STEPHEN HOPSON INTERVIEWS - A new interview series at AdversityUniversityblog.com
Stephen Hopson is one of my new best “buds” on the Internet. He is the ”Professor” at his blog called http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com, one of the most popular personal growth sites.
Recently, he ran a contest to name his new interview series. And guess what? I WON! The name that got the most votes was Stephen Hopson Interviews.
The prize was an autographed copy of Chicken Soup for the College Soul, where one of his articles was published! Can’t wait to read it.
His first interview was with the celebrated Australian blogger, Albert Foong at http://www.urbanmonk.net
Thought I would share a sampler of it with you today as an example of wonderful things to come! Good luck with your series, Stephen!
Albert, one of my favorite questions when I want to learn about someone is by asking them to give me their 5-second introduction when I pose the question: ”What do you do for a living?”
Hah, I read your post on that, it’s a very good one. In the old days, I would say something boring like I design websites, or I run my own business and study at night. But now I just say I’m happily unemployed, or I scrub toilets, or I’m homeless. Their reactions are priceless, and also a good way to see if they’re worth making friends with!
Tell me in 3 to 5 sentences something we can’t read in your bio or at the “About” page at your blog, The Urban Monk.
Hmmmm..when I started out in Personal Development, it was first in sports psychology and peak performance. I was doing full contact martial arts and boxing, and wanted to overcome my fears along with wildly swinging performances. Then I got into the whole social side - public speaking, a bit of fashion, dating and leadership. But I still wasn’t happy, there were deeper issues underlying everything else. And so I got into psychology and spirituality.
Why did you start Urban Monk?
It was originally 80% to make money like the A-List bloggers and 20% to help others. But now, as I get more comments and feedback, something has changed. Sometimes I hear from people who say my blog got them out of depression, or anger - a few of them were even suicidal. Others had been victims of of child or sexual abuse, and my writings helped them to forgive and heal.
It really stunned me and I realized what I was doing - so now the ratio has shifted to be more 20% money and 80% just for its own sake.
How do you come up with the topics you write about at Urban Monk?
I come up with the topics simply because they reflect what I’ve been doing with my own growth. For example, I’d try to find out why I’m upset over a relatively small matter, and discover that it is connected to a deeper issue. So I’d share how I came across that deeper issue in my blog.
Or if I realize that my own growth has been stunted to due to pride, I’d go out and investigate how to overcome pride and find humility, and share it as best as I can.
Perhaps for this reason, many readers have commented that it really strikes them how my posts are exactly what they need to hear.
Finally but not least, where can find out more about you?
Bits and pieces of my life have been hidden in these articles. If you use your imagination, you can probably find out everything about my life, except the dirty little secrets. Heh! Heh!
Thank you very much for the interview Stephen, I really appreciate it.
And thank YOU Albert for being a willing interviewee! You are the first guest to be interviewed here so I guess I should congratulate you for having that distinction.
To read the entire interview part one and two - go to –
http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/2007/12/04/interview-with-albert-foong-of-urban-monk-part-i/
and
And for more information on Albert Foong - go to his blog at
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR NEW SERIES, STEPHEN! WE ARE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO IT!
Corinne:
What a delight to have my new interview series at Adversity University be showcased here at your blog! Thank you so much!
Congratulations on winning an autographed copy of the Chicken Soup book. It will be on its way in tomorrow’s mail. I bought a copy of it at Border’s yesterday and autographed my story in it. I think you’ll enjoy reading it. I’m thankful that my story continues to be stocked in bookstores all over the country, giving me an opportunity to inpire untold number of college students and their families/friends.
Your idea for the name of the interview series was absolutely brilliant. “Stephen Hopson Interviewes” is a marvelous way to taking my self-branding efforts to a whole new level.
May you enjoy the first day of the new year with renewed self compassion, love, courage, strength and hope. Thank you for becoming my internet “buddy.” It will be a day of rejoicing when we finally have an opportunity to meet in person!
It was fun for me to win your contest. I think you are a great interviewer as is shown in this snapshot of the one you did with Albert Foong at http://www.Urbanmonk.net.
We look forward to your further contributions to the close family of the personal growth bloggers.
It is more and more apparent to me that we are united in bringing help and solace to this troubled world and to the the people who read our articles - and to ourselves.
Corinne:
Indeed we are a part of the close family of personal growth bloggers and I’m excited and proud to be a part of it. We are attracting the right kind of readers to our respective communities and it can only continue to enlarge over time.
It’s all about developing quality relationships and being united, like you said, in brining help and solace to the troubled world which we live in. I am blessed to have you as one of my partners in doing this kind of work.