Final Word of the Decade

IStock_000009178126XSmall The exiting decade has been crazy at best. Two wars, two recessions. A major shake-up in the political landscape. Reality TV (bad). Social Media (good).

The personal front has been equally tumultuous. I moved from Boston to San Francisco — and back — and now plan on a return to the Bay Area in 2010. I lost my mom. My wife lost her dad. Our kids became teenagers. I joined some good friends in starting a new company from the wreckage of our former agency. Dreamt-up the Social Media Release and Social Media Newsroom concepts. Opened a NYC office in the midst of a raging recession. Rescued dozens of stray dogs.

Wild times. Messy times.

Having had the benefit of being born in 1969 (another wild, messy time!), each decade on the calendar comes to represent a pretty distinct time of my life, e.g., the 90’s were “My twenties,” the 00’s were “My thirties.”

Entering my forties along with the new “10’s” decade, I am enthusiastic and full of energy. I’m a man on a mission. The chip on my shoulder, to do good things as an agency owner and as a man, has only grown “chippier.”

I hope you feel the same way.

Shoulders back, chin up, people – take the stairs two at a time – charge forward into this fresh new decade. We’ve earned it.

Happy New Year!

Posted on: December 30, 2009 at 8:00 am By Todd Defren

Jack Hadley says:

December 30, 2009 at 8:19 am

Thanks, Todd, for your honest and poignant personal recap of 2009. I can relate, having started a new business as well. This space is both exciting and exhausting. The pace at which it moves can make one long for a less taxing gig. I have been reading your blog for several months, and have learned a lot from it. Thanks. It’s funny, when I read other people’s great stuff, how I think, “Wow… they really must have everything together in life. Wish I could do that.” Then, something happens to remind me of how human we all are. In part, that’s why I love this space. Its transparency is inspiring and helpful. Keep up the good work in 2010. You have fans. Happy new year.

Stuart Foster says:

December 30, 2009 at 10:15 am

That bull is how I feel about the 2010 forward as well .

Let’s hope it happens.

Marki conway says:

December 30, 2009 at 12:18 pm

“Reality TV (bad). Social Media (good).” I love this part of the post. I think we’d all be a little better off without the Jersey Shore, and a little worse off without the great social media that’s been established this decade.

Kneale Mann says:

December 31, 2009 at 8:59 am

Hey Todd,

Thanks for kicking and screaming and not resting until you got it done.

Thanks for sharing personal and professional advice, triumphs and setbacks here in this space from which all of us can learn.

Thanks for being the real deal as I have witnessed first-hand from the kind notes you send “out of nowhere”.

“They say life is strange, but compared to what?” – Steve Forbert

ERIKA NAPOLETANO says:

December 31, 2009 at 6:18 pm

Kudos for being among the brilliant who consider tomorrow a new decade. Delighted you were part of mine!

Kirk Hazlett, APR says:

January 1, 2010 at 10:37 am

Thanks, Todd, for a sobering yet encouraging recap of the past decade. It WAS a humdinger of a period during which I transitioned from PR practitioner to PR professor and have been given the amazing opportunity to pass on the knowledge gained from 30-plus-plus years as a practitioner to what I refer to as “my replacements.”

Your insights have been a great resource for me in the classroom at Curry College, and I look forward to continuing that relationship in 2010.

All the best in your new adventures!

Akash sharma says:

January 2, 2010 at 7:41 am

Hey Todd thats one personified post about 2010 and thats why you are a big brand when we talk about marketing and PR,I loved your shared posts throughout the year and for me the best one would be the alice.com case study you guys just nailed the traditional methodology by your practice of social media marketing.
Happy New Year !!