An Attitude of Gratitude: A Thanksgiving/Holidays/New Year's 2009 Edition

Welcome to 2009! 

I'd like to wish everyone a Happy 2009!  I hope 2008 has been good to you.  If not, 2009 is a whole new chance to go after what you want.  As Celine Dion once famously scribed in an email, "a new day has come."  Wise words from the French-Canadian.  Admittedly, I can't believe another year has passed already.  It seems like yesterday that we brought Garret and Megan on board, but now Garret is a seasoned Pod veteran and Megan found a Mr. Clark to her Mrs. Sanders.  Our interns are also growing like weeds.  Time really does fly with kids...

Anyway, I know that times have been tough for many, but there is a very positive, upbeat feeling in the air vent here at 7125 El Cajon Blvd #5.  Perhaps it's the sweet aroma of fried plantains emanating from the grand reopening of the popular Copacabana next door or perhaps it's just the toxic fumes from Bond's Automotive Shop down the street.  I can't tell anymore.  In any case, it's kind of a tradition for me to list the things I'm grateful for during this time of year.  I find it really helps me gain perspective on all the people and things I've been blessed with - and there are many.  It's easy for anybody to complain and adopt a "woe-is-me" mentality - especially nowadays.  And hey - you may have a good point.  But to turn that around for a few minutes and concentrate on everything that's good in your life can be powerful.  So here's my list.  By all means, I hope you post yours to comments. 

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I am thankful for my family and friends, too many members to list in a blog.  They've been healthy and well this past year and that in itself is a tremendous blessing. 

I am thankful for my own health.  It's true when people say, "your health is your wealth".  Coming from a family history of cancer and disease, I never take my own health for granted. 

I am thankful to have a job that doesn't feel like a "job".  It's more like..."fun". 

I am thankful to work with and learn from my eBoost family.  In no particular order:

Micha, you are relentless.  This business is a testament to your dream of creating something special here.  Thanks for your friendship and for your leadership.  You bring the best out of us. 

Jen, thank you for everything you do to keep us running.  No matter which obstacles come in our way, your pragmatic optimism keep us in line, keeps us in check, and keeps us going forward.  You also pop out really good-looking kids which the world appreciates. 

Meg, in the short year you've been with us, you got our accounts receivable and payable to the best condition they've ever seen.  But aside from that huge accomplishment, its the integrity in how you do it that is most inspiring.  Congrats on your marriage!  Wishing you and Jackie a long, happy, healthy life together. 

Nick, thank you for answering the call every time; you have the rare ability to harmoniously be the ultimate team player and the ultimate leader - I wish more people understood that those two roles are one-and-the-same.  I love the fact that you never see a ceiling in anything that you do - you lead by example and it's contagious in how the team has adopted that same mentality.  No matter what you achieve, your humility remains the same.  Congrats on your acceptance in the SDSU MSBA program! 

Amber, there is great irony in the observation that undoubtedly the most "green" personality of our team set the most audacious "red" goals for herself in '08 - unsurprisingly, you exceeded your own expectations.  Thanks for showing us that you can literally will yourself to succeed.  Congrats to you and Josh on your wedding! 

Forest, you epitomize our mantra, "Create Your Own Tomorrow".  A service line solidified, a new house, a new move - you made the most out of 2008.  Thanks for inspiring us to think creativity. 

Evan, thanks for everything you do to drive our clients' success forward and to assure our culture.  You turned the service level around and continually put your nose to the grindstone and power through work.  Your leadership is palpable in the example you set for all of us.  You keep us thinking about continual improvement and keep us laughing every step of the way. 

Garret, you were a missing link for us.  Thank you for grounding us and holding us steady.  Your discipline, both professionally and personally, are incredibly motivating to everyone around you.  And your good-natured approach to the team - especially to the Pod - makes working with you such a pleasure. 

Interns - 2008 was quite a busy year for all of you.  Thanks for choosing us to develop your professional capabilities - it's an honor that we never take lightly.  The work that you all produce drives us to higher expectations of our own work and that coffee you make keeps us running at full capacity.  Alpha Alpha, Alpha Beta, Alpha Chi, and now Alpha Delta - you all rock! 

To our eBoost Clients - thank you for allowing us to be your trusted advisers.  Inviting us, oftentimes very intimately, in your own business is a responsibility that we hold with great privilege.  With great challenges come great opportunities - we relish capitalizing on those opportunities with you. 

To our extended network- I am thankful that we have been able to reach so many people through this blog and through our work.  Even if it's from our mistakes, we hope you can benefit from our learning curve and then go on and teach and inspire others as well. 

To our most faithful readers: Matt Byers, Robin Gerlach, Amit Patel, Mike & Ryan Alfred - personally, you keep us writing and make it easy for me to share, realizing that it's just like we're sharing our journey, talking one-on-one, with you.  Best wishes, happiness, health and wealth to all of you.  Amit, hope you're doing well in SF.  Robin, glad to have you back in SD.  Matt, see you on our Executive Education day.  Mike & Ryan, one step closer to world domination. 

I could probably go on and on, but I'll stop there. 

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On a final note, I'm not big on New Year's resolutions, but it can't hurt to start the new year with goals and aspirations.  I've got a few things in mind for myself, hope you do as well.  For the eBoost family, let's see what we're made of - see exactly if there is a limit to our spirit.  I predict there isn't. 

Thanks for supporting the blog and our team.  Here's to '09!

Sincerely,
-johnny

(So who got Rick Rolled?)

Comments

[Matt]

Hey Johnny,

Thanks for the shout out! I am thankful to have a blog like this where I can come learn from the digital marketing experts and apply what I learn to my own business. You guys rock!

See ya in a few weeks,

Matt

P.S. Can someone please, please, please fix the RSS feed so I can be lazy and read the blog from my aggregator instead of visiting every day? Thanks!

[Micha]

Johnny - Great post! I totally share your sentiments and am looking forward to a kick ass 2009!

Matt - Thanks for letting us know the RSS feed is broken, I have the blog as my homepage so I never noticed.

Micha

[Danielle]

Even from afar, I can hear the momentum building at the Boost. I'm so glad that things continue to grow into greatness and am proud to have once been a part of this wonderful team.
Much love to all you crazy kids :)
-D

[dance]

thank you cool..