Five Years of 'Grown People Talking'

Five years ago today, I launched GrownPeopleTalking.com. Below is the gist of what I said in the very first blog post on April 11, 2008:

"There are a million blogs out there. Some good, some bad (some pointless). What I hope to add is insightful commentary with a mixture of wit and humor. I also offer a local perspective, reporting to you live from Charlotte.

I'll be blogging about issues purely from my perspective, resulting from the many things I am fortunate (or unfortunate) to experience. Topics I'll cover are culture, entertainment, nightlife, music, sports, politics, social issues, fashion, Man Law, and just about anything else that goes on in everyday life.

I'll be posting several times a week, so I hope you will visit often."

What I'm most proud of today, April 11, 2013, is that over the last five years I've done what I said I would do with this blog. And I'm appreciative of all of you who have visited.

When I started GPT, I was a month into my new career as a freelance journalist. I'd spent the previous six years on the staffs of magazines, when I decided to venture out on my own, so to speak. I figured this blog would be a great way for me to share my voice and perspectives, keep you all informed on relevant topics and interesting events, and, most importantly for me career-wise, it would serve as a place for me to link to articles I write for other publications. In effect, it became a way to develop myself as a Charlotte media personality and person who knows a little bit about a lot (I've gotten numerous opportunities and paid gigs because of this blog). I'm not all highfalutin, but I quickly learned that in my industry (and in just about any industry, for that matter) it's important that you create a platform for people, whether it be consumers or potential employers/business partners, to know what it is you do and what you have to offer.  

Back in the spring of 2008, social media was in its infant stages. Facebook hadn't yet reached 100 million users worldwide (now there are more than 1 billion), many people didn't know what Twitter was or thought it wouldn't last (I would stubbornly resist joining for another three years), and Myspace was the most-visited website in the United States. My, how things change. Today, I use Facebook (Facebook.com/GrownPeopleTalking) and Twitter (@HollidayInk) to share links to my blog posts.

Also in 2008, launching and maintaining blogs was all the rage. It continues to be popular today, but I can't name many other Charlotte blogs that have lasted five years. That's not to toot my own horn--okay, maybe a little--but it's really to say that I've come too far to turn back now.

Photos of me rarely make it onto GPT, because this blog isn't about "me".

I have several ideas for where I can take this blog creatively, but what I never want to do is over-promise and under-deliver. So when the changes are ready, you'll see them, and I hope you likey. In the meantime, I plan to continue giving you "insightful and entertaining commentary about life in and around Charlotte," as this blog's tagline states.

I'm also planning a party at one of Charlotte's newest venues to celebrate this milestone. Sorry, but it's going to be private, for my industry peers and friends (invitations go out next week). But what I am planning to do is invite several of you GPT readers who have commented on blog posts and sent me thoughtful emails (jarvish@grownpeopletalking.com) over the years (so be on the lookout).

I've written exactly 1,064 Grown People Talking blog posts, as of today. Cheers to all the good things we've experienced over the last five years!

P.S. Make sure you regularly visit Dusk Till Dawn, the Charlotte nightlife blog I've written for Charlotte magazine since December 2010 (the recent headlines from that blog's posts are listed at the top of this blog via FeedBurner).