I am watching my tiny six-year-old cheerleader work with the others on her team to line up right and count one-two-three-four as they do their moves together. They are preparing for another competition, after having made their debut last week. They took second in their age group and were as thrilled with their second-place trophy as any Olympic gold medalists.

For our anniversary this year, I bought my husband  the Beatles Sgt. Peppers 50^th Anniversary Edition recordings. Ok, yes, he bought it himself for himself and the anniversary thing was just an excuse, but the point is, it was vinyl. Vinyl, like we used to listen to back in the old days. There is yet another Spiderman movie about to be released – the same Spiderman some of us read about in comic books back in the old days.  The Gong show is coming back – that Chuck Barris production that was so kooky – you got it – back in the old days.

In media sales, things don’t always work out. Not every job is the best match to a person’s talents. So sometimes, parting ways is best. Whether it be initiated by the employee (there is a better opportunity across the street or across the country), or by the station (“Sometimes these conversations can be difficult…”), once the decision has been made, all parties are better off if the exit is smooth.

Mistakes. Fingers pointed. People aren’t where they say they are going to be. Your boss and your boss’s boss is scrutinizing things they never have before, raising questions that leave you saying, “ Huh?” or “You are slowing me down! Just let me work!” Everyone seems a bit snappish and everyone is in a rush.

The meeting is going along swimmingly. You prepared for it, you know their objections and have a solid plan for them. This is a big one – and you have been working for a long time with the promise of a big payoff.  Ideas are flowing and strategies plotted. You are talking to the decision maker, and you have determined that they have the money, interest, you have their target audience – this is going to end up great!

Google Fiber is at my office right now installing mega speed internet. YAY!

I wrote the blog below on December 26th, 2013. Many, if not all of the same ideas need to be revisited to consider how this year finished and how to make 2016 a banner year. Reflect on the article again. Insert 2015 everywhere you see a 2013, and apply what you have learned to make 2016 your best year yet.

My laptop has seen better days. MUCH better days. When I was traveling with Efficio’s IT President for a presentation recently, he was horrified when I dragged out my everyday work, leisure and travel companion, which has served me so well. “You may NOT take that out of your bag in front of them!” he commanded. I sheepishly agreed, but it was a necessity.  It has MY wallpaper on it, MY favorites, MY work shortcuts, MY silly game, MY training and management documents and correspondence history– you get the idea. It also has a bunch of stuff that somehow crept on there during my last five plus years as I have traveled, virtually and literally, around the country helping those in media sales use software to make more money.

We made it! It is Thanksgiving week! It is a time when our attention turns from prospecting, getting contracts approved, and goal setting; and instead turns to figuring out how we can slip away after lunch on Wednesday so to travel over the river and to the woods to grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving Eve dinner. This will be followed by you hosting the other family on Thanksgiving Thursday. Friday, work may cross your mind for a brief second as you are hoping the talent showed up to the early morning remote for your client, but your attention is back on your friends and family as you brave the crowds to get that Star Wars or Paw Patrol toy for a few dollars off.  Then the weekend is filled with more family and friends and will fly by all-too-fast. Facebook will be filled with warm wishes for friends, real and virtual, and family holiday traditions will be the focus.