The year is over but the people of this year have left a mark on my life that goes beyond the turning of a calendar page. Support, encouragement, challenges, contests, and more were brought to me through and by these men and women.
I’d love to be able to break them down into a Top 10 list, or into distinct categories, or give each one a label, such as Top Pesterer. It won’t work. Each of these individuals has contributed in multiple ways to the course of 2008.
Simple messages across the void to in person meetings, these people shared and listened. This post is just to share a little bit about them, both to help remind me and to show respect. Join me please for this small bit of memory chasing.
In no particular order…
- Susan Reynolds and Connie Reece – These ladies, whom I met on Twitter, were two of my earliest encouragers and knowledge instillers. Susan is a complex person being artist, blogger, and business woman. Her hands on sharing about Twitter, Second Life and business were just a few of the things she brought to the table. She also introduced me to Connie Reece. Connie is a busy woman herself, being a leader of BlogHer, running a business, and also providing leadership for Social Media Club. Between them I was given a big head start in the social networking world and a spur to get serious about blogging. They lead me to the next folks on my list.
- Liz Strauss and Terry Starbucker – Liz and Terry uncovered me as a blogger and social networker. This was in big part from Susan and Connie spurring me on. Liz and Terry not only included me in their circles, but Liz nurtured my inner SOB potential. It didn’t stop there, when next they invited me to attend SOBCon08. This event was the most significant event of year of my blogging and social networking life. I’ve written about SOBCon elsewhere on the blog but these two did more than provide a conference. They challenged me to take my blogging game to the next level. Thanks to their push, I won all expense scholarship to SOBCon08 via my blog. SOBCon brings me to my next group of folks.
- Becky McCray, Chris Cree, Rick Mahn, and Sheila Scarborough – I could write all day about these folks, but let me tell you what they have in common. All of them run their own business, all are bloggers, all are experienced in social networking. Best of all, they are part of my SOB Advisory Team. Each has given up their time, resources, and more for me and each other. Introduced to me at SOBCon, the bunch shared a vision of doing more than just keeping fond remembrances of that weekend. That vision has lead us to team up, sharing ideas, encouraging, and when needed, badgering each other. I can’t express enough how much I appreciate them.
- Trish Forant, Tracy Lee Carroll, Christine Taylor, Marti Lawrence, Glenda Watson Hyatt – These ladies may not realize it, but they’ve got a lot in common. All are business women, all are bloggers and social networkers, and something else. They’ve all been like sisters to me. Trish, Tracy and Glenda have been there with me pushing me on to get to SOBCon, take me to new heights in networking but it didn’t end there. Each of them has shared highs and lows with me this year. They have listened to me whine, laughed with me, cheered me, and told me when I’m being a smart-ass. Oh, they are so different in personality and tastes, each brings a unique style and wit to my life. All of them have taken the relationship beyond 140 characters. I hope we are always friends.
- Duane Myers and Erin Kotecki Vest – These two are a pair. A pair of what I’m not saying. One’s a Conservative, the other a Liberal. One likes scotch, the other a good wine. Both are social networking, blogging, and offline networking gurus. I’ve had a chance to learn at their feet so to speak. Duane and Erin have shown me things that challenged my views, ticked me off, and yet spurred me on. Duane and Erin don’t let you rest on your laurels, heck, they don’t rest on theirs, or for that matter, rest much at all. Both demonstrated to me the need to keep moving, keep working, and keep influencing. They’ve schooled me on my attitude, as well as talked me up. Neither probably realizes their influence this past year, Erin especially. I couldn’t pass up acknowledging them though. You could do worse than to just listen to them.
- Vicky Hennegan, Michelle Vandepas, and Karen Putz – I met these three at SOBCon08. Thanks again to those that lead me there. Vicky and Michelle saw more in me than just another blogger or social networker. These women, like those above, are business savvy, bloggers, and more. All have another wonderful talent, that of encouragement. They have drawn together, though with my stumbles, to form another group to share support, advice, and just listen. These ladies aren’t just sitting on the side lines online or off. Vicky and Michelle, and Karen too are involved in projects for coaching and educating adults and children. Because of them I’ve been moved to a spirit of generosity I’d never known. That’s taken the form of giving to and support numerous charities throughout the year but it went beyond that. They told me to give time as well, in the form of guest blogging and directly supporting other bloggers and social networkers to success. If you like stuff I’ve done this year, you might want to thank these three personally.
There are so many more of you that I’d like to mention. One group though has a bunch of you in it, the St. Louis Bloggers Guild. The Bloggers Guild is a change making group in St. Louis. I was asked to get in on the ground floor and couldn’t pass it up. (thanks to all of you above) The guild gave me a chance to be a better blogger not just in the writing sense but in terms of responsibility to others. Responsibility for honesty, courage, and respect to those offline and on. It also gave me a chance to lead, instruct, and share that wasn’t open to me before. Cheers to all of you!
Insert the other 2,000 names here. Thats for the ton of you that came along side this year. You listened, you shouted, you danced, you laughed, and you shared. You brought your best, your worst, and tolerated the same from me. I had the chance to meet some of you in person and feel incredibly blessed by that. A strong desire of mine is to meet as many of you as I can, even if it’s just to shake hands or give a hug.
I promise not be be a stranger. I ask that you keep me in your thoughts.
Thanks for one of the best years of my life – 2008. Cheers to you all.
Yours,
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Tags: blessing, blog, Blogging, SOBCon, SOBCon08, Social Networking, support, team, Twitter
View Comments ↓
RT @Tojosan: @DivinePurposeMV you were mentioned here – http://tinyurl.com/a6dck3
@Tojosan woaw. Generous blog post. I found new peeps to follow too. Thank you. http://tinyurl.com/a6dck3
What a wonderful idea to post your top friends for 2008! @Tojosan ‘s here: http://is.gd/ekbF
Looks like I'm going to have to work harder this year.
Such a generous blog post. I'm looking forward to getting to know you better this coming year, and hopefully again at Sobcon. I felt so out of place and so at home at the same time at Sobcon, you helped welcome me. Thanks.
Oh, P.S. I found new people to follow above!
Oh Todd, I am so honored to be included on this list! Mighty fine company! Many blessings to you my friend! All the best in 2009!
Liz,
You should get an award. I hope my post helps you look back on 2008 fondly.
You make me blush about being generous. I felt like I shortchanged everyone.
You took time to reach out to me and many others this year. Brave and positive – what a combination.
Marti,
You've shown me trust, concern, friendship and more. Welcoming me into your inner sanctum and shouting out about me to your friends and more, those are more than I could have asked for. Thanks.
Todd, I'm so honored to be on your list–many thanks for including me and for your friendship. It was great to get to meet you this year.
Just to set the record straight, I'm not one of the leaders of BlogHer, although I've been privileged to speak at BlogHer Business and BlogHer in Second Life.
Happy New Year, friend!
Thank you Connie. You have impressed the heck out of me this year. It's been great having you along side.
Sorry about the BlogHer mistake, and just why aren't you in charge?! Ha.
Cheers to 2009.
Great list – but I think you misspelled my name!
You're always on my list babe!
Nice list with some awesome people.
((Hugs)) And you are one of the people who made my 2008 special! Wow, thank you for including me in such a fantastic group!
Thanks kindly Paisano.
For the record, Paisano has been one of the kindest and helpful folks I've met online. The fact that he's not included above does not reflect anything but my haste to get the list together.
Cheers Pai.
You're welcome. Cheers to a fantastic new year.
Thank you, Todd. I'm warmed to be included in your list. I have enjoyed getting to know your gentle and caring soul, and I look forward to spending more time with you in 2009. Wishing you and Sharon all the best.
Hugs,
Glenda
[...] year I left 153 comments (make that 154) in the blogosphere, excluding the ones I left during Liz Strauss’ Open Mic Nights and the [...]
Thank you so much for your friendship. Your a special person and in that way, people who are seeking true friendships are drawn to your spirit.
I totally agree with all the @SOBCOn peeps on your list, @SOBCon is the best conference ever with the best people.
Thanks for all your support on my projects, your great advice, and wonderful friendship. *You give a kiss to your better half, Nana* because she seems to only make you a better person, which is hard to find.
xoxo VickyH (@eeUS)
Glenda,
So wonderful to have met you this year online and off. I knew right away we'd be friends.
All blessing to you two in 2009.
I'll pass on the kiss for sure. Been great having you along side this year. Your encouragement to branch out on other blogs was spot on.
Keep me in mind for your future projects for sure.
Todd: I appreciate this article. It is great that you take some time to recognize that we are a community — worldwide as it is — contributing to each others conversation.
I thank you for being a member of my connections. We've shared some good conversations, some laughs, some insight . It's been fun so far! Have a great 2009 and I look forward to opportunities to engage in the discussions even further!
Gosh, Todd, thanks so much for including me on this list! I'm really honored – it has been a pleasure getting to know you.
I was so preoccupied thinking “business” at the last SOBCon that I didn't really focus properly during our conversations, but I hope I've made up for it on our Skype calls….and the beer I'll buy you when we meet F2F again.
Happy New Year!
Sheila
Thanks for coming alongside this year Rich. Can't wait to see what's ahead for us.
LOL – you are the most serious person I talk with I swear.
It's been good getting to know you more throughout this year.
Looking forward to continued growth in our relationship.
Cheers. Fair winds and following seas.
Todd, I really enjoyed this post. It speaks so much of friendships and the value in building relationships. That's what I think many of us have been looking for in social media, and you've captured not only a lot of great folks involved, but the reasons that make each of them so special
Thank you for being a part of my online world and I look forward to continuing into the future.
Thank you Rick. Glad to have you along. And honestly, there are tons of great folks. Wish I could capture them all.
Happy New Year to you, Todd! I'm looking forward to many more Tweets together and seeing you at SOBCon'09! Hugs!
I'm so happy and honored to be considered one of your top friends. I hope you know that you are one of mine as well. More like family really but you know what I mean. I love that you took the time to think about some special people and write a little about them. Some of them I already know and admire and some are new to me so I'll be following them too. Any friend of yours is a friend of mine and has got to be a great person.
I can't even begin to put into words how much you have enriched my life. You have such a wonderful, kind, caring and generous spirit. What you put out into the world always comes back to you so you'll always be surrounded by amazing people.
You're in my thoughts every day and in my prayers every night. Happy New Year my friend!
Thanks Kaaren. Looking forward to more time with you makes 2009 seem brighter already.
Dayngr, You've been a good friend and supporter this year. It's been great having you along side. You've given me the opportunity to shine in more ways than one. Thank you.
Best wishes in the New Year.
Thanks Kaaren. Looking forward to more time with you makes 2009 seem brighter already.
Dayngr, You've been a good friend and supporter this year. It's been great having you along side. You've given me the opportunity to shine in more ways than one. Thank you.
Best wishes in the New Year.
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