It’s 7:15 on New
Year's Eve. A beautiful young woman sits at a nice restaurant, dressed to the
nines, all alone. Across town, a young man sits in a radio studio, finishing up
the year’s work before he sprints out the door to meet his date.
This is a true story, and a microcosm of my 2012.
That’s going to change.
I’ve never made a New Year’s Resolution before, and
that’s going to change, too. In 2013 I will focus less on work, and more on
things that really matter.
A little background: In 2012 I worked multiple jobs.
I worked between 60-70 hours every week. I worked 7 days a week, four of which
included a shift that began before dawn. This was great for my career, and I
don’t regret it nor would I change it if I could. I reached some goals and
accomplished some things that already have and will continue to change my life
for the better. But some things fell by the wayside, most of all my personal
relationships.
For the first time since I was 15, I went an entire
year without visiting my high school friends in La Crosse, Wisconsin. I missed
out on the annual reunion of my college buddies from the University of Iowa. I missed
countless weddings, parties, and nights out with people whose friendship I
cherish. The people who sacrificed the most last year were the people whom I
love the most.
In 2013 I will have one job (with a little work on
the side). I will vacation with family, visit friends, rekindle old
friendships, and create new ones.
To any current or prospective employer who may be
reading this, this doesn’t mean I will stop working hard. I am driven, more
than ever, to better myself, hone my skills, and strengthen and broaden my
brand. But I do have a new set of priorities.
In 2012 I focused on my career. In 2013 I will focus
on my life.
