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Active Rain: Setting Blogging goals, and achieving them :)

Have you ever made a personal goal that really had no relevance to anything? Back around August of 2007 I made a comment about points, and someone on here said they had given 10,000 comments. That number astounded me as I was still pretty new, and couldn't even imagine anyone commenting that many times on other people's Posts. From that day to now I made it a goal to give 10,000 comments, and to always have my comments given be more than the comments received. I have finally achieved that goal today! I am so glad that I happened to notice the number, and have my last 5 comments be for people that have made a positive impression on me, and the 10,000th was saved for my all time favorite Active Rain member, and personal friend, Sally Cheeseman .

My first 5 Active Rain comments made were to:

Will Blog Spam Kill AR? - "Would You Support a "No Points" Rule for Blog Posts Less Than 200 Words?" Rob K. Blake - My very first comment made on this network on his Post was the following:

"Sometimes the best words written, or spoken are the fewest.......I remember in my Journalism classes the instructor stated we must "be concise". Then 25 years of writing reports for the Probation Department further reinforced this....just the facts mame, just the facts. I have written a few replys on various sites, but never write much, just say my piece and move on. Blogging for the sake of blogging is new for me, and it sure isn't for getting points -oh now, have I written 200 words :) "

2. The Value of Online Transactions Tools by Kathy West

3. Does Your Real Estate Website Comply with Your State License Law? Jim Crawford

4. Email Server Upgrade Beth Young

5. Are you HONEST about Open Houses? Kaushik Sirkar (not active now for a year)

Funny but of these 5 only 2 of them do I even know who they are or what they are doing today. But of these last 5, I actually know and care what they're doing, and would miss them terribly if they weren't here. Each of these last 5 (and I could only do 5 cuz that's when I noticed the comments) are special to me in one way or another.

Jacksonville NC - Soup In A Bowl! Cynthia Tilghman from Kingsbridge Realty, Inc in Hubert, NC Cynthia has been one of the people that I have a deep respect for and have ever since I found her on a stormy day on AR :) Anyone that has a client that is moving to Onslow County NC, and specifically to Camp LeJeune Marine Base or New River Air Station I would unequivically recommend Cynthia Tilghman .
Somebody had a question; my synapses answered. Jason Sardi -PA Mortgage Banker I remember when I was new and would see Jason with Sarah C. and Sally C. but was leery to comment on his Posts as his sense of humor is so different from mine :) Just as I found Cynthia during a storm, Jason found me and gave me an umbrella :) Anyone that wants an honest, knowledgeable person to do their FHA-VA-USDA-Conventional-Pennsylvania Loans call Jason Sardi. I have spoken to him a few times and wished he could have done my personal loan (but he's not currently licensed in CA).
Feng Shui Long Island in Bethpage New York--The Seeds we Sow Carole Provenzale Owner, Feng Shui Long Island & New York another one of my long time virtual friends. I would read all her Feng Shui stuff although I never believed in it...but little by little I found myself asking questions and opening my mind. I have talked to Carole many different times (for hours at a time) she's a fascinating person, and very easy to talk to. If you know anyone in Long Island or New York that needs a Feng Shui Consultant call Carole Provenzale.
Ok. my 9,999th comment is on: "Real Estate Showcase" Slideshows and Google Debe Boucher of Memories DVDs Slideshows "Real Estate Showcase" Debe was a REALTOR for years, and in January decided to leave Real Estate and concentrate on her other love-photograhy and making Shows and DVD's of listings and stuff. Call Debe Boucher if you want more information on making a DVD of your listings. Click Here to View A Real Estate Showcase Demo!
Now here is my 10,000 th comment.....I wanted to remember this comment, and remember whose Post it was on, so I actually waited for my friend Sally to Post something new. She has been such a wonderful friend, as well as a Wonderful Active Rain community member, so I decided that I would use her Post for my long awaited 10,000th Comment Given :

And the Post that allowed me to reach my Goal:

What's the Scoop on VA Home Loans in Hawaii? by Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman HAWAII Relocations & Real Estate -REALTOR with Century 21 Liberty Homes. "Sally" as she is known on Active Rain does a phenominal job with Military Relocations, so how approrpriate that her Post on VA Loans is the one that I get to comment on. For those of you that don't know, I am also ah Honerably Discharged Veteran that qualifys for a VA Loan....yep, even more appropriate for me to find someone that understands these loans....so anyone that is looking to buy or sell on the Island of Oahu Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is the person I would highly recommend.

And I really want to thank everyone that has written something

that has contributed positively to this community,

it's such a wonderful feeling to reach my Active Rain Goal.....10,000 Comments Given!

By: Kathy McGraw- Veteran, Former Peace Corps Volunteer, Former Little League Manager, Pop Warner Commissioner, Rotary Member, Foster Mother, Mother, Grandmother, Artist, Writer, and Photographer.....in other words someone JUST LIKE YOU that sells Real Estate in Riverside County CA.

Posted by Kathy McGraw, Riverside County CA Real Estate on 03/08/2009 04:37 PM

Comments (40)

Blogging Goals-Giving Back in the ActiveRain Channel

cynthia tilghman, jason sardi, carole provenzale, debe boucher, celeste sally cheeseman, blogging, achieving our goals

Post is included in group: POSITIVE ATTITUDE for the Weary Soul
Post is included in group: The Art Of Marketing You
Post is included in group: Arizona Real Estate
Post is included in group: Almost Anything Goes
Post is included in group: Addicted to Active Rain

40 Comments on Active Rain: Setting Blogging goals, and achieving them :)

MAR

Congratulations, what an inspiration to everyone on AR. I will use you as a role model to commit to blogging and commenting consistantly and more often.

Congratulations on achieving your goal, Kathy, and how sweet of you, to wait for a post from your dear friend, before making that last comment.
I will be looking for comment 15,000 - I'm sure it will be another week or two. :)

hi K, at just over 5200 comments and under 114K points I see I have a lot of work to do, if only I could get an extra 12 hours in a day. ;-)

Congrats on comment # 10,000! At times I think of you and Sally as sisters the way your words & ideas fit so well together!

that was soooo sweet of you....and double sweet from marti too.

I think of us as sisters too....kinda sorta...heck..we talk like it on the phone huh? I commend you for a long job of commenting and going there with all your mentions of your commenting and reciprocating. I don't care what anyone says....reciprocating is where I made plenty of friends...and it does matter to respond to the people who commented on our posts. I may not be able to get to all of them....all of the time....but I sure as heck try.

I can't believe you actually waited for me.....I am so honored Kathy...and I'm so glad we crossed paths. This wonderful network...of meeting and growing and connecting and actually making friends through netoworking with peers is just ....astounding. ...okay, bizarre but wonderful :)

Congratulations on all your hard work and effort to get here...it shows your dedication :)

Keep singing in the rain, Kathy. (((And a big hug)))

Hi Kathy - Congrats on the goal you set and your achievement. What a great challenge it is to each of us. It is my personal goal to give more comments than I receive, but it will be awhile before I reach the 10,000 mark. Congrats again!

Marlene

Hi Kathy, Congratulations on meeting your goal! 10,000 comments does seem like a lot of work, and I , like you were, am astounded by that number! Very cool to save the 10,000th for someone special!

Kathy, I just stopped by to see if you'd posted today, and was surprised, honored and touched to find myself on your list, and to be a part of you reaching your goal. Congratulations to you, a woman of committment, dedication, courage, and talent. I think you are awesome.

Debi

Hey Kathy,

Congrats on all your hard work! No doubt you're a star in the Rain.

What an awesome goal Kathy - to focus on leaving comments vs points. Congratulations and thanks for all you share.

Kathy, I remember that post you wrote! And I thank you for your wonderful words. I still remember how thrilled I was to answer the phone and hear "This is Kathy McGraw." And yes, when we talk, we TALK :) I love hearing from people from ActiveRain and you are one of it's treasures. You've given back a lot of comments and it's so true: The way to have a friend is to BE ONE.

Terri- Hi, the one thing I learned was not to pay attention to other people's numbers during your quest. Just Blog as it is comfortable for you, at your own pace.There will be people that are always ahead of you, and ones that are behind, but you just do the best you can. consistency and follow through, with a lot of caring thrown in, and you'll make it. Would you make a note to send me the link when you accomplish your goal :)

Sylvie- Oh I am so glad you are here on this Post :) I saw my numbers when I was only 5 away or there would have been a lot of people I would have wanted to be on this list, including you :) It took me a year and a half to get to 10,000, I sure don't think I can get to 15 in 2 weeks, at least not if I want my comments to be meaningful to the Post, LOL :)

marti- another one I am ecstatic to see on here.....Very funny, you are one of the biggest givers in the Rain, every week, consistently. You give free graphics, tutorials, wallpapers, calendars, advice, and a Group Recap...how in the world could you go around any more than you already do and still have a life :)

Sally- Thank you...I really did want that comment to be on your Post, and had everything ready waiting for you to Post something new; I couldn't do the graphic until after the Post.... LOL :) You were there in August 2007 when I made that commitment. Do you remember we were joking around, and comparing comments.....so how could I not wait for you :) Anyway.....I too try to answer everyone on my Post but also make sure I go to as many people as I can on their Posts. It has gotten a lot harder to do, but we do the best we can. Thank you my good friend, for everything, I too am glad our paths crossed....destiny for sure :)

Jason- My almost favorite :) yes, I read your comment this isn't Horseshoes or handgrenades....but hey your sister has top spot...want me to kick her off..... LOL :) Anyway, I loved the song....and thank you from the bottom of my heart for that umbrella! You are one very special person for sure, and all of us are lucky to have someone like you here.

Marlene- I just love seeing your smiling face, and hopefully I will actually meet you when you come out to the desert. Slow and steady many times wins the race. The 10K was my goal, so as long as you have given more than received then you are meeting your goal :)

Mary- I understand....I watched many people on here more concerned with how important 'they" are, and how many subscribers they have, or how many Features.....all these seem so superficial to me. I never cared about all that, Several people burned out by spending too much time on here, and not balancing it, Being this is a community, it is about give and take, and it intrigues me to see who are the true givers and the true takers :)

Debi- Your story touched my heart, and since that day I have been a fan. I absolutely love your photography and what you are doing now that you aren't selling Real Estate. Let's pray for a sooner rather than later turn in all our markets so people can earn a living at what they love and do well. There are times that the new is just as valuable as the old, and this is one of those cases :) I am so glad you are here!

Lynda- Oh thank you....everyone of the commenter's here are Stars in my book :)

Debbie- thank you :)

Carole- Let me first start by saying I love your new picture :) I too remember the first time I called you. The only one I haven't talked to is Cynthia ummm don't really know why, except she has a little one and I hate to interrupt family time. Anyway, I absolutely agree that in order to have a friend you have to also be one. Thank you Carole for being you, and helping me reach my goal ;)

Hi Kathy, A wonderful post and congratulations on meeting your 10,000 goal and also for honoring our mutual friend Sally. I am quite a few comments behind you but I would exactly the same thing. It's Cool we think alike on things like this.

William- Hi there friend....I was talking about you this evening to another friend Ann Cummings, and telling her about your Post so long ago about your tablet PC and how that Post was one of my all time favorites. It taught me some new things, and made me see that I had learned a lot on here without writing Posts, just reading and commenting :) Bottom line is I remember a few things where we think alike besides our choice of becoming friends with Sally :) Don't you ever change who you are William....you're a special person here as well!

MAR

Thanks, Kathy, for this nice article of encouragement for us and others about writing of articles and blogging and following through to support your friends. Best wishes to you.

That's a lot of comments. I don't have commenting as a goal per sé except for one day last year when I wanted to see if I could leave 100 comments in one day. I left 139 that day. It was a lot of fun, but more importantly, I got a lot of great information that day.

My goodness ou really worked at it. Congrats on that great achievment. I am off to set some goals for my blog.

Kathy looks like you and I shared the same goal. I also set a goal to make 10,000 comments on other members blogs, and I achieved it a few months ago. Making comments on other members blogs and encouraging them is a great way to give back to the ActiveRain Community.

Hi Kathy, Congrtulations on reaching your goal of 10,000 comments. I have left about twice as many comments as I have received but am far from having 10,000! You are an inspiration.

MAR

Bravo Kathy !!! What a terrifically inspiring post ! And so meaningful in how you planned out your home stretch to 10,000 ! ... very nice, I liked this post a lot :o)

Cheers and Congrats Kathy

Sheldon

Of course you don't need a grade for this wonderful math you're doing, but I'm just going to go ahead and give you a big, fat "A"...and A+++++++ for fantastic effort and achievment...Very Well Done!!

That's great Kathy to have a goal and keep working on it until your finished. That must be the same way you run your business. Way to go and reach the goal line. What's next?

Lynn Meldrum

MAR

Harrison-Steady and consistent...remember that story from childhood about the tortise and the hare :)

Russell- 139 Comments in one day...oh my. I don't read that fast :)

Terry- Goals are a good thing to keep us focused.

George- Oh no...I missed your accomplishment Post....I am not surprised that we might have a similar goal. I have loved watching you throughout the rain :)

Hi Shirley-Just keep doing what works for you...Blogging is fun for me, but it's also work.

Sheldon- Why thank you sir....I'm just glad I happened to notice :)

Mara- Of everyone on here, I just love how you say things...you remind me of a mermaid, and your words are like a butterfly...beautiful and fluttering.

Lynn- What's next...I am trying to get the 3M Resources Group going to help people that are having a hard time. I am going to use my logistics skills to help coordinate ways that each of us can help each other. You can read it here Real Estate: Brainstorming ideas for helping each other survive

Kathy you did not miss it, I did not write a blog about it, but maybe I will when I hit 15,000 :)

Wow Kathy, 10,000 is alot of comments! I have left more than I have received - but I'd have to check on the number - far less than 10K I'm sure!

Kathy - Congratulations on your goal and achievement. I have a long way to go but you inspire me to keep on being active on AR.

MAR

Interesting goal there....I like how you want to give more than what you get, that type of attitude always pays off in the long run. I hope you don't mind if folks mimic your method, it is a great one to have here. I think that I won't be that ambitious starting off - if I can manage 10 comments a day, I'll be happy (and I'll probably get to 10,000 comments within the year...)

MAR

Good morning Kathy—Congratulations for reaching your 10,000 comments goal! You are a great example for all of us... always giving more than you take. I recently set a new blogging goal, but I'm adding another about commenting. Thanks for your inspiration! Have a great a weekend.

MAR

YOuare such an inspiration to me! Congratulations on reaching your goal Kathy!!

Kathy:

If you attack every goal with the attitude that is exuding from this post, you must have a lot of accomplishments already under your belt and many, many more ahead of you. I am impressed. Go Girl!

Kathy -- congratulations on meeting your goal! mine has been to post more comments than received -- and never thought of 10,000 comments! - great for you. And BTW -- how did I miss that your were a PCV? What country? I used to do a lot of pre-departure and some in country mid-service trainings for them. Loved it and the PCV's too!

Kathy - congratulations on meetng your comments goal! I never thought about this before.

MAR

George- Glad I didn't miss it, nor your 300,000 one :)

April- Amazing how the comments add up when you just comment on your friends Posts :)

Rosalina- you can do it...whatever your own goal is.

William- I love what you said, and how right you are....the rewards are great when you give more than you get. I live my life that way, always have and probably always will, regardless of whether it's in the Blogging community or my real life one :) Good luck on reaching your own goal.

Linda- Well the week-end is over now, and I did have a good one, hope you did too. What's your new goal?

Cathy- I think we all inspire each other, keep at it :)

Judi- Thanks, and yea this is pretty much how I do things when I make up my mind that's what I want.

Alexsandra- Now isn't that interesting...about your previous work with Peace Corps? I was on Twitter tonight and was talking about recruiters coming to our area in the next few weeks, and that I was seriously contemplating re-applying. I was Romania 7, and loved what I did, and learned to do trainings very well over there :) We should talk...are you going to the Portland REbar Camp in April?

Rebecca- Funny what makes an impression on us, and that long ago Post and the comments set my AR course......

I think I am more impressed with the fact that you have made more comments than you have received. I tried to have that goal when I started and then I got to the point that I just could keep up. I also didn't game the system like many do and make an individual response to every comment they get, just to increase their numbers.... You know who I'm talking about.

Wow Kathy -- Congrats...10K comments, that's wonderful. I have a long way to go, but it's the journey, not the destination, but having and meeting milestones gives one a great sense of accomplishment -- and motivation! :-) Have a great week.

Hi Kathy - You are quite the dedicated blogger,and one that "gets it", making the effort to reciprocate. You joined Active Rain just a few months before I did, but you have more than 7 times the number of comments made/received! I think I'm going to need to allocate more time to this if I'm ever going to see those kinds of numbers!

Hi Todd-Thanks, and yes I know who you're talking about :) With the amount of Posts you put out, I totally understand. Looking foreword to meeting you in Portland for the REbar Camp.

Chris- Everything is about the journey and what we do along the way. Nice to see you again this morning....have a great week also.

Karen-Serios we started about the same time? Well, I am sure glad I found you on Twitter, and that you are a Rotarian....that gave me the incentive to call you. It's not really about the numbers, this was just my own goal, as I work best when I have something to work towards. That's why I like Real Estate my clients and I have the same goal :)

MAR

Hi Kathy - funny what a small world it is out there, isn't it? I know how the numbers can drive one, but it's the knowledge being shared and the personalities sharing it here on AR that keeps me coming back for more.

MAR

Karen- Absolutely....I have made some fantastic friendships (in real life) from my time on here. Even on Twitter I have met some photographers and others that are all over the world. Nice for sure :) I will be driving up your way for the REbar Camp and would love to stop for a coffee and meet.

Dear Kathy,

Congratulations on reaching your goal! That means you have read at least 10,000 posts and reached out to AR members 10,000 times!

I love it when someone new comments on my post! I can track them down, read their posts, and see what is going on in different parts of the country. I have found a lot of new friends that way.

Thanks for sharing.

Barbara

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