Starting Without Credentials - But With Honest Questions.

Hi, I’m Vera Lin. I’m not a writer. I’m not an artist. I’m not an expert. I’m your regular gal trying to bring meaning to a monotonous life.

I’ve tried so many different things in life. Most of which are different forms of art, crafts, or hobbies. None of them seem to stick. I live in and out of phases of reading, abandoning my books, and starting a new project. 

Speaking of which, I doubt this will ever gain traction. Besides, I’ve only told my mom and husband, both of whom seem to roll it off their sleeves like my ever-changing entrepreneurial whims. 

So, really, what is a blog in the first place? People use it as a fancy term to refer to some form of conversational writing, but I find it to be just a stream of consciousness. 

Before I started writing, which I have done in the past, I researched a little about what makes a blog readable or have a following? A large part of the internet stated credibility. 

The irony about this first blog post is that I already stated I’m not credible by being unreliable, so there’s that. 

Once again, I researched the true meaning behind credibility. It means to be trusted and believed in. Which I’m not exactly sure I have. But I will ask, what makes something credible in the public’s eye? Is it designations, is it authority, or is it honesty? 

I believe it is your designation more than any of the others. How many titles you truly have like PhD, MBA, IOM, or the millions of other acronyms that are used to highlight overly priced and rather meaningless certifications. Although there is irony in that statement as I will be starting school in the fall to pursue my MBA. 

So, if I find it meaningless, why am I doing it? Ego. Without ego, confidence, and a fancy designation, I feel that I have no credibility. 

And I wonder - how many others feel the same? How many of us are quietly chasing credibility, hoping we’ll eventually feel like we’ve earned it? 

As my mother would say, “Focker Out”. 

(If you don’t get that reference, it’s okay, but I encourage you to watch Meet the Fockers.)