(fyi – i’m typing this entry on my phone with one finger on a train – so cut me some slack on the spelling….

My friend Lisa from Dallas used to bitch all winter long in New England. “My bones are cold!”. “I hate this shit.” “Exactly how long does one live without heels and a tan?”

When she wasnt complaining she would ask me – why I loved winter so much. I finally confessed – I used to hate it until I discovered that when it comes to winter it’s all about having the right gear. A gortex shell, a pair of uggs, fleece layers and a big furry warm hat and you are all set. Without the gear, you are screwed!

I’ve been blogging for less than a year and suck at it. I feel like a Texan in her first blizzard. I hate it and didnt see what the love affair was all about.

When i started blogging i vowed i wld write every day. It would be something earth shattering, ground swelling and smart. But 29 days out of 30, id think up cool ideas all day long but by the time i sat down at my desk at the end of the day (after the kids were in bed, the dog was fed, dishes done and lunches packed) id be too fried, brain dead or buzzed to recall any of those ideas. I started to wonder…how the hell does Chris Brogan get up a blog post everyday on multiple sites while speaking all over the planet and tweeting every 40seconds? How does Paisano hold down a ft job and manage so many social media partnerships not to mention clients? How did Lisa Johnson go from being a pilates guru to a social media one? How is Darren Hardy so darn inspiring every time I read his feed. Why is Dan Schawbel l not out drinking like I was at his age?

Yes, I will admit it. I’m whipping up a casserole of jealousy and admiration when it comes to my pals that are lighting up the world with their posts, tweets, updates, videoblogs and just all around awesomeness. It’s like a white out of inspiration. And then it hit me. Maybe I don’t have the right gear? What if I’m doing the equivalent of wearing heels and a sundress in a snowstorm?

Maybe having a 3 yr old blackberry that won’t tether to my Mac air is part of the problem. Maybe relying on wifi hotspots, ain’t the smartest strategy when I travel. Since I’m always on the go, shouldn’t I equip myself so i can blog on the go too? If I had the right gear, I might actually start to like blogging.

So I got the gear and for a whole lot less than a pair of new uggs! This is my first mobile blog post (typed w one finger) on the Amtrak train to NYC. I feel so empowered. I love this iPhone and free WordPress app. If I werent on a train I might just set this phone on vibrate and show it how much I love it indeed.

I’m on location shooting a new reality show this whole week. And this time, instead of freezing my ass off without Internet access in a 15 passenger van waiting for the next scene (like i did last week) I’ll be blogging bc I’ve got the right gear. I’m stepping boldly into the blizzard of bloggers and I plan to bring the heat!

The morale of the story – you know how you operate – so set urself up to win. I am constantly on the go, so trying to blog at home at night – what a joke. Get what you need – tools, support, a coach. If writers block is a problem subscribe to Brogan’s blog topic newsletter. If you feel isolated – join a community. Quit you’re bitchin’, get the right gear and get your ass out there. It’s fun playing in the snow.

Love, mel