What Blogher Did For Me

After a good night of sleep in my comfy bed, lots of hugs and kisses from my babies, and some time to reflect, I feel that it is time to try to put into words what I absolutely could not do over the past few days in the midst of blogger craziness! (Phew that was a long sentence!)

Blogher was really quite amazing. I enjoyed meeting so many wonderful women and men , yes there were men there! And they were as interesting as the women. I had a few great conversations about product development and marketing with John Kim from Whrrl, truly a great guy who is definitely in tune with his users. I met up with Jessica Gottlieb several times and can't tell you how fun it was to talk to her. Jessica is real and her sense of humor reminds me a bit of someone else we know (wink wink nudge nudge), only I don't have the balls she has.... yet. That's another thing I got from this weekend. I feel a greater sense of confidence in who I am and where I'm going.

When I started blogging seven months ago it was a bit of an experiment. I don't do anything half-assed though, so here I am. The opportunities that blogging has brought my way are undeniable. I love that my involvement in social media has given me greater power to help my clients and to grow my consulting practice.

Staying at home with my kids has always been exactly what I wanted. I LOVE it and would not have it any other way. I'd mortgage my soul to be able to stay here with them. I've been home for 10 years and, in the back of my head, I'm always thinking about how I might ever be able to go back into the world and make an impact. As my kids get older and I have more time to take on bigger consulting gigs, these thoughts plague me. Chairing school fundraisers isn't exactly monkey work but who sees it that way?

As I've gotten more and more into the bloggy bloggity of it all, I have had lots of questions going on in my head. Am I as smart as blogger X with all of that traffic and a crazy following? Am I legit, or am I faking how funny and smart I am? I headed to Blogher a bit nervous and not 100% sure of myself. Well, GUESS WHAT? I think I am "the real thang" and it may not be as BanteringBlonde or even as a blogger but when you attend a conference like this and you network with professional and non-professional women, just plain amazing women, you start to see that there really is very little you can't do.

I choose to stay home with kids. I will always choose that. On the other hand, I love that I can consult and use this drive I have to help my clients. Marketing and selling and talking and idea tossing and creating, and and and and and .... it is in my blood. It gets me so turned on that I can barely describe it in words.

I can't "have it all" but what is "having it all"? THAT is a blog post on it's own and you shall see it soon!

I have what I want and that is enough for me, for now.