Take it Easy

"Take it easy... take it easy... don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy"
~Some classic rock band (I forget the name)

I'm spending the new year in Sanibel Island, Florida. It's a tiny beach community located on the Gulf side of the state. 2006 has been an amazing year for me--it's the year I started this blog. It's been a year filled with learning, inspiration, and insights. It has given me a whole new perspective on marketing, creativity, and innovation. And of course 2006 has been a year where I've met so many of you in different ways. Some through the blog, others through e-mail and others I've been fortunate enough to meet in person. 2006 has been the year I discovered another form of community. And I don't use this word lightly.

It all sounds great because mostly, it is. I've been extremely fortunate to have had the types of ecxperiences I have. But like many things in life, a pricetag comes along with it. Blogging requires an investment of time and energy that mostly exists outside the hours of 9-5. Staying in touch with your community is a commitment--one that requires you to look beyond yourself. Providing content with a unique angle takes both creativity, stamina and passion. Once you get the ball rolling, you want to keep it going in meaningful ways. And lastly, blogging requires the ability to balance. I've got a demanding career, a family that needs me, and my "non-digital" community that I don't want to neglect. It's a balancing act that is tough to pull off, though luckily I haven't hit a breaking point (I have come close several times though).

But it's all good. So this week I'm going to be writing from a different slant. The environment here is great. I love the saltwater, the sound of the surf and it's peaceful--I can already feel the batteries re-charging. Over the next several days, I'm slowing down my wheels, taking in the beauty and using the blog as a journal. I'm "taking it easy". You're welcome to tag along if you like...