, so I try to get it right from the beginning.
    My biggest takeaway was “Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction.” I even messaged a friend straight away with that quote so I didn’t forget.
    Oh, and I also liked “I am a glow stick, I have to break before I can shine.”

  2. I absolutely love that question! Although it has to be said it’s a pretty powerful one. I have been thinking about things with my blog in the last week or so and I wondered why I am doing what I am with it. I don’t want to be solely a book reviewer (not that there’s anything with that there are some awesome ones) I want to add more, although I am not sure quite what!
    Thankyou for sharing this and pushing me to think about what I want for my life and my blog! Tomorrow could be a pretty big day for me on a personal level so I also needed the push there too!
    x

    • Yes, saying it out loud makes it more powerful.

      I think if you sit with that ‘more’ thing for a bit, and then get some plain paper and start writing notes and ideas… maybe it will come. Talk to people, research, find inspiration. It’ll hit you.

  3. Yes, I was there and I loved it. Hearing Jadah speak was a standout for me. She’s so inspiring and so are you (and no, I haven’t had any wine.) Jadah’s words really resonated with me too and I’ve already got a head full of I want to add more value both on and offline. Let’s do this!

  4. Jadah was hands down the best speaker for me, I furiously took notes and like you…was done! Energetic, warm, inspiring, down to earth, transparent and giving…Jadah walks her talk ?

  5. Jadah was super inspiring, what a package!! Adding value is what I took away from it too & you’re right, as a Clever Cookie who’d just started out blogging it was a message I’d taken on board then too, it’s just too easy to forget!! I do blog for me, but I really hope other people are finding value in it at the end of the day too xx

  6. I think I got my money’s worth from seeing Jadah alone! Tell me you didn’t want to high five her, become best buds whilst drinking green smoothies. I also loved Claire’s advice there’s no one you’re than you! Very true ?

  7. I am a new blogger but love reading yours. I would love to know when/where the conference is, hoping its in Australia. I plan to be a BIG blogger by this time next year

  8. I felt the same as you initially with that talk- green smoothies? Hmmmm. But my gosh Jadah was amazing. it felt like she was talking to us all individually and her warmth and genuine nature was so inspiring. And showing the failures- that it’s ok to fail along the way to get where you want to get to. And definitely that message resonated in Clever Cookies too! Thank you! x

  9. Jadah was so very inspiring – loved her glow stick quote – I’ve thought about it many times since. My take-away from her was to ask myself how I can offer transformation to my readers.

    I blather on a little too much about myself, when actually, I have the opportunity to show and teach others what I do to make my weight loss happen. I had already gotten a little bit of a wake up call on this when a pic of the food in my freezer was ridiculously popular last week on social media with my readers (and people emailed about it as well to ask more questions), and I realised this is what people are looking for more and help with in terms of their own weight loss/healthy food preparation/organisation.

    When Jadah talked about what transformation can you help your community with – it clicked that it’s the small things like this that can make a big difference to my readers and I need to add value to their lives in that way. I’m going to focus my blog more on doing this – and less about myself.

    Lovely to meet you in person at the conference Chantelle – you’re terrifically inspiring and brave as well – the person at the party was right! I often think of your tagline ‘living life inspired’ as I go about my days and try to do just that.

  10. haha you sound like my boss – this is a question he asks our Finance team all the time! good to ponder though…can be applied to every part of our life!

  11. This has been stuck on my wall for almost a year, from a few blogging courses I’ve done (including yours!)… for me the most important thing to ask myself before clicking that Publish button is if my post is useful. Will it inspire, teach, and connect with others. Will it be of VALUE. Now I’m going to add that pretty image to my wall, thanks! x

  12. Shani from @rarepearstudio here…yep. She was amazing. I am still wondering what i can give to my 79 readers…(lol) I always hope i give them a bit of happy, and make their heart smile. i need to think bit more about it. I know my art makes people smile, and that’s great. and from here? it makes sense… to offer them something … to offer them value…Being braver.changing. inspiring. all good things

  13. Same response to her sessions before I got there – green smoothies lady – whatever – but she was so engaging and sincere and enthused. I got a lot from her sessions.
    My big take-away thought from the conference is that I want to add value, on my blog and in life, by being someone who ENCOURAGES. It’s what gets my blood pumping.

    I hope that you’re able to see that you’re someone who does the things you dream of right now Chantelle. People ARE inspired by you. Let that reach your heart.

  14. So Jadah blew my mind – she almost had me in tears. But my takeaway message was that maybe I’m not really meant to be a blogger, maybe I’m best sticking to my writing business as I don’t really give my readers anything. Lots to think about at my end. LOVED seeing your gorgeous face. xx

  15. I also think Jadah was a stand out – she just radiated the most incredible energy and more than a few important messages. Even after a wine or two I didn’t get the chance to come and say hi to you – and I’m always conscious that bloggers with a following like yours are inundated by people saying hi – but I hope you know that you add massive value. Thanks for all that you do.

  16. Jadah was my favourite speaker of the whole event. I think the best thing I learnt from Problogger is to be more confident in my abilities and where I’m at and not be afraid to fail. I don’t do so many things because I’m scared or worried they won’t work and now I’m determined to just go for it because what have I got to lose really.

  17. After PB, I’ve kept coming back to my WHY. Why do I blog? Because I love it, natch. And I also love to help people, entertain them, inspire them, give them something to brighten their day – even for a moment. My highlight was hanging with rad people who get me and accept me just as I am. That’s pretty damn spesh in my books. x

  18. Jadah was my highlight too. Her glowstick quote was the best. And her reminder of taking imperfect action is something I’ve though about lots since in all aspects of my life. .. work, home and blogging. Xx

  19. That’s one hell of a question. One I’m more used to asking and answering at work, rather than for myself or my blog. TBH I’m afraid of asking myself that question as I’m terrible at being able give an answer I’d be happy with. Just call me self-deprecating. In a big way.

    This is something I’m trying to think more and more for my blog. It’s a tough one. Right now trying to figure out where my blog fits in … well, everything. Think after I figure that out, I’ll be able to answer this question.

  20. This is on reason why I wish I went, besides having the chance to meet you and so many other fab bloggers. I was stalking through my instagram and twitter feed and Jadah’s talk looked so inspiring with all the quotes and information that were coming through. Totally inspired. You are one of my inspirations Chantelle. I love your work. V x

  21. Jadah was great. My main lesson from the conference was a personal one: that my blog is very important to me, but it’s not the most important thing. It’s the support act.
    I learnt plenty of other directly-related things, but that’s the thing that’s got me breathing again, and has refocused my attention on what matters.
    I saw you oh-so-briefly at ProBlogger but didn’t say hi. So hi! Glad you enjoyed it. x

  22. “I am a glow stick” was one of my favourite things from the conference and I thought Jadah was an excellent public speaker she really had the whole room on a high by the end of her talk. I hope my blog is useful and adds value that way. And I haven’t had any wine either but you are so inspiring! x

  23. Beautiful post. I was at the conference and kept seeing you walking about and wishing I was brave enough to say hello and thank you for being a ray of light in the blogging world. I too did the “smoothies – not for me” but seriously I feel like I peaked in that session and the rest of the weekend failed to compare (although it was all amazeballs and the speakers so wonderful and so generous of time and spirit, but I got so much out of that first session that it was hard to maintain that high for the rest of the sessions). Her message was so powerful and it was great to hear from someone who genuinely believed their message and didn’t come off as sounding like they were trying to hit the buzz words and sell the “in” message. I signed up for the 30 day challenge that evening just so I could get some more of her amazingness. It’s such a valuable life lesson – thanks for letting the message live on after the event!

  24. I’m just starting out as a blogger. I’ve been thinking a lot about why I want to blog and I realised that almost every good thing that has happened in my life has happened because someone generously shared a new idea with me. (15 years ago I lived in small town USA and never even dared dream of leaving. Now I’ve travelled the world and migrated to Australia, all inspired by a few little ideas. )

    That’s what I hope I can bring to the world; I hope I can share a few ideas that inspire someone to dream just a bit bigger.

    Thank you for the question, beautiful post x

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