Think Positive

Today I found out about a campaign being done by South Australia Health to demystify mental illness. I'm a big fan of the TVCs I've seen - they're well-produced, play on an insight, and are touching.

It's hard not to feel for this guy

As someone that's dealt with mental illness, I guess the issue hits a soft-spot. I know what it's like to go through issues such as the ones displayed in the commercials, and can totally relate. It can be bloody awkward having to explain away absences and inability to do simple tasks, and it takes a lot of energy to take command of what is typically a banal social situation.

Yesterday, I announced a new direction for the blog. I'm aiming to get my own story published by employing my own style. I've got a strategy and intend to execute it. This blog is about those attempts. And hopefully the story will eventually transcend and hit the audience I want it to. There's still a massive gap to be closed between suffering silently and being able to talk about it and I want to illustrate that it is possible to succeed.

 

Now with rapid-fire editing

My approach is a bit more in your face, but sometimes you have to jump up and down and shout loudly to get your message across.

It's good to see other people going about their business and trying their best too, I'd love to see the commercials I've mentioned being shown at a federal level rather than state.

Until such a time that I'm satisfied, this mental will be promoting himself unashamedly.

You've been warned.

Bound for Glory

I've been brainstorming themes for my blog overhaul. Heres a few descriptions I was toying with:

• work in online, writing a book, trying hard not to be a wanker (and failing)
• there is no shame
• digital media by day, digital glory by night
• self, love, online, writing

There's clearly a theme here. (I liked self and love together on the last point, well played me). And I think I'm slowly edging towards a USP. I've spent most of my time online with reckless abandon, and still seem to be doing okay. I've got a good job, get to travel, and tend to have a lot of fun pursuing both the serious and not so serious.

For example, I'm serious about getting my book published, and not so serious about my approach to online.

I've boned up on some of the blogs out there, and there's a lot I can learn from them that I will begin applying to my blog. Stuff like SEO, online writing, proper coding, managing content, and the like, I can apply. 

Unlike these blogs though, who are catering to an audience who is interested in writing, I'm writing to a predominantly disinterested audience who is largely Australian.

Would you believe it, most people who read Marshwah are Australian

Whoa, whoa, who said they were disinterested?

I do.

Nobody wants to hear about an attention-seeking, self-obsessed loon trying to get his book about himself published.

Yet.

The goal is to get people interested.

The journey starts now.