This is the story of how I met my best friend, Mountain Chang, through blogging on the internet.
In 2012, I was writing an article about Asian male masculinity.
Part of my sophisticated research was to Google image search “asian six pack abs.”
I found an appropriate pic:
Instead of “view image,” I accidentally clicked on the “visit” button that took me to Mountain’s blog.
I ended up reading his other articles about fitness, dieting and entrepreneurship. Dude lives an interesting life!
I figured we have a lot of things in common, and sent a message via his contact page:
Six years later, we’ve had many trips and shenanigans together, and even became each other’s accountability partners.
Can you feel the bromance?
The social benefits of blogging
Since I started blogging, all sorts of wonderful things have entered into my life: conversations, ideas and a new best friend.
This is Mountain’s response to my initial email:
Nice. Looks like the blog served one of its intended purposes: connecting with like-minded strangers. I’d love to meet up.
If you want to start a blog, consider the social benefits of writing that go beyond monetizing a blog.
Sharing your ideas – and reaching out to those who do – can lead help you connect to like-minded strangers.
I’m certain it’s how I’ll continue to build a tribe – online and offline. Maybe it can do the same for you as well.
Connect with me
Maybe you’re a stranger who stumbled upon my blog by random. Maybe you’re an acquaintance or old flame (??) from times of yore. So I want to open up these spontaneous opportunities to connect:
- Sign up for my newsletter (here or below this post) and reply to my initial “welcome” email
- Use the contact form in my about page.
- *New* Ask Me Anything on my AMA Page here.
Happy connecting,
Oz
P.S. It wasn’t until 2 years into our friendship that I told Mountain I found his blog by searching for six pack abs, LOL.