IPO

The initial public offerings (IPOs) of promising companies are events generally greeted by much enthusiasm by the public. After all, IPOs usually mean that outsiders get to partake in the fortunes of a company that they hope will lead them to greater fortune.

Although I already have two previous entries here, I consider this my IPO. But let me clariffy first that I am using IPO here loosely. I do know that it is a business jargon, I am just using the term because this is what it is- an initial offering to the public. Others may argue that given the blog’s nature, opening one automatically is a public offering. But I like to think that since I did not identify myself nor informed others about it, my blog was able to retain some semblance of privacy.

No, I won't be offering any stocks nor do I have any delusions that this is a promising undertaking deserving of cheers. Also unlike companies that decide to go public, I do not have any grand aspirations that this space can offer riches of the worldly kind to those who would take the time to read the entries in it or even to me who will be providing the content. Basically, this is just an effort of another person to add clutter in cyberspace.

Again using business comparisons, my attempts at blogging could be considered as high-risk ventures for my readers (I am assuming of course that there were people who actually read my blog regularly) as my blogs were prone to folding. My previous attempts at blogging failed due to ignorance and lack of confidence. I abandoned the first one, frustrated at not being able to figure out how to manipulate the layout. The second one I decided to close after suffering fits of insecurity with my writing skills. Not the most encouraging of signs but I am beyond feeling those things now. I think.

For the second reason I mentioned for abandoning my blog, I have to say though that with the people I work with and know, feeling insecure about my writing skills is as common as eating pan de sal in breakfast.

Anyway back to this blog. The articles I will be posting here will be mostly in English. The Pinoy ones I will reserve for the online publication I am planning with some friends. The entries will deal with basketball, particularly the Houston Rockets and my two fantasy league teams, politics, journalism, the economy, and everything in between.

So that I won’t act rashly as before, abandoning my blogs on whim, I’ll look at this not just as a form of recreation but an extension of my profession, something that can help me improve at what I do.

And speaking of work, I am fortunate to be in the industry I actually like. There are times though that my fondness for my job is not enough to motivate me to work. This sentiment also extends to my blogging efforts. Hopefully I will overcome these feelings this time around by, as I said, looking at this as a professional undertaking.

I’ll end this with a great line from basketball Hall of Famer Julius Erving as quoted by the late journalist David Halberstam. ( I had a hard time trying to figure out how to get this quote in because I really want to end this with something profound so that I'd sound smart.)

“Being a professional is doing the things you love to do, on the days you don’t feel like doing them.”

Hear! Hear!