Well, whaddya know? After more than a year (much more, though I don’t remember exactly how long, that’s how long it’s been), I woke up at 4:50 am today to see this email (bolding mine):
Subject line: Alltop Submission Accepted
Thank you for submitting your blog or website for inclusion in Alltop. We’ve added the feed to the PR topic:
4:50 am is not usually when I tumble out of bed, bursting with energy. It’s when I get up – slowly – to ease my body into the day and before starting my workout (today’s Bootcamp day).
But this morning, I literally jumped out of bed. Had my husband and dogs not been sound asleep (except for Suzy Q., my Corgi mix, who I’m convinced sleeps with one eye open so that she can be at my side the minute I stir), I would have let out a gleeful war cry or started singing, “Na na na na… na na na na… hey hey hey.. Alltop!” (Completely not a celebratory song, but it’s what popped into my head.)
Are you laughing at me? It’s ok, I’m laughing at myself. But the thing is, ever since Alltop was created, I wanted WUL to have “confirmation that it kicks ass.”
I desperately wanted one of those badges. After all, all the cool kids had them! I’d even tell my guest bloggers that was one of my goals for WUL.
I know. A badge in and of itself doesn’t really mean anything. It’s the desire you imbue it with that gives it meaning. There aren’t a lot of badges I aspire to – I got over my Girl Scout days a long time ago (yes, I was a Girl Scout) – but this one, I did.
Call it silly. Call it irrational. Call it social media stardust in my eyes.
Call it what you will.
But now I have confirmation that we kick ass.
And I’m happy!
I have no idea why it took the Alltop team so long to review my submission (I’d periodically wonder if I should resubmit, but then pushed the thought to the back of my mind). I figured they’d looked at WUL, exchanged knowing winks and nudges among themselves and trashed my submission, but were too kind to email me a Dear John letter. I’d even stopped fretting over it. And then the email came.
Maybe that’s why the email came? The whole “when you stop worrying the universe puts things into place” thing?
I don’t know. But I do know that today, I am happy.
And while I’ll never know the reason why it took so long, I do know that all of you, my guest posters, readers, friends, acquaintances, friends I haven’t yet met (thank you, Matt LaCasse for that great term), make WUL what it is.
Which is why I selected a “confirmation that WE kick ass” badge as opposed to “confirmation that I kick ass” one.
Together, we really do.
Booyah!
[…] We bloggers like badges. Right here on WUL, there are a few that I’m proud of (you’ll remember how thrilled I was when we finally got the Alltop badge). […]
[…] The Baconator on Social Media November 14th, 2011 | Shonali Burke | 0 Comments TweetWe bloggers like badges. Right here on WUL, there are a few that I’m proud of (you’ll remember how thrilled I was when we finally got the Alltop badge). […]
@Narciso17 @hackmanj Thank you! Also @ericamallison for sharing. :)
@Worob Thank you!
@JGoldsborough Thank you!
@bdorman264 Not with you.
@Shonali Be careful; that baggage can get real heavy real quick……….
Congrats, Shonali! Welcome to the group.
I always knew you and your WUL team kicked ass, but congrats on the designation. Woohoo!
@TheJackB@bdorman264 This became the equivalent of the house party while Mom was out. Love it.
@bdorman264 You would always get to tell everyone you know me. Just as, I hope, I get to tell everyone I know YOU…
@adamtoporek Thank you! It’s comments like yours (the “we already knew” bit) that have really warmed my heart. Of course no one needs a badge to show they’re good… but I can’t deny that it does feel good!
I’m definitely going to watch the subscriber stats, as well as the traffic, to see if this makes any difference. Of course now I’m also going to obsess over content more, LOL.
Cool beans, so do I get to tell everyone now I know you?
Congrats, especially if this is something you were trying to achieve. Yipeeee….
@guykawasaki Very cool of you to take the time and very classy response. Kudos!
Shonali – congrats! Of course, I already knew you kicked butt, but I don’t have a cool badge, so I guess this is better. :) Well deserved for sure!
Now, please do us a favor and track your subscriber stats. I’m very curious what the impact of the listing will be.
Cheers and congrats again!
Add this to the Peter Shankman/Mortons customer service discussion under win. @guykawasaki gets credit here for making the appearance and providing an honest response. No B.S. and no spin. I like it.
@NEENZ Thank you for taking the time to stop by. :)
@HowieSPM LOL. Did you see @guykawasaki ‘s comment just above yours? Dude rocks.
@guykawasaki O.M.G. This is the one comment I absolutely did not expect. Thank you!!! I will send you an email asap! Also – your team is terrific, especially Will.
Sorry about the delay. What can we say? May I at least send you a copy of Enchantment to show that we know what we should have done? Need your address–please send to Guy@alltop.com.
Thanks!
Guy
You know it was because Guy Kawasaki saw I guest posted and punished you! 8)
Now to write some killer posts on measuring Public Radio.
You wrote about resetting. I have to say writing posts steadily is tough as you can tell from my erratic creative spurts LOL. So great job to all.
My apologies for taking so long, no real excuse except that while manually going through each feed, I’ve missed some. I appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm, once again I apologize for my oversight. Aloha.
@bdorman264@Shonali Yep, it is filled with rocks.
@Shonalibdorman264 Hmm…we have hung out together so I suppose it is a bit harder to sell the I never smile bit.
@TheJackB@Shonali And did you know you will break your hand if you hit him in the head; don’t try it……………just sayin’………..
@TheJackB You’re not that serious. Remember, I’ve Hung Out with you! bdorman264
@Shonali I would never ever think of messing with anyone. I am far too serious to try to pull your leg or anyone else. Now if your name was bdorman264 I might have to say otherwise. ;)
@jennimacdonald Thank you! I did show it to him as soon as I got back from #mybootcamp – I don’t think it would have made any sense to him if I’d woken him up, LOL!
Congrats on achieving your goal! I still would’ve shouted and woken up my husband though, he could’ve gone back to sleep! : )
@PattiPalmer1 Oh, how kind of you – thank you SO much!
Btw – I say “y’all” too. I picked it up from a Texan friend a few years ago, and now I think am physically unable to say “you all.” How funny is that for a girl from Calcutta, LOL!
Hooray for you and your” WEam!” Well-deserved, Shonali! I subscribe to your blog and try to read it every day. When I read today that y’all (I live in the south) kicked ass, I was so excited for all of you.
I don’t call it silly or irrational at all. I call it cool!
Cheers!!
Patti Palmer
Charlotte, NC
@TheJackB Hmm. Nope. Unless you’re pulling my leg…
@Soulati | PR I think I’ll go with the “I’ll never know until I see it” approach. Makes it more fun!
I do owe you that, don’t I? OK, you’re next up…need to get a juicy PR topic going (ahem, like the one I just posted about Christine O’Donnell, Heh)…so we can have a party. Whatchugot I should do? Or, you’ll never know til you see it from me! @Shonali
@Shonali OOPS! Puppy it is:)
@Shonali The information on how to find them should have been in the Welcome to Alltop gift basket they sent over.
@rachaelseda Thank you! And just as long as you don’t want me to do a video like @Soulati | PR … :p
@TheJackB There is an Alltop terminal in airports? That I did NOT know! Where do I look for ’em? And thank you, Jack! :)
Woo hoo!! So excited! It’s definitely well deserved. I am grinning with excitement for you!!
Validation is always nice. I was very pleased to get both of my blogs into Alltop. The best part is when you go to airports and get to hang out in the Alltop terminal. I have thanked Guy on more than one occasion for this.
@ShakirahDawud Are you kidding? You’re a HUGE part of this, so congrats to YOU and thank you!
@shonali @Narciso17 @skypulsemedia @JGarant @AmritPa1 @Bryce_Keane @MattLaCasse @ericaholt @iherwin Fist-pumping inside! Go all!
@SocialMediaDDS It really is! Thank you! I can’t stop using exclamation points!!!!!!
I’ll repeat: WUL IN THE HOUSE! Lady, you’ve been banging on all cylinders as long as I’ve known you. Alltop’s LATE! But hey, better that then never, right? Thank you so much for extending the celebration to us all!
Wow @Shonali …what a great gift this morning!! Congratulations!!!
@JodiEchakowitz Yes, it is! Thank you!
@Soulati | PR LOL! Tell you what; when we meet, I’ll sing for you. Deal? And thank you! Um, when are you guest-posting here, btw?
@KDillabough … and bootcamp! Thank you so much, Kaarina. Um, can I have a puppy instead of cake, please? :p
@Al Smith I know, waiting can be such a PITA! Thank YOU, my friend and back at you!
@shonali I’ve little doubt of that. :)
@MattLaCasse The armored truck bit totally made me ROFLMAO. Oh my goodness, what would I do without you, Matt?!
You’re no minions, my friend. Your posts totally kick ass. Else you wouldn’t be allowed to publish here. :p So thank you so much – for everything!
@EricaAllison Isn’t it funny how that works? But that’s always happened with me. You’d think that by now, I’d know to stop worrying, LOL. Thank you so much!
@Krista Me too – thank you! And you know, I was so psyched this morning, that I kicked #mybootcamp ‘s ass this morning as well!
@Narciso17 The TV show?! LOL. Thank you, my friend, and for having faith in WUL when it was a little bitty baby – not that it’s all grown up now, but at least it’s a toddler… :P
@KenMueller I’d created an account a long time ago as well. I remember how nervous I was when I submitted it – would they laugh at me, would they think I was stupid…! I’m sure you’ll get accepted… maybe it will take a while, but WUL is living proof that it happens!
Talk about a happy Thursday! Congrats @Shonali !
I needed this on video. That. Is. All. Congratsamunga.
Woohoo my BB! You rock it, my friend! I’m singin’ and dancin’ and runnin’ in your honour. Sending cyber cake and balloons and ponies and single malt and….party!!!! Cheers! Kaarina
Congrats Shonali. Good things happen to good people and good things come to those who wait. Not a big fan of that 2nd one, but I know you are “Good People”. Really happy for you. So glad we connected.
Thank you for your support and continued success to you, my friend.
Al
Group Hi-5! @shonali @skypulsemedia @JGarant @AmritPa1 @Bryce_Keane @ShakirahDawud @MattLaCasse @ericaholt @iherwin #WUL is ‘Syndicated’
@MattLaCasse Don’t worry. If it does, I’ll beat it down.
@shonali This is true. I just like to make sure my ego is in check. If it gets out of control…bad news, friend. Bad news.
@MattLaCasse LOL. What nonsense. You know very well you’re no idiot, like that or otherwise.
@shonali It’s probable that you did. It’s even more probable that I forgot because I’m an idiot like that. ;)
@MattLaCasse Didn’t I tell you? It was so long ago, I’d stopped thinking about it!
@shonali I’m kind of glad I didn’t know you’d applied otherwise I’d have been in a tizzy myself!
@MattLaCasse Happy dance!
@Narciso17 Aww. Group hug. :) @skypulsemedia @JGarant @AmritPa1 @Bryce_Keane @ShakirahDawud @MattLaCasse @ericaholt @iherwin ..out of space!
@Shonali I just went over to Alltop, and apparently I have an account there that I don’t remember creating, but apparently I did some time ago. I also don’t remember if I ever submitted my site, so I resubmitted. If I did submit previously, it was so long ago that I have no memory of it whatsoever. Now to see if I’ll get accepted…and when!
This is just in. I’ve just been told by my good friend Awesomepants McGee that this is by far the most awesome news one could hope to receive on a Thursday morning. Other than having an uncle you knew nothing about leave you an armored truck full of cash, of course.
It is a credit to @Shonali that she’s even willing to share credit for this achievement with those of us who guest post for her or comment her on a regular basis. We may help, but at the end of the day my dear, this is YOUR blog. It’s YOUR hard work and effort that have turned it into the blog that it is today; we’re just your minions waiting to steal the moon with you.
Booyah!! Congrats, Shonali! Well deserved!
It is indeed when we stop worrying about something that “it” happens, whatever “it” might be! Love it.
Oh, and the music is great, too!
@shonali I’m Just Glad to Be Part of the #WaxingUnlyrical Team – Heading Up by a Great Captain Like You :)
@Narciso17 #booyah indeed! Congrats to you too!
@global_kiter Thank you!
Congratulations, Shonali! I’m happy that you reached one of your blogging goals :)
Hells Yeah, Shonali! It’s Like The Waxing Unlyrical TV Show Got Picked Up for Syndication :)
All I Can Say Is ‘It’s About Darn Time!”
@shonali Wow, congratulations!
@KenMueller Thank you!!
Congrats! You deserve it!