Are You a Thinking Blogger?

I first saw this award floating in the 'sphere at The Blog Herald back in February. Lorelle VanFossen's quick and informative post on the topic inspired my response in the comments:

How about a blogger who makes you think about something in a way that inspires you to *do* something as a result. “The ancestor to every action is a thought.” If the writing is so vivid, the words so alive, the thinker so inspirational, you should be ready to leap into the world and make something happen. I’m in favor.

As a further demonstration that things released online take a life of their own, I have been recently tapped with the Thinking Blogger Award. This was via C.B.'s Flooring the Consumer to Bob Glaza One Reader at a Time who in turn selected Mark Goren of Transmission Content + Creative who selected Conversation Agent among his five blogs that not only get me thinking the most, but also of ones where it’s evident that the blogger is doing a lot of great thinking as well.

In my definition, this is someone who inspires me to think differently and to spring to action as a result. Well, there are several of those people in my world, online and offline. Mentors, friends, loved ones, colleagues and peers. Thank you one and all.

I'm curious to continue the conversation Lorelle started a few months ago. What’s your definition of a thinking blogger? Do you take your own advice? Who would you nominate by your definition?

Comments

[C.B. Whittemore]

Valeria, by every definition you are a thinking blogger. Thanks for the mention.

[Bob Glaza]

Darn it Valeria - you've got me off and thinking now. There is evidence that you are a thinking blogger. Your post deserves much more of a comment than I'll be leaving in this space - hate to eat up too much bandwidth :). At least that's my plan. I will try to answer your question. First off, that is a terrific view you point us to - from Lorelle - in the Blog Herald post from February. There are a few points I'd disagree with but it has urged me to leave a comment.

What’s your definition of a thinking blogger? They must write well. There has to be a clearly defined message they are sending. That is evidence that their mind was in motion before their mouth was in gear. The post can go all over the place but it has to come back to center.
Passion is over used - I wish there were another word. The only one that comes close is love. The thinking blogger communicates a love for what they are doing. Its a feeling - no more, no less. We all have them. They are all worthy and valuable. They also must be able to carry on a conversation. The conversation can be with a specific person or with a broad audience. The thinking blogger carries this conversation from post to post. While, it may be a vague connection at times, it is always there.

And they can't take themselves too seriously :) Do I take my own advice? Most of the time but not all of the time :)

[Bob Glaza]

and thank you for carrying on the conversation :)

[Mark Goren]

This is a great question, Valeria. And that's why I think you're a thinking blogger. You manage to put your thoughts out with clarity and then invite other in to talk. And, then, – and this is the best part – you use those comments to build the conversation further by building other posts around them.

Brilliant. Beautiful. Perfect.

You are the very definition of a Thinking Blogger. Thanks for playing along!

[Lewis Green]

Valeria,

I tend to want to keep communications simple: A thinking blogger is one who motivates and inspires us with writing that speaks to us.

[Valeria Maltoni]

C.B. -- succinct and to the point. You are always welcome here, a kindred spirit.

Bob -- "That is evidence that their mind was in motion before their mouth was in gear." This is interesting as I often say that I don't know what I'm thinking until I write it down and share it. And maybe blogs are better at letting us think together, yes? You score big points in bringing up love, huge ones. I don't know if you read it, Peter Brook's autobiography called "Threads of Time" might resonate with you.

Mark -- how did we spend so little time talking when you were in NYC? So much to say and to build on. There must be a next time.

Lewis -- and so you are one, a Thinking Blogger. Yours is one of the few I read every day, with coffee, of course.

[Roger von Oech]

You are a "Thinking Blogger" par excellence!

Just out of curiosity, what is it that is tatooed on the little man's forehead (in the award)?

[Are there also "Feeling Blogger," "Sensing Blogger," and "Intuitive Blogger" awards — for those who have different Myers/Briggs strengths?]

[Valeria Maltoni]

Roger,

I think it's a triangle with moving/wrapped energy flowing. If you follow the link to the Thinking Blogger Award you will see a bigger version of it in Ilker Yoldas blog header. I think those other categories are out for grabs. And you're right, I have the "thinking" in my Myers/Briggs. ENTP

[Paul McEnany]

I'm fairly certain it would be impossible for me to keep it to just five. In fact, you guys are making me think too much. I have a job people! :)

Keep up with the great stuff, Valeria...

[David Reich]

Congratulations Valeria. I always knew you were a thinking blogger. Now it's official...I think.

[Lorelle]

Oooo, I like the idea of the feeling blogger awards and such. Hmmm.

For me, the true definition of a Thinking Blogger is one who challenges the concept of these memes. We're always so easy to accept a challenge, which then we slip and slide through in a lazy fashion - just to get it done. But a thinking blogger is one who really challenges, questioning everything, poking and prodding to discover the underlying truths.

You are one of them, for sure, and thank you for including me in the conversation.

[Joe Raasch]

A thinking blogger...hmmm...let me think on that....

I got it! A blogger who writes something that makes me question:

1. My own writing/ideas
2. Why I am reading their blog (good or bad)

And:

1. Evokes emotion from me (any emotion) - just like art
2. Frames a conversation versus just asking questions like a sideline critic. Takes more "thinking" to do that.

Two blogs that gets me thinking are Julie's Innovation Ecosystem
and right here at Conversation Agent.

[gianandrea facchini]

valeria, i have to think a lot to understand all you ladies and gents who write in english (american?). then i have to think to write my ideas in a decent and clear way. then i need some rest now cause i'm so tired.
you definitely deserve the title of thinking blogger.

[Valeria Maltoni]

Paul -- after all the reading I did at Hee-Haw Marketing I feel like I have done my work for the day! And as I think about it, maybe you elicited so many responses and comments by Kohl's employees because those people need to be heard -- and nobody is listening.

David -- I concur with you that Lewis is definitely a person who can draw the best out of you with his writing, and comments. There are many of you who do, that's why I thought of asking a different question...

Lorelle -- you have managed to make a semi-geek out of me. I am now seriously thinking about switching to WordPress. You say "to discover the underlying truths" that's where my love of inquiry comes from. A real challenge is one launched out of true curiosity and a desire to learn.

Joe -- I'm heading over Julie's Innovation Ecosystem right now. Thank you for recommending it. I like your distinction of "framing the conversation vs. just asking questions".

Gianandrea -- one can think with their hearts, too. In fact, that is some of the best thinking... and maybe as Lorelle suggests, we should have the Feeling Blogger Awards. It could be someone who evokes emotions and spurs us into action. I have already several in mind.

[William Tully]

Valeria,

First off, congratulations! Secondly, the thinking bloggers are REALLY easy to identify: you know the feeds in your reader that you skip over because you "don't have time right now, but I'll come back to it later.."? Those are the thinking bloggers. ;)

[Wendy Piersall]

Thanks Valeria - I'm honored to get drawn into the conversation and to be a part of your 'thoughts' (oh, bad pun)!

Since I'm so late to the party, I see that all of the good answers are already taken - but I'll have to say that I think good thinking bloggers are the ones that make us think for ourselves rather than telling us a good way to think. You know, that whole 'art of a great question' thing. :)

You seem to have that art pretty well down pat, imho.

[Valeria Maltoni]

Tully -- and your blog would definitely qualify... some of your posts are so rich with implications and life that one needs to read twice to form an impression for themselves.

Wendy -- I love the energy of your blogs. Vitality and willingness to share and do are clearly everywhere. And you have not been afraid to tackle sticky issues like diversity.

[رضا]

I agree with you, nice questions

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