Blog to Ditch Your Job Without Having Your Job Ditch You

If you don't have one already, chances are that you've at least considered starting a blog or online journal. The ready availability of user-friendly blogs makes having a voice on the internet easy, entertaining, and sometimes even profitable.

But remember that with a voice comes a whole lot of responsibility. If you're a seasoned blogger with a solid readership, you probably already feel a sense of commitment and responsibility to your audience. But what about responsibility to yourself?

Over my years of blogging and reading the blogs of others, I have stumbled across many disturbing stories. I was a long-time reader of a man who was let go from his job due to the hilarious but troublesome stories he posted about his workplace. Another online friend experienced being ostracized at the organization where she volunteered after other volunteers read some of her blog posts. I've also witnessed a college student facing reprimand after posting derogatory comments about colleagues and customers at her workplace on her blog.

As someone who gains much personal and professional satisfaction from my online writing efforts, I would never advise someone to avoid blogging out of fear of losing a job or creating workplace strife. However, anyone who blogs or is considering blogging should be aware of the potential pitfalls and act accordingly.

Here are a few tips to help make sure that your blog is working for you, not against you, in your professional life:

1. Never assume that "it can't happen to you."

There are a lot of people out there who laugh with nervous relief over that drunken one-night stand when they didn't use protection but managed to escape unscathed. But the unlucky ones leaving the doctors office with a brand new prescription and an STD are asking themselves why the heck they didn't run into the convenience store and buy some condoms.