HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018!

Last updated on November 5th, 2020 at 12:04 pm

January 1st.

The time where many rest and recuperate from the holiday season, but for me, it’s the time of the year where I’m putting in work. Between my ambitious year-end wrap-ups (2700 words and counting…); the lists I prepare for the year ahead, and the work I put together for my Tales from the 2.9 Black History Month series, it’s not where you see me at my most relaxed, even with Christmas out of the way. Add a trip to Dad 2.018 and a couple of parenting keynotes in a month’s time, and I think there’ll be plenty to keep me occupied in the “slow season”.

In some ways, I did it to myself. Whenever I explain how busy my life is to others, they’re often quick to point out it’s a problem of my creation, putting so much of myself and my time into a blog whose reins I’ve held ever firmly for the past seven years.

But that doesn’t mean I ever intended to do it alone. Even from day one, I sought collaborators out among my family and friends, thinking that things would be simpler if we pooled our resources instead of everyone trying to be top dog and stepping on each other’s toes as our brands grew. I kept trying to make partnerships happen for years, but it never came together.

Some of it was me and the ever-increasing demands in my life keeping me from developing yet another project. Or those who didn’t share my vision or stood convinced they were better off alone when the market was rife with opportunities. Whatever the reasons, the fact is that I have a mountain of work before me today, and as far as I can see right now, I’m the only one who can get it all done.

But I’m far from hopeless. Far from believing I’m the best suited to manage everything on my plate right now, but right now I’m all I’ve got. I’ve got blogs to write, contracts to sign, reports to compile and a brand to develop—what was once just a hobby is now enough to keep a team busy… and you know, maybe it should.

I’ve been working on a post—”My Quest to Become the Pirate King”, where I take a look at the group I need behind me to grow this brand to its potential. Styled after One Piece—the most popular manga in the history of the Japanese medium—it’s helping me define the roles and tasks I need to make this all work. There’ve been friends who’ve wanted to help, but I’ve never been able to articulate what I need help with.

But 2018’s going to start with a few good, hard looks at myself, and maybe it’ll help me help the answers I need.

Happy New Year, Everyone—Let’s Make 2018 One Heckuva Year!

I’ve spent year after year noting that the past year was the busiest I’d ever had. 2017 was the first year I’d even started with a plan. 2018’s the busiest I’ve ever started a year, but also one I’m excited to face head-on. It won’t be easy by any stretch of the imagination, but I feel everything I get up to in the year ahead will yield real results if I do them right, so I’m going to do my best to keep myself in good performance condition so I can do just that.

In short, a very happy new year to everyone. After much waffling, I’ve decided I’ll indeed give my 2017 the send-off it deserves and continue my tradition with a 2018 100—it might just take some time to get there. With seven pages double-sided yet to type with only about a quarter of 2017’s stories told… yeah. We’ll get there.

Happy New Year, one and all, and may 2018 give you everything you’re looking for! If you need me, I’ll be right here trying to make the most of mine.

One day down, 364 to go.

Until the next,

–case p.