Here goes. Let’s see if I become a rich man. If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me if I have a blog or a newsletter they could sign up for, I think I would be rich by now. I just haven’t had the time to keep a blog or newsletter, as I have wanted to focus on my research and making nice reports on my results when in front of the computer for once (I love public speaking, but it does take some time). But then it struck me. People don’t want to wait around for nice reports of my already achieved results, the reason they’re asking about a blog or a newsletter is, they want to find out what’s next!

It’s like the expression, “a penny for your thoughts!” People don’t say “a penny for letting me know what you thought or did previously”, they’re much more interested in what you’re conjuring up for the future. I’ve noticed this at my public speaks, people come up to me afterwards expressing that they liked what I talked about and enjoyed the results of my previous research, “but what would be really interesting, is to find out what you’re working on now, what’s next?” The value of a future result or a half-thought idea seems more valuable than the meticulously worked-through – old – results.

This is a (rather atypical, I guess) example of the Expectations Society, where people are focused on tomorrow and what’s next rather than on today and what already exists. And it’s a perfect reason to start a blog. After all, this work in progress is probably worth much more than all my previous work combined.