DeDivahDeals

Fashion and Fun after Fifty

Support from Strangers

SUPPORT FROM STRANGERS

As an entrepreneur I have found that strangers are much more supportive of my endeavors than most of my family and friends. I have been blogging for almost 3 years and have been an Avon Independent Sales Rep for more than 10, yet, I have gotten more support from you, my virtual friends (strangers), than from my own flesh and blood.

strangers are friends

Are you paddling in the same boat, or are your family and friends very supportive of your business or blog?  

I do have one cousin who faithfully reads my posts and then takes the time to comment. However, it always cracks me up when friends share a post or a link to another blog or video, yet had never “liked”, “retweeted” or shared any of mine.

When I host giveaways or do sponsored promotions, not one family member ever enters or shares the link…still trying to understand that one.  
support from strangers
Is it just me or do you encounter the same?  Sunday at the B.O.S.S. Brunch Tour, this subject came up and and thanks to Pastor Joyce, she reminded us of this Bible scripture:

When Jesus finished these parables, he departed. When he came to his hometown, he taught the people in their synagogue. They were surprised and said, “Where did he get this wisdom? Where did he get the power to work miracles? Isn’t he the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother named Mary? Aren’t James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas his brothers? And his sisters, aren’t they here with us? Where did this man get all this?” They were repulsed by him and fell into sin. But Jesus said to them, “Prophets are honored everywhere except in their own hometowns and in their own households.” He was unable to do many miracles there because of their disbelief.http://bible.com/37/mat.13.53-58.ceb

people in the streets

Perhaps things will change in 2015, I can only hope that they do, but even if they don’t, I want to thank you for all of your kindness and support in 2014 and

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

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35 Comments

  • Natasha says:

    I always think of that scripture when it comes to friend and family support. My husband is supportive and one of my nieces, since she blogs too but that is the extent as it relates to family. I have a few church members that follow faithfully but like you I’ve gotten more support from virtual friends! I’m curious to read others responses!

  • Thanks for this interesting post.
    Now that you point it out, I have experienced some of the same phenomena of friends who frequently share things on Facebook never sharing any of my posts. I have always just assumed it didn’t occur to them to do so… I think we do experience more support from the blogging community than our real-life associates – but I think that is because it takes being a blogger to truly understand a blogger!

    • DeDivahDeals says:

      Susan, and what I find most insulting is when they ask you to share something they have found online…RUDE. I do agree that only bloggers can understand another’s plight. Wishing you a happy 201

  • renxkyoko says:

    For some reason, that’s almost true in most cases. When they know you personally, there’s personal envy ? Sometimes I want to join to get free stuff, ha ha, but I need to have an account on Facebook or some other social media network, and you know, i only have WordPress.

    Anyway, Happy new year, a nd i wish you more success in all your endeavors. Cheers !

    • DeDivahDeals says:

      Thank you, I would love to have more family followers, but I enjoy reading comments from my virtual friends, so it all evens out in the end. Happy New Year my friend.

  • Thanks for sharing this scripture. This is something that’s really bothered me in 2014 but I am going to let it go for 2015. It’s wonderful to have support and I am grateful to extend my family with virtual friends.

  • Neti says:

    So true. . . My Niece who encourgaed me to blog and the many friends that used to read the newsletter do not read the blog. I often wondered why? Now I just don’t care because I am too happy with my blog Sistas. Happy 2015 my Sista.

  • Alisha says:

    I’m right there with you! My dad and neice (she loves my nail posts) are the only family that faithfully show support and read my blog.

  • Lynette O. says:

    Your post is very true! I supported my brother’s business, even promoting it for him, etc., but he didn’t support my endeavors at all. Go figure.

  • Maxima says:

    Happy New Year toYou and yours! This is gift for you !https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/501037

  • Most of us are in this same boat. If they support me great but if not that’s cool too. They don’t quite get it like other bloggers do. They don’t see us in the same light as strangers. Many of successful people have been in our shoes. Just keep pushing on.

    • DeDivahDeals says:

      Yes, I have to agree, we still have to keep on doing our thing and not allow others to stop us. My family sees that I am out there, but aren’t as supportive as I would hope. Happy New Year my dear!

  • I am so there with you! I have no family support other than DH who is my biggest and bestest supporter.

    • DeDivahDeals says:

      Good for you, I am still trying to make hubby my biggest and bestest supporter…he’s coming around now as the payments are getting bigger – lol. Happy New Year!

  • Mri says:

    Happy New Year mama xo! Look forward to another year of great shares & treats 🙂

  • I’m perfectly cool with my family and friends not actively participating in my blog. I use my personal facebook page to connect and engage with them. I feel my blog talks to a different set of audience and if my own relatives and friends are silent about my posts, it just means my topics don’t resonate well with them and don’t touch their needs, which is acceptable to me. A lot of friends love Mashable or HuffPost, and can’t blame them, I do too.

    What makes me happy are my virtual blog friends because we all speak the same language and we “get it” as what Susan and Mimi mentioned above. I also get giddy when my mom friends introduce me to others and mention that I have a blog or when they ask for thrift or styling tips. It means I’m reaching them somehow even if they don’t comment or participate.

    Great topic Antionette! All the best in 2015!

    • DeDivahDeals says:

      Thank you, and I understand and agree completely if your family or friends don’t have an interest in the thrifting aspect of the blog. But when they forward me something similar from another blog it does irk me…oh well. I am glad to have some many virtual friends and that keeps me positive. Hope you are having a great day.

  • My mom and sister are very supportive of my blogging. I have sister in laws who read regularly but don’t comment. I need to grow my local readership though. I am thinking about ways of doing that now. This was a great post and got me thinking. Thanks.

    • DeDivahDeals says:

      Gad you enjoyed it, I am also trying to increase my readership, but as long as I’m enjoying what I’m doing that’s all that really matters in the scheme of things….

  • Oh so it’s not just my family…LOL My Mom and sister read but I think that’s it. I’m thankful for blogger friends and my readers!
    http://www.robincharmagne.com/blog

  • Tricia says:

    When I first got started, My family and friends did buy things from me. I started out and still am a Longaberger representative. by 2004, I got looks from them saying, “are you still selling that?” I did not quit. I got a part-time in 2005 working at a scrapbooking store, which seemed to have shut them up for a while, until I told them that I was still selling. In 2009, I decided to start blogging, but I was still working at the time. They did not understand, even after I explained to them. I also opened an Etsy shop to sell some cards and scrapbooks at their request. Things started changing at the scrapbook store to the point where I decided to leave and take up being a business owner full-time. This is on top of the blogging and selling Longaberger products. I have not one sale, nor not one blog peek or comment from family and friends since 2005, and I post everything I write or sell on social media. My mom is the only one from the family who buys anything from me. She has not seen any of my blogs, because she does not use the computer. My dad is still wondering when I am going back to work. Sorry this comment is a bit long.

    • DeDivahDeals says:

      Tricia, please do not apologize for leaving a comment that expresses what I have found to be a common thread, the lack of support from family and friends. I am glad that I am not an island or paddling solo and feel like I have made more friends from this post – more virtual friends who “get it”. I love your tenacity and entrepreneurship…I wish I had half your energy, but if this is your passion, continue on with the pursuit and don;t worry about what others think…tell pops you are going “back to work” soon – NOT! Have a Thankful Thursday!

  • My mom quoted that scripture to us growing up so many times because there is so much truth in it. Before Jesus not being welcomed in his own hometown there was the tragic story of Cain and Abel. I’ve come to realize through learned lessons, that sometimes it’s best to be supported by strangers than people you know, especially when it comes to issues of jealousy.

    I think that I have a handful of family members and IRL friends who read my blog and even fewer that take the time to comment or click on the share button. It is what it is at the end of the day and I am grateful for the community of supporters that I do have, even if 90% of them are people I’ve never met in person!

    • DeDivahDeals says:

      K. Elizabeth, I am so glad to read your and other’s comments because I actually thought I was alone in this situation. Not that ‘s good, but it is nice to know that we share the same issues, yet, have found support with our virtual relationships. Have a Thankful Thursday!

  • […] Family and Friends on our personal page are different than Fans and Followers on our business page and unfortunately we get more support from strangers than from our own family – a topic I wrote about in 2014 on my first blog DeDivahDeals. […]

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