2010: Ending but not forgetting

So I’m sitting at the Subaru dealership getting the driver side door handle fixed on my forester. While I’ve been waiting it has been playing over and over in my mind what 2010 has been for me, both personally and professionally. It being December 30th and as my family gets ready to receive some friends from out of town to celebrate New Years I guess its only normal to be in a contemplative mood.

I’ve been driving around not being able to open my driver side car door from the outside since right after Thanksgiving. I believed I could at least hold out till after winter driving my car with it’s handicap for at least the season, thus avoiding the car shop and ridiculous expense which I was sure to absorb. But after a month and two snow falls (unheard of in middle Tennessee in December) my patience ran thin and I gave in. I made the appointment yesterday and today, December 30th, 2010 I sit here. But instead of fuming over how much money I’m going to shell out, I decided to reflect on this past year.

To sum up in a few simple words of what 2010 has been for me would be “a year of learning.” Yes, I have been extremely busy and yes, I’ve enjoyed some successes but overall I’ve learned a ton! So to end this year, thought I would share some short simple lessons that I will never forget:

- Do not underestimate the value you put on your art
- Do not indulge in the idea you will make a lot of money with your art
- Impossible? Try it
- Surround yourself with people who have similar vision but not necessarily similar skills
- Set aside time for idea generation, at least once a week
- My iPhone (and now my iPad) are great resources and productivity tools
- Research, listen and learn… often. There’s always someone else that knows more than you
- Pick up a Seth Godin book now… any of them, preferrable all of them
- Learning leadership principles apply in any job role
- Be organized! Creating but not delivering negates the value of your art
- Don’t be afraid to share what you know
- Share what you know… it’s a form of giving and giving is good!
- You CAN do a 7 camera DSLR multi cam production!
- Editors! Get the Lock & Load X plugin! It’s a must have for your tool kit!
- Gearheads (and I’m one of them!) look into renting instead of buying, can save a lot of cash flow
- Debt sucks! Don’t do it! (so I learned this lesson a long time ago but I feel it’s worth repeating every year, even to myself!)
- if you have family, make time for them. No matter how busy you are, you must not neglect them. Your art is meaningless if you lose your family in the process

Well thats about it, nothing too long. I’m not one of those who gets much out of the “101 things you should know about social media” and then break up one idea into 4 items… LAME! But, I do feel these are things that can be helpful. Even if you know them already, it’s good to hear them again!

Happy New Year and best wishes to all for a prosperous and joyful new year!

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