It's a short week at the close of a busy, hectic year. It's also the time when many of us take our last breath before the sprint to make Q4 numbers while simultaneously shopping for the holidays. So during this all too short breather, a quick note about the people, ideas and values for which I'm really grateful. Thanks go out to...
The 3-4 sales people in every workshop I teach who are truly dedicated to the profession of media sales. I recognize your ambition and commitment, and they inspire me to keep doing what I do.
Those who read, comment on and forward The Drift to others in their companies. Because of you, meeting this weekly deadline has become something I look forward to.
Ad:tech and the past recipients of the Industry Achievement Award. To be recognized by such an amazing group last spring was humbling and inspiring. I feel like it's something I have to continue to live up to in the years ahead.
My wife Sharon and my daughters, Lucy and Madeline. I'm grateful that such amazing women choose to keep me around so that I can see the great things you each do for the world.
The people at iMedia, ad:tech, the IAB, AdMonsters, Evidon and Business Insider who've all given me the chance to speak or moderate at their events this year. I hope everyone who ascends your stages feels the same gratitude and commitment that I do.
Enduring, enriching friendships with people like Wenda Harris Millard, Scot McLernon, John Durham, Dave Morgan, Larry Kramer, Rick Parkhill, Tom Deierlein, Charlie Thomas and Mark McLaughlin. Through inspiration, support and advice, you've all contributed so much to what I do.
The advisors who continue to guide The Seller Forum into its tenth year, and the sponsors -- Collective/Amp, PubMatic and Mojiva -- who continue their commitment to this unique and valuable environment.
Tamara Clarke and Christina Ross who work hard every day making sure the experience of working with Upstream Group continues to be a great one. None of this would work without you.
All the companies who've been our customers this year -- for training workshops, Seller Forum events, Drift sponsorships, consulting and more. 33 Across, A&E, About.com, AccuWeather, Adap.tv, Adara Media, Adconion, Adobe, AdoTube, ad:tech, Amazon, AOL, AT&T AdWorks, BabyCenter, bizjournals, Bizo, Blue Kai, Bonnier Corp., Brand.net, Burda, Burst Media, Business Insider, Buysight, BuzzLogic, Cars.com, CBS, Centro, Collective, Comcast Interactive, comScore, Condé Nast, ContextWeb (PulsePoint), D&B Digital, deviantART, Discovery Communications, Disney, DMG WorldMedia, eHarmony, ESPN, Everyday Health, eXelate, Facebook, Fairchild, FOX News, FOX Sports, Gawker, Google, Grab Networks, Halogen, Healthline, Hearst Digital Media, IAB, IGN Entertainment, iMedia, InflectionPointMedia, Interclick, ITN Digital, Jingle Networks, Jumpstart Automotive, Kontera, Krux Digital, Lotame, LucidMedia, Martini Media, Meebo, Meredith, Microsoft, Mojiva, Monster Media Networks, Move, Inc., MTV, MyWebGrocer, Nature Publishing Group, Navteq, NBC Universal, NCC Media, The New York Times, Newspaper National Network, Orbitz, PubMatic, quadrantONE, Quantcast, Reader's Digest, Remedy Health Media, Resonate, RMM Online, RTL Netherlands, Seeking Alpha, Sojern, Sugar Inc., TechMediaNetwork, The Daily, Hollywood Reporter, Weather Channel, TheStreet.com, Thomson Reuters, Travel Ad Network (Travora), Tremor Video, Triad Digital, Turner, TVGuide, Us Magazine, Undertone, Upromise Inc., Vertical Acuity, Washington Post, Weatherbug, WebMD, WhitePages.com, Yahoo! and YuMe.
And last but not least, I'm grateful that none of this is even close to being finished. That there are so many ideas yet to be conceived, so many mysteries yet to be framed, so much of the future left to be invented. Here's to being grateful for what this year has brought us, and to remaining excited about what the years ahead will offer. Happy Thanksgiving.
