If I hadn't blogged personally 10 years ago, I'd not have been approached to write a book for Apress. Without that book I wouldn't have launched the professional blog that was my main source of income for several years (more than the book was!). Without that professional blog, I wouldn't have got the podcasting gigs or launched the weekly newsletter which has now turned into 5 profitable newsletters and has just helped me become co-chair of an O'Reilly conference.
This is not to brag but to show the "chains" that can happen by putting yourself out there. It's totally unpredictable but increasing your "luck surface area" has amazing outcomes. Also, consider Jeff Atwood, a similar chain arises.
Thank you for the newsletters Peter, your success is well deserved! Just this morning, reading the latest JS weekly, I thought what a great service you are doing for the community.
I have had a similar more modest luck vector. The blogging got me selected for Google Summer of Code and opened doors for conferences, which lead to a book for Pearson.
This is not to brag but to show the "chains" that can happen by putting yourself out there. It's totally unpredictable but increasing your "luck surface area" has amazing outcomes. Also, consider Jeff Atwood, a similar chain arises.