Ugh. Four personal posts in a row. I really try not to do that. But…
I’ve been vacationing on home turf (Palm Beach) for the last week. For several reasons, it’s always tough to come and go. Although, I think many people feel the same way about visiting family and where they grew up.
So… combine coming home with the start of a new year (and decade), some big decisions and moves and you get a lot of jumbled thoughts, emotions and the possibility of defining moments. But, I’ve also been thinking that they’re not true defining moments. They’re moments that are “forced” because of new year “pressures” and fear.
I hate both.
I’m stubborn. I hate doing things half-assed. I hate being pressured. And I hate being told what to do. Yea… great combination, huh?
After the last three days, I can’t say things are becoming clearer. In fact, they are still quite muddled. But, I do think that “forcing” change or making a decision just because it’s a new year and that’s what you’re “supposed” to do is silly. Instead, I’m pausing. I’m waiting. And best of all, I’m choosing my defining moments; I’m not letting them choose me.
Ever since I published Cool Things of the Decade, I’ve been thinking about the events I chose and the reasons why. I wish I could better articulate why. I mean, why choose losing your virginity over the first time you said, “I love you” and meant it? Maybe I’m not such a romantic sap after all 
Maybe losing my virginity encompassed so many more memories 
Anyway, there’s a lot of events I didn’t choose and there’s some intriguing ones that replaced them. It doesn’t make the events I didn’t select any less important. Past events help to shape your life, but they certainly don’t need to define your future.
Like many, it hit me a bit late that this was the end of a decade. Although the Top 10 lists are overdone and even more so for the Decade Lists, I still wanted to document one cool thing for each year.
- 2000: Named Editor of the Year
- 2001: Lost my virginity
- 2002: Became a Zeta… thanks Division I swim team!
- 2003: Met my Back Alley Friend
- 2004: Got a tattoo
- 2005: Graduated from UM
- 2006: Moved to Vegas
- 2007: Met someone who I had to rearrange my mind for
- 2008: Signed my first year-long lease
- 2009: Became the youngest Director on the Las Vegas strip
Whew! It’s amazing the life events that happen over ten years. Looking back at these, there’s so many more unbelievably amazing memories, but I promised – one (happy) event per year, no combinations (ok, ok, I cheated for 2002) and none that came with an anniversary date.
While end of the year Top Ten lists get obnoxious, it sure is fun to look back on last year’s 10 Cool Things of 2008. I can’t believe it’s been a full year since making that list. But, here it is, ten cool things of 2009 (in date order):
- I was a bridesmaid with my best friends
- I started a new job… the youngest Director on the Vegas Strip
- I got a hammock. I’m in love
- I gave my first keynote presentation
- I got invited to speak at many a conference in 2010
- In a time when people were being laid off left and right, I got four job offers, all promotions
- Thanks to the FIRST flash mob in a Vegas casino, I had a #1 video on YouTube
- I visited a lot of new cities and a few old ones
- I rediscovered skiing. I’m a total ski bum
- I put myself out there for the first time. Ever. Fairy tale ending or not, at least I did it
If you’re an internet marketing geek, you were excited, intrigued and took notice when Google went live with their real time search feature. Alas, after seeing it in action for about a week, I’m sorely disappointed. I hope they fix it soon, otherwise we all might Bing instead of Google things
The buzz of course is that real time search will (a) change the SEO game and (b) bring your “social brand” front and center. Yep, all great (and scary) in theory. But the reality? Real time search is NOT relevant (yet). Unfortunately, the non-relevancy is sure to put a bad taste in savvy searchers’ mouths and confuse the rest of the population. Take a look at the below screenshot about a search for “Twitter Grader”. The top two (real time) results have nothing to do with twitter or a grading tool.
Google seems to see the issues and has removed real time search for larger queries (i.e. “Las Vegas”), but until they fix the algorithm, real time search won’t impress or help anyone.
Foursquare and how people are using it intrigues me to no end. From a personal standpoint, it’s creepy as hell.
Here’s some of the things that make me scratch my head:
- People will “friend” anyone, including brands. Why? It’s amazing that people are okay with friending random people, but don’t want targeted ads. The idea of privacy has certainly come a long way.
- Taking privacy a step further, most accounts are tied to a cell phone, email address or both. Really? You’re going to open up your personal cell to random people?
- With twitter, you often hear, “Why should I join? I don’t care what you’re eating for lunch or the rest of your mindless dribble.” Yet, Foursquare is EXACTLY that. People (including myself) update when they’re at the grocery store, gym, Starbucks, work, etc. Maybe I don’t follow enough people, but rarely does someone give a “shout-out”, let alone a shout-out that includes a link to an interesting article or something funny. What do the shout-outs usually include? The mindless dribble people give as the reason for not liking twitter
- Sure, many argue that with a tighter circle of friends (assuming you only friend people you know), your message is more impactful. But, when will the messages matter enough to be important?
From a business standpoint, I LOVE Foursquare. There are certainly some great opportunities, especially as more people join and the Foursquare team continues to make updates and open up their API. However, I don’t think we’ll see people abandon Twitter to solely use Foursquare any time soon. But, I do see both of them playing very nicely together.
The more things change, the more they stay the same…
Before writing this, I went back and read Five Years. To be honest, my feelings haven’t changed much:
- Some days are hard. Really hard. Other days are a bit easier.
- The holidays and milestones are still rough
- The sound of an ambulance still derails me
- The smell of lavender has yet to enter my home or office
- Some memories continue to fade. Others are as sharp as the day they happened.
- I’ve never wished to give back a single moment to alleviate the pain
Six years. Wow. Among other milestones, you’d be a first grader.
In loving memory… today and always.
Oh yes, this guy is for real and too funny not to post. Gotta love the “not so high rollers” of the Vegas Strip.
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