PowerBlog Review: Upgrade Your Mind

Editor's note: We continue our regular weekly series of PowerBlog Reviews of other weblogs with this, the thirty-ninth Review ...





Walk into the average bookstore today and you will find shelf after shelf of motivational books. Motivational publications and aids make up a thriving market in the United States and many other countries.



And now they've arrived in the blogging world, too. One example is the Upgrade Your Mind success motivation blog.



Upgrade Your Mind aims to start you on a journey of success. Thomas Pierce is the leader of that journey. Thomas blogs from Accokeek, Maryland USA, which is located about 30 minutes outside of Washington D.C.



As a motivational blog it contains --what else -- uplifting posts. Some posts discuss extracts of motivational books. Recently the discussion has centered around a book called "The Power of Focus" by Jack Canfield.



Thomas believes that "you are one thought away from change ... one idea away from breakthrough." He sees his role as that of encourager. He encourages people to go after their goals and dreams, one step at a time.



I asked Thomas about why he started to blog. This is what he had to say:

"Reaction to my 'type' of blog has been interesting since it seems most people like to be able to quickly classify the type of blog they are reading. Apparently mine isn't quite 'personal' and not quite 'commercial' in the eyes of most although they find my content useful.



I consider it a business blog really because my product and service is 'success motivation' and 'accelerated learning.' My blog is helping me build content, communication and contacts with others that will allow me to promote relevant products for my market and will also aid in the launch of a learning-on-demand website for an eLearning company I'm working on."

Improve Your Mind is just one of several small business blogs that I have run into recently where the blog was set up before the business was launched. The blog is used for gathering market research, cultivating prospective customers, and generating market demand. And, in this case, the blog is also being used to showcase the owner's capabilities and talents.



Even in pre-launch stage, Thomas reports that his blog is a good source of speaking engagements.



More important, perhaps, is the positive feedback he has received about the impact of his blog on others' lives. This testimonial is one of them: "You have no idea how much I needed this post tonight. Thanks to BlogExplosion and your blog, I finally found something useful."



One of the features about this blog that I love is the logo design. It shows a head with an "open mind." What better image could you have for a media property about motivational and success themes?



The Power: The Power of the Upgrade Your Mind blog is in the way it offers a perfect medium to carry on an uplifting, motivational conversation with customers and prospective customers. It should be a worthy complement to an e-Learning business when that business is eventually launched.