Thanksgiving 2012

November 22nd, 2012 Sean Murphy

“What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner.”
Sidonie Gabrielle Colette

It’s mid-day on Thanksgiving and I have taken a break before dinner is served to review the list of  what I am thankful for.

• Health: I have lost 50 pounds in the last year. It’s “a good start” on what I will need to do to be able to explore the year 2040 on foot–I would like to remain conscious, curious, and capable for another three decades.
• Family: Too few entrepreneurs realize the wisdom of J. S. Bryan’s advice:  “Many men can make a fortune but very few can build a family.” While my health enables everything else my wife and children sustain me.
• Friends: I have been more systematic about reconnecting with old friends and rewarded with candid insights that can only come from folks who have known me for a while, they have both the perspective and the willingness to share.
• Opportunity: I have been very fortunate to continue my collaborations with Peter Cohan, Mark Duncan, Terry Frazier, Steve Hogan, Anthony Scampavia, John Smith, Dorai Thodla, and Pete Tormey,  I have started new projects with Scott Sambucci and Michal Domanski that I find energizing and believe will form the basis for long term collaboration.  I am grateful to those who have opened doors for me in the last year: Eric Ries invited me to speak at the Lean Startup Conference; Minesh Amin allowed me to attend the Python conference; Tristan Kromer invited me to mentor at the San Jose Startup Weekend; Lisa Solomon invited me to present at an MBA in Design Strategy course at the California College of the Arts.

A roundup of prior Thanksgiving Day posts.

• 2011 Thanksgiving 2011
• 2010 Some Things Change, Others Remain Constant
• 2009 Thanksgiving 2009
• 2008 Thanksgiving 2008
• 2007 Giving Thanks & Success For a Bootstrapper
• 2006  Quotes for Thanksgiving

“The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you.”

John E. Southard

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