"It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to." — J. R. R. Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring (2001 Film by Peter Jackson)
At the start of any journey, there is a belief you know where you will go. But like Frodo Baggins and his friend, Samwise Gamgee, they quickly found themselves swept off into adventure and danger beyond their imaginations.
Was it a bad thing? Being swept away and put into difficult situations?
At the day's end, many will agree that the fact they started on the road made the difference. It saved their world from darkness.
I think of myself as Frodo Baggins.
I started my journey back in May 2020 with the mindset, "I am a writer. I'm going to show the world that I am one. Waggish Writer will be my way."
That was how I started my journey. Then, like Frodo and Sam, I found myself swept away in what it meant to have a blog.
Then, it comes down to a choice. A choice between what is easy yet wrong and what is right yet difficult.
At the Council of Elrond, in the midst of all the arguing between the elves, dwarves, and men about what to do with the Ring of Power, Frodo stood up.
"I will take the ring, though I do not know the way," the halfling told the silent council. They stared at the smallest person present but with the greatest courage in his heart.
His greatest courage was to do what was right for the world at great risk for himself.
The choice I came to is what do I want to do with Waggish Writer? What was my Why now?
Frodo's Why on his journey was to protect the Shire, his home, from the evil that would seek the Ring of Power in his possession. That's how his Why started.
His Why changed at that council of men, elves, dwarves...and don't forget halflings!
He was going to protect the world from the darkness threatening all.
My Why had shifted from merely putting my own writing out into the world.
I want others' stories to be told. I want to help fellow creators succeed in their dreams.
What is the greatest weapon Frodo and I share?
Courage to take the first step forward on a new road.
Frodo chose to take the burden of the Ring and travel to Mordor.
I chose to rebrand Waggish Writer to reflect my new Why.
I am a story-seeker. I am seeking stories needing to be told.
I am a content writer who weaves your story into LinkedIn social media posts, LinkedIn articles, and blogs, being armed with a wealth of writing experiences and years dedicated to the craft.
I am also an eccentric experimenter, willing to try projects that enlighten, entertain, and enrich the lives of readers, being armed with determination and willingness to learn on the job.
I shall take the same courage Frodo showed and begin my "Road to Rebrand" with my first step: "The Why."
Bilbo Baggins, Frodo, and Sam had "There & Back Again: A Hobbit's Tale" to tell of their adventures to future generations.
One day, when I reach the end of my road to rebrand Waggish Writer, I have two goals:
Write "Road to Rebrand" - an in-depth article where I explore my journey in rebranding Waggish Writer
Create and present to the universe "The Rebrand Roadmap" - a listicle of side destinations individuals who are on similar journeys to rebrand themselves as an individual or a business should stop by on their journey to rebrand.
But consider what Bilbo Baggins once said:
“Don’t adventures ever have an end? I suppose not. Someone else always has to carry on the story.”
Will that be you?
Until next time, have a wonderful life. <3