I had always heard whispers about business blogger Chris Brogan in my network, but I never really took the plunge into his work.

That changed one day when a close friend, who's also been my sounding board on many fitness strategies, practically arm-twisted me that I must read what Chris had to say.

Curiosity piqued and expectations high, I finally did, and let me tell you, it was like discovering the perfect workout regimen after years of trial and error.

Allow me to recap what I learned for you below.

The Essence of Time

Chris gets right to the point, echoing the urgency of a HIIT workout timer: You have only 19 minutes to make an impression on your reader each day. Nineteen minutes. That's about as long as a quick sweat session. No time for dilly-dallying or overcomplicated setups—each moment is a rep, and you need to make it count.

Blueprint to Success

Chris lays it out in a way that feels intuitive, just like a meticulously crafted fitness routine:

• A headline that grabs attention

• A graphic that resonates

• A first paragraph as impactful as a power squat

• Authentic examples

• Action steps

• A definitive call to action

It's a well-balanced formula, like a workout combining cardio and strength. Your headline is your warm-up—it sets the stage. Fail here, and you lose your audience before starting the main routine.

Don't Hold Back

In fitness, you go all out from the get-go, and Chris advocates for the same in blogging. Unveil your key message upfront, almost like how you would start your workout with high-intensity drills to instantly boost your heart rate.

Humanize Your Journey

Chris emphasized shaking off any corporate stiffness. He encouraged letting your personality shine through—your challenges and triumphs. Your whole fitness journey. This is not an infomercial; it's a documentary, raw and real.

Guide Their Path

But what stood out to me the most was Chris's focus on being a guide. A post without valuable takeaways is like a coach who doesn’t guide—it's meaningless. Your insights should serve as a roadmap, steering your readers clear of common mistakes and pointing them toward success.

My Take Away

Reading Chris was like discovering the missing link in my fitness communication strategy. The goal isn't just to instruct someone on executing the perfect push-up; it's about empowering them to fit it into their own life and fitness regime. Keep it quick, relatable, and above all, be their guiding light.

Until next time, keep working smarter, not harder.

Ted