A funny thing happened on my way to planning for a New Year
… I threw it all out … every bit of it.

As a recruiter and coach, I gravitate easily towards setting plans and goals. In fact, I can become rather absorbed in the whole process, so much so that I very easily find myself falling for the whole “analysis paralysis” trick.

This year however was going to be different, plans were in full effect to roll out new technologies comprised of all the bells and whistles … you know all of the web 2.0/ web 3.0 hullabaloo.

Gonna do it … gonna be it … gonna ROCK THIS” was my motto.

And then … it all came crumbling.
… What happened?
… Where did it all go?

Somewhere in between all of the duct tape used to patch the scraps of creative genius together and my vision of a brighter technical tomorrow … I was left with nothing but a GIGANTIC mess.

So what next?
… breathe, acceptance, and back to the basics.

Now this is easier said than done, especially given my attachments to technical visions and extreme passion for workplace efficiencies. Plus my pride … oh Lord … that pride thing … I mean after all I told EVERYONE about what I was doing and when I was going to be done by.

But now … knocked to my knees … rocked to the core
… and humbled
… I sat … and sat … and sat…

In sitting I revisited my roots of having grown up Iowa. I remembered how no matter whether you knew the person passing or not everyone ALWAYS waved and smiled as you passed them by. I remembered how when someone was ill or needed support, the whole community would show up to help.

So in the midst of my preparing for all the grandeur of 2009, I remembered Iowa and just went back to the basics of nice, which surprisingly didn’t take anything more than thanking all of those who were in my 2008.

Thank you for being here then … and now. I look forward to sharing with you more in 2009.