The holiday season traditionally
includes time to celebrate with friends and family another year gone by.
The holiday season is also a time for reflection and anticipation: looking at
the year gone by and ahead to the year in front of us. When I look back
at the past year, I examine what worked, what didn't work, and what I have
learned from it all and what I should have learned from it all. There is
also that element of excitement as we look forward to the New Year --
2010. (Have you noticed that we have gotten so used to referring to
previous years in this century as "oh-eight" or "oh-nine"
that many are referring to next year as "oh-ten?" Why wouldn't
we simply refer to it as "ten"?) The holiday season
provides us a seemingly magical transition from the old to the new as if this
season provides us a fresh, new start.
In reality, this symbolic
"transition" from 2009 to 2010 is merely a flip of the
calendar. When you really think about it, moving from December 2009 to January
2010 is fundamentally no different than moving the calendar from November 2009
to December 2009. Yet, there is something magically symbolic about moving
into the New Year. This is very similar to the seasonal transitions from
winter to spring as people seem to get a lift from the warmer, sunnier days of
spring. Or moving from the first half of the game to the second- your
competition is the same, your teammates are the same, the referees are the
same- but hopefully it will be different.
There is an uplifting anticipation associated with anything new.
However, making this symbolic new effective and meaningful in our lives,
involves more than a party or a celebration or a flip of the calendar. It
requires understanding and commitment.
To that end, as you ponder and
reflect and celebrate the transition of 2009 into 2010, I encourage you to look
at four aspects of your world:
1. Where have I been?
2. What have I learned?
3. What will I change?
4. Who will I help?
In my world, the lessons learned
in 2009 are extensive. In order to keep this section length appropriate,
I have left out my experiences and thoughts as to each of the above
questions. If you want to hear and relate stories, contact me, I would be
happy to share and learn.
That said my 2009 featured
challenges I could not have predicted or expected and also provided wonderful
friends and contacts who have had a significant impact in my life. As I
look ahead to 2010, I am excited about building better relationships with the people
and becoming a better husband, father, and businessman. Yes, 2009 was not
much fun. But, it was a great learning experience. I look forward
to applying the lessons learned from the past to provide fundamental change and
opportunity in the upcoming year.
I trust your reflection and
anticipation exercise will be as enlightening and productive as mine
were. More importantly, I look forward to sharing in the excitement of a
very productive, prosperous, and powerful new year with each of you. Best
wishes to you, to your family, and to all of your activities in 2010!!
Prescribed by,



