Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving 2012 is a chance to reflect on all that I am grateful for: health, family, friends, and the opportunities I have been given.

“What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner.”
Sidonie Gabrielle Colette

It’s mid-day on Thanksgiving 2012 and I have taken a break before dinner is served to review the list of what I am thankful for.

Health: I have lost 50 pounds in the last year. It’s “a good start” on what I will need to do to be able to explore the year 2040 on foot–I would like to remain conscious, curious, and capable for another three decades.
Family: Too few entrepreneurs realize the wisdom of J. S. Bryan’s advice: “Many men can make a fortune but very few can build a family.” While my health enables everything else my wife and children sustain me.
Friends: I have been more systematic about reconnecting with old friends and rewarded with candid insights that can only come from folks who have known me for a while, they have both the perspective and the willingness to share.
Opportunity: I have been very fortunate to continue my collaborations with Peter Cohan, Mark Duncan, Terry Frazier, Steve Hogan, Anthony Scampavia, John Smith, Dorai Thodla, and Pete Tormey, I have started new projects with Scott Sambucci and Michal Domanski that I find energizing and believe will form the basis for long term collaboration. I am grateful to those who have opened doors for me in the last year: Eric Ries invited me to speak at the Lean Startup Conference; Minesh Amin allowed me to attend the Python conference; Tristan Kromer invited me to mentor at the San Jose Startup Weekend; Lisa Solomon invited me to present at an MBA in Design Strategy course at the California College of the Arts.

“The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you.”
John E. Southard

A roundup of Thanksgiving Day posts.