Greetings!

Another year for the history books and, WOW, what a year it was! The word I would use to describe 2009 is inspiring. So many out there are currently struggling or have struggled through a challenging economy with some losing their jobs and businesses and having to start over at square one. However, I have also seen some of these very same professionals fight the fight and come back with a vengeance.

Our first asset? Creativity. A challenging economy presents us with an incredible opportunity: a challenge. It forces us to leave our comfort zones so we can learn new methods of survival, acquire new networking skills and generate ideas and options from thin air. It also forces us to become better at what we do.

We have been fortunate to have online social media platforms such as Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube to enable us to make the entire world aware of our talents and services in an instant, at no charge. I became committed to learning how to ride the ever-changing waves of online public relations and marketing, which has strengthened my abilities and benefitted my clients. I took “old school” strategies and combined them with the new media. More importantly, I made new contacts and friends, which leads me to our second asset: each other.

I guess now we can finally get over the fear that computers will eventually cause everyone to become Howard Hughes type recluses. Networks are constantly evolving. People are actually helping people by getting each other jobs and gigs, hence spreading the money around. From what I can see, the human connection is growing stronger through technology, not weaker.

So, here is my final take on 2009 and my prayer for 2010: This past year has been a learning- through-fire period for so many of us. Now is the time to kick it into action. Now is the time to be better than yesterday. Now is the time to recognize our two greatest assets: Our creativity and each other.

May Gd bless you and yours with a happy, healthy and successful new year.

Sincerely,

Daniel