Leadership

I can’t believe a year has already passed since my last Thanksgiving post.  So now is the time for a little reflection on what has become my favorite post of each year.

This is now my fourth installment of 100 things I am thankful for.  While many of them are similar, I’ve got some new ones and new people I am thankful for this year.  2010 has been so much fun so far with new challenges and opportunities.  Thanksgiving is a great time for me, since I have the opportunity to chat with friends and family, share a great meal and call folks to catch up with others throughout the day.

1. My family – kid, parents, brothers, cousins, niece, nephews and my wife
2. That big brothers take care of little brothers
3. A cup of coffee on a foggy morning day on my deck with just the dogs
4. That kids are so resilient
5. The totally awesome group of folks I work with.
6. Friends that I just don’t see enough of Ruslan, Rick, Chris, Mark, Patti and Dave
7. A nice walk on a tread mill with a TV
8. The way Hadrian slowly wakes up every morning
9. That Jen is a great mother to Kevren and Dijouri
10. Catching up with Friends when on the road
11. Grilled Cheese Sandwich from Hell’s Kitchen in Minneapolis.
12. Walking home on a sunny day from the bus stop with Prescott
13. That Dijouri is so thoughtful of others
14. That Kevren is growing up to be a cool kid
15. Every chance I get to see my parents and brothers
16. That random people will often let you use their stuff if you ask nicely
17. Watching Prescott do a puzzle.
18. Watching Hadrian follow his big brother everywhere
19. The day I learned the concept of 4 corners from JF
20. The day I realized it’s all just math
21. On time and on budget feature delivery.
22. That I really believe most people are thoughtful, kind and mean well.
23. A quiet snowy morning
24. Free Wireless in airports
25. That Prescott and Hadrian are best friends
26. That Kevren and Dijouri are  best friends
27. The day I got certified
28. French Onion Soup
29. Every time I have time to read to my kids
30. Taking pictures of Em when she doesn’t suspect it.
31. My readers
32. Any chance I can get to visit my kids at their school.
33. Layovers I can actually enjoy
34. Back roads driving and looking at fields of amber waves of grain
35. Ideas that work
36. Ideas that don’t work and learning from them
37. Any day I can go to a zoo
38. Any opportunity where I can teach someone something
39. That a neighbor was smart enough to make a snowman before it melted
40. Sleeping in to 6:30 am – it keeps getting earlier every year!!!!
41. That it all works out in the end, no it really does.
42. Taking a walk someplace new
43. Every chance I get the time to enjoy architecture
44. That I was able to George on his 65^th birthday
45. When my teenagers can schedule me in when I’m in town.
46. When we remember that a photo might be a good idea
47. That I didn’t forget my Mom’s birthday – 3 years in a row!  Thank you outlook!
48. Being home and having nothing to do but chill
49. Being able to catch a random wedding from a distance
50. On time departures
51. That everyday I have the opportunity to help solve problems
52. Sunny Days with big fluffy clouds where I can imagine shapes with my kids
53. Oatmeal
54. The fact I now have many people to be thankful I know in PHX, not just Ron and MJ because they aren’t always around.
55. That you can always find something to do in Detroit
56. My dogs – Lilly and Tewsy
57. For discovering Yelp and how it can find a perfect meal in just about anywhere.
58. Taking the time to walk to all my flights at hartsfield jackson
59. Naps
60. Watching my teenagers grow up, learn and become responsible.
61. Any chance I get to be in Austin.
62. A good bowl of soup on a rainy day and a good book.
63. My mentors (Ron, Ken, John and Jim)
64. The fact I’ll make platinum this year and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
65. Playing Angry Birds
66. Not being able to no to stopping at a random fair in a small town
67. The fact that I have never played any of the “Ville” games or any other games on Facebook.
68. Spending any Saturday at a Product Camp.
69. Days I don’t have to shave
70. Watching Live Music
71. Finally catching up with MJ after almost 7 years!
72. That I’m able on most days to wake up excited and go to bed fulfilled.
73. Everyday I have the opportunity to learn something new
74. Every time I don’t forget stuff in a rental car
75. Not having to travel for Thanksgiving this year – three years in a ROW!
76. The day I realized that creativity and logic are actually peer concepts.
77. That just because something seems like a good idea, you still have to do the research to make sure
78. Cool Bugs
79. Real life conversations
80. That unconferences have helped develop communities of learning.
81. Watching folks who worked for me in the past doing well in their careers.
82. Cooking dinner with Emily for friends and family
83. Nicely done bacon
84. Walking around the parks of NYC and looking at art
85. That random song which pops up on the ipod.
86. Halloween
87. The whole group of folks in Atlanta who I’ve been hanging out with for the last decade
88. European breakfast at just about any hotel – cheese – mmmmm
89. When I am actually able to see a movie in the theatre, even if it is a cartoon.
90. When I happen to actually pack the right clothes for the right climate
91. Doing spring cleaning in the fall
92. Just about anything BBQ with DD
93. Sleeping kids
94. The fact that the last member of my friends has finally had a kid and now know what it means to be to too tired to go out
95. Those rare, but beautiful snowy mornings in Georgia.
96. That Apple just knew the iPad solved a problem I didn’t know I had
97. Sunny fall days in the park
98. That I’ve finally come to the realization that I can no longer do 3 straight days of live music, it makes Monday a bunch betterer.
99. Any chance I can get to do something for someone else.
100. That the boys were able to find that perfect dog to take Panic’s place.

Hopefully you are spending time with people you care about and sharing a great day with others!  Have a great and safe Thanksgiving!