The Year of Me
Aside from 2011 being the "Year of the Tablet," it is also the Year of "Me."
When I told my wife and my business partner this face late last year, they both said the same thing, "why should 2011 be different than any other year?"
2011 is my 50th year on this earth and as I get older, like most folks, I'm coming to the realization that there are less years ahead than the number I've already left behind. So while the Year of "Me" sound quite selfish on its surface, it sort of isn't.
Life can change at the drop of the hat. I learned that a few years ago when my dad's health took a sudden turn that led to his death. I was also reminded last October as I was sitting at the New Meadowlands Stadium and watched Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand hit another player, and hit the earth and then not be able to get up. You knew something was very wrong right away as my college friends and I witnessed "the cart" come on and off the field faster than in any other similar injury we've ever seen and saw Rutgers Coach Greg Schiano run over to LeGrand's mom and put his arm around her telling her that her son was being rushed to the hospital.
Here is the video of the play. You may not want to watch.
We all had pits in the bottom of our stomachs.
Tomorrow, ESPN will be airing the first interview with LeGrand since that accident. He has some movement but his life is changed forever.
So in this Year of "Me," I will be celebrating my 50th birthday. A lot.
But I will also try to:
- Take better care of myself. I've been going to the gym three times a week since September.
- Be nicer and better to my wife and family and business partner.
- Try to be more patient (a big deal for me) and less things "come to me" more.
- Empower others to grow
- Be more philanthropic with money and my time
- Learn more
and finally "Believe." I'm not sure exactly how much or in what, but the word "Believe" is symbolic of the effort to support LeGrand and his recovery and I can't think of a better word or effort to believe in. You see, it really isn't ALL about me.
Go 52, we'll all be watching.
Jon Newman
In 2002 Jon cofounded The Hodges Partnership and has helped to grow it into one of the country’s largest public relations firms (based on O’Dwyer’s annual rankings). Jon has taught communications as an adjunct professor at VCU, speaks regularly at conferences and meetings and blogs and tweets about public relations and marketing issues.
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