My 3 words for 2016

January 1, 2016 by Raul Colon

Choosing my three words for this year was a bit easier than in the past.

The past six years I have been choosing three words to guide me through the year.

I place reminders of these words. By working with just three words, I have been able to change habits permanently.

I look back at the three words of previous years and some of them I apply almost every day. They became part of who I am.

The best thing about choosing these three words is that they should be easy to follow along.

Applying last year's (2015) three words was more challenging than other years. On another note they were great tools to make quick and precise decisions on certain issues.

raulcolon-photos-puertorico-1-3 My 3 words for 2016

Religious Traditions Behind Resolutions

There are religious traditions behind the New Year's Resolution concept.

As I found on Wikipedia here are a few:

Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year. They would return borrowed objects and pay their debts.
The Romans began each year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of January is named.
In the Medieval era, the knights took the "peacock vow." At the end of the Christmas season each year they reaffirmed their commitment to chivalry

Why three words?

I am not a fan of traditions much less religious ones. I want something practical that I can apply throughout the year.

My friend and colleague Chris Brogan introduced me to this exercise years ago. Chris publishes a blog post every year sharing what his three words for the new year will be.

Applying the 3 Words Every Day

It might seem hard to choose three words but even harder to stay on track throughout the year. In the past, I have used a daily software reminder. I have also used text on photographs I have taken around my work space.

Finding a way to remind yourself over the year will keep you on track with your three words. It will make it easier to commit to them.

"Remember that your day is your week is your month is your year. Your success comes from each choice you make along the path. And it’s always your choice." ~ Chris Brogan

My 3 Words Over The Years

2011 – Renew, Focus, and Complete

2012 – Sharing, Purpose, and Organic

2013 – Brief, Fluid, and Control

2014 – Observe, Release, and Subtract

2015 – Selfish, Sharpen, and Publish

My 3 Words for 2016

Depth

I believe every interaction we have should have depth. Everything we do we should dig in deeper.

Some of the best experiences I have had during my life have been thanks to how deep I have dug myself into things.

The best relationships I have are because depth. The fact that I make sure those important humans in my life know they matter.

That I try to check up on them often.

As the year starts, I will be focusing my energy more on the people that matter. Those loved ones that I care about and the few I can call real friends.

The past few months I have received many surprises. Individuals that decided to take their time and let me know I am important to them. I want to spread more of that out. I want to also remind close friends and family always of how important they are in my life.

The same with business relationships I want to keep. For new business relationships I want to make sure that if someone is going to do business with us, they understand the value we bring to the table.

That they also know how deep we go into the important issues. How our knowledge of business consultants and understanding technology can help them. How we rank based on experiences of working in diverse and forward-thinking environments.

Those who allow us to dig in deep and enable us to work our magic will receive the best benefits. They will also enable my team and me to feel a lot better about ourselves.

With understanding the depth of any issue or opportunity, I am sure I will be able to stand out from others. Even more importantly serve others with a lot of intention.

The results will be much better and the understanding of the complete picture a lot clearer.

raulcolon-photos-puertorico-1-1 My 3 words for 2016

Reset

The past six months we have reset many things at Limonade. I have also reset a few things myself on the personal side. They undoubtedly were challenging months, and we succeeded thanks to those changes.

There are bigger challenges for us to face in the next coming months. I want to make sure we can reset ourselves in a more efficient way.

By resetting I mean that every time we have a project we are able to complete the cycle . To get ready for the next project one in a more timely manner. To become a lot leaner in the way we manage all types of projects and daily operations.

WE run into an issue that we would rather leave behind. Make sure we reset quickly and move forward with the future opportunities in front of us. As a small business owner, we sometimes waste too much time on issues we know we can't fix.

The project management platform we use forces us to reset the week's goals and tasks every week. It gives us a perspective on how the week ahead is looking and how we performed. I might have to apply this to other things.

That reset aspect will allow me to logically get ready for the work ahead. It will keep me away from not beat myself up when I don't meet a goal or two. It is sometimes impossible to achieve very positive goals. Practical and smaller goals will allow us to reset and complete a higher percentage of them.

I also want to take a bit of time every morning to write and reset my thoughts by writing. I won't publish most of those writing.

I will be writing with the purpose to reset in a thoughtful way with my morning pages exercise.

A simple reset will allow us to ground ourselves. I help focus on the immediate challenges and objectives in front of us.

raulcolon-photos-puertorico-123 My 3 words for 2016

Visualize

My first small business was a dog grooming service I named RJ Pet Service. I was around 14 years old when I started it. Reading every book I could making sure I knew how to groom each dog breed I had as a client.

When it came to dogs without a breed, I remember it gave you some tips on how to create the right look for the dog.

The main point was that you should visualize how your end product (the groomed dog.)

So many times we jump into things and we think that others are seeing what we see. Even worst is when you can't clearly put your ideas on a screen or paper. What you consider to be a solution might create more problems if not expressed in the right way.

When we build our websites we have a 5 step creative process to help our clients see what we are seeing. It brings our customers and partners along in the process. If we did not meet their expectations, we can work along with them to make sure we meet them.

I also have to do a better job of explaining how we work to our newest prospects.

I have to work hard on creating better visualizations on how we work. Creating a clear picture of what the experience will look like if they cooperate with us.

On the personal side, I have to improve my planning. I have to get into the habit to stop what I am doing to visualize if the route I am taking will get me to the outcome I am seeking.

These visualization exercises will be used for my short term goal setting be it financial to fitness goals.

The pause and visualization will help me get to the goal. It will also help me not lose intention of reaching that goal.

raulcolon-photos-puertorico-120 My 3 words for 2016

Why 3 Words Vs. New Year's Resolutions

For years I had failed at keeping resolutions as many of us do.

The most common reasons participants fail their New Years' Resolutions are:

setting themselves unrealistic goals
not keeping track of their progress
forgetting about it
too many resolutions

Instead of creating a long, overwhelming list of items I can't follow through with, I rather use this method that has guided me for the past six years.

Choosing three words will allow me not to forget about it and track my progress throughout the year.

Are you choosing three words or stacking the odds against you when following through with a New Year's resolution?

Feel free to share your three words and your approach at starting a new year.

raulcolon-photos-puertorico-1-10 My 3 words for 2016

My 3 words for 2015

January 1, 2015 by Raul Colon

I can celebrate 5 years of choosing three words to guide me through the year.

I can say every year it becomes a lot easier for me to follow through with these words.

Over time I have been more satisfied with the results of the three words. But I am especially proud of how I applied my 3 words for 2014.

Why 3 words?

Every end of year, everyone says, “New Year, New Me.” I even saw a meme or two the other day making fun of the “New Year, New Me” phenomenon.

My friend and colleague Chris Brogan introduced me to this exercise years ago. Chris publishes a blog post sharing what his three words for the new year.

Applying the 3 Words Every Day

It’s hard to choose three words but even harder to stay on track throughout the year. I usually create a daily software reminder in my task management software that runs throughout the year daily.

“Remember that your day is your week is your month is your year. Your success comes from each choice you make along the path. And it’s always your choice.” ~ Chris Brogan

Choosing three images that reminds me of what I need to do around my work area also helps.

My 3 Words Over the Years

2011 – Renew, Focus, and Complete

2012 – Sharing, Purpose, and Organic

2013 – Brief, Fluid, and Control

2014 – Observe, Release, and Subtract

My 3 Words for 2015

Selfish

Let me put this one up front since it will make a few of you cringe. By nature I am a selfless person with those I see have common values and are seeking to make the world a better place. Being selfless in the past 7 years has cost me a series of setbacks from building a job board where we helped thousands land a job. To going into partnerships where I clearly had a lot more to lose and nothing to win.

I will continue to help out and guide those that I feel need my help but the most important part is identifying how it fits into my 6 month life plan. As I watched when they interviewed one of my favorite Actors Ivonne Coll , I learned how being selfish can be positive. Ivonne explains that the best advice she got from Comedian and Actress Lucille Ball was the art of selfishness. You can watch the complete interview of the Jane the Virgin cast; Ivonne’s short interview starts at a minute and 25 seconds.

For the past few weeks I have been looking at how I need to make sure I start practicing the art of selfishness. This way everything fits into my well being and I can help many more that share common goals and values. I will be asking, “What is good for Raúl?”, in every situation.

Sharpen

Last year I needed to make sure I released things I had under my control. This meant some things probably were not put under the rigorous quality checks I work under. As I got feedback on my newsletter yesterday from a friend who lives in Israel, I realized I need to be more precise.

That means I will make sure I sharpen my tools and even tweak what I produce a bit more than what I did in the past. Running a Digital Marketing Agency and wanting to give more than agreed to has gotten me into trouble in the past. I can only blame myself. So I will have to sharpen my contracts and agreements to make sure they are clear on both ends. I also need to make sure I stay disciplined enough and sharp to deliver the best of what was agreed.

This word ties into the previous word; if I am a bit more selfish it will be easier to use my sharpened tools to succeed. With sharpened tools I will be able to create a better quality product. I hope this also improves our service offering even more.

Publish

In 2014 I wrote less than other years but I published even less than what I wrote. I need to start getting into the process of publishing more. I need to create systems that help me publish the content I create without making it overwhelming.

From the photographs I want to sell to you, to the tips I want to share via my newsletter and here on my blog.

By hitting publish, I can create the momentum needed to find new opportunities. It will also weed out those who might not agree with the way I do business.

Goals or Guidance?

As Jacqueline Carly states “Willpower, Shmillpower” in “There’s Not Always Enough Will For the Way.

We start the year with the best of intentions to stay with our goals. The reality is that the complexities of life start standing in the way of our goals. Would you try to do like many others and fail every year by holding on to resolutions?

Or would you rather choose your three words for the year?

Feel free to share your three words and your approach at starting a new year.

In the same tone C.C. Chapman ended his 3 words post I have to say that in a short time I will be looking back at this post and creating my next 3 words of the next year.

My Three Words for 2014

January 1, 2014 by Raul Colon

For the past 4 years I have prepared for the new year by choosing 3 words. So, Instead of creating a complex and non-functional list of resolutions which we all forget after the second week of January, I keep these 3 words and include them in my short and long term goals.

The 3 Words Concept

My friend and colleague Chris Brogan introduced me to this exercise a few years ago. For the past few years Chris publishes a blog post sharing what his three words of the year will be. If you want more details feel free to stop over his 3 words for 2013 and read through the post.

How I use My Three Words for the Year

These 3 words guide me through the year and I am reminded of them in different ways daily.

I keep them in plain site where I am reminded daily of the three words. I also set up my task management software to remind me to re-focus when I get off track.

My 3 Words Over the Years

2011 – Renew, Focus, and Complete

2012 – Sharing, Purpose, and Organic

2013 – Brief, Fluid, and Control

My 3 Words for 2014

Observe

I need to find a balance in attempting and experimenting with projects and possible opportunities. By first observing how they tie into my current goals and structure, I can get a better understanding of where I want to put my energy. With observation I find that I might be able to identify newer opportunities that might become part of my new goals.

As I also want to improve my photography skills, observing will play a huge part in better shots (which will help me tell my story better). Observing will also help me create better work for my clients from coaching to developing their websites or business strategies.

Subtract

I tend to add to what I create. I do this with some of my blog posts; I will come back and add more words making them longer than I would like. The primary word I want to focus on is subtracting. That means from eliminating certain things that don’t add value to my life from projects to certain business relationships.

I have been trying to practice minimalism and thanks to a book by the minimalists which I was gifted, I can clearly say I have gotten better and removed a lot of clutter from my life. I am still working on that and plan to do the same in other aspects of my life.

Subtracting sometimes is a lot harder to do but I see value in following this approach. The less weight you carry the better you can work on other projects.

Release

One thing I need to fix from 2013 was that I did not publish content as much. I did not write as much as in previous years. I guess the priority I assigned to one of my three words from last year (Control) , because I thought I needed to focus on gaining and maintaining more control. I wanted to work on quality but I find that sometimes by creating quantity you will get better and reach that quality.

I will give it my best to write more and create more content in 2014. Writing always helps me with overcoming goals, hitting publish also does, and releasing projects has proven to be a very useful formula for my personal and business success.

I will work more on releasing ideas, publishing, and working on putting more stuff out into the Universe.

Resolutions or a Few Words

Will you be taking the traditional approach or using something more practical to guide you during 2014?

What are your 3 Words for 2014?

PS: It’s my brother Luis’ Birthday so if you can stop by his facebook profile and wish him a Happy Birthday that would be super cool.

My 3 words for 2013

January 1, 2013 by Raul Colon

Many people go crazy by creating resolutions and of goals that they probably don’t believe they are going to reach during the first few weeks or days of the new year.

While I was doing my last workout of 2012 yesterday with our neighbor’s husband who is German and lives in Romania part of the year explained how many wanted a new experiences but welcomed the new year with old bad habits. At the moment that particular moment there where people eating and drinking uncontrollably, most of them drunk already, and it was only 4 pm.

He explained that their behavior identified the new years resolutions of having a bigger gut and degrading their health.

Welcoming the New Year with a 6 mile run!

His thoughts made me think of how as a person that is constantly looking to evolve into healthier habits maybe I had to start the year in a new way. I quickly shifted my mind into just waiting for the New Year to make noise and hug people that are near me to lying down next to my daughter (who was sleeping) getting rest to make sure I could get up and run at least 6 miles in the morning.

The 3 Words Concept

For me the past 3 years I start the New Year by choosing 3 words that will guide me throughout the year.

My friend and colleague Chris Brogan introduced me to this exercise. For the past few years Chris publishes a blog post sharing what his three words of the year will be. If you want more detail on how he uses and explains the concept (feel free to stop over his 3 words for 2013 and read through the post).

How I use the Three Word Concept

I use the three-word concept as a guide to focus on certain areas I need to improve on. In previous years I put some post in notes in front of my desk with the 3 words as a reminder. This year I am planning to take the first pictures I take this year add my 3 words and print them out to place in strategic places as reminders. I will create a follow up post on things I plan to do to remind myself of the 3 words that will guide me throughout 2013.

My 3 Words Over the Years

2011 – Renew, Focus, and Complete

2012 – Sharing, Purpose, and Organic

My 3 words for 2013

Fluid

I have a tendency to start resisting once something discomforts me. I have been very lucky to have people around me like Melvin, Chris B., Resat, Robbie Vorhaus, and Lucy helping me focus and not resist things that drain energy from me.

I believe that by being more fluid in many personal decisions I can also cover many of the gaps I see need to be filled in my business by using my resources to strengthen them.

I want to have the ability to flow around obstacles and take the form needed to solve most of my personal and business challenges.

Control

Taking control of my emotions ties well with being fluid. Even though I have gotten better at it I tend to allow others to take control of my emotions more often than I should. As C.C. Chapman explains in his book Amazing Things Will Happen you have to be like a duck and continue to move under adversity.

I will also work on controlling when to stop to enjoy moments that will not return. As I was completing the draft of this post on New Year’s Day my daughter approached me with a few requests. I dropped everything and took care of her made her giggle and smile. I knew that you could wait longer to read this post but my daughter needed my love and attention at that moment (and that just could not wait, I hope you understand).

Too many times I see myself and others attacking secondary priorities (ex. Work) and not taking care of their key priorities (ex. Family). Time moves on and people get caught up in mortgages, bills, and other things that take away and drain a family’s resources. Make sure you control how you use your resources so you can be lean and always make those loved ones in your life a priority. We are only here on this earth for a short period of time.

I will also look into controlling some aspects when it comes to business decisions finding a balance in between logic and my gut feeling.

Brevity

In 2012 I wrote less than previous years. I also worked harder to make sure I was listening to others. I like to share stories and experiences but sometimes I take away from being able to absorb the experiences from those around me.

If someone reminded me in 2012 that brevity is highly important was Mr. Chris Brogan. In 2013 I am deeply committing towards being more concise and precise in everything I do.

Which in once sentences means talking less and listening more.

What are your Three Words?

I followed Chris Brogan’s lead for the past 3 years and I have gotten lots of value throughout the year by being able to use these 3 words I choose as a guide to making better overall decisions.

I would love to hear what your 3 words are?

Feel free to share your 3 words in the comments are or a link of where you described them.

Have an awesome 2013 I am sure I will make the best of mine!

3wordsrainbow-1024x769 My 3 words for 2013 — Isla Verde New Year’s Day 2013 with my 3 words for the year.

This pic was taken at Isla Verde Beach here in Puerto Rico after my 6 mile run New Year’s morning with my running partner Leonardo!

Those Who Made my 2012 Special!

December 31, 2012 by Raul Colon

Yes this is a long post! It would have been longer if I had not forgotten many other special people who also where very important in my life throughout the year. If I did not name you and you are reading this I apologize but thankfully these last few days where so busy I did not have the time I wanted to create an even longer, better written, and detailed post. Last year I did this exercise and it served as a reminder of people I want to keep in touch with. Sometimes we are so busy we forget those who have given us a hand or made our days a lot better than what they where planned to be.

However I will be updating this throughout the day !

They made my 2012 Special

My daughter Daniela (@danielalcolon) – She brings light to my days no matter how dark they might appear on the outside. The fact that now she can talk and walk helps me see what direction she is going. Her dancing, singing, painting, and inclinations towards the arts really make me wonder what the next year has in store for us. Celebrating her two years was a unique experience I can wait to celebrate the ones to come.

Lucy @lucymfel – Out of the 4+ years I have been running a business this one might have been the most challenging. Very grateful to have someone like Lucy who helped me prepare for it and make it seem like it was an awesome year. Her and Daniela make any period of time an awesome one. I am thankful and grateful to have her as a business partner.

Tio Tito (Irving) – My uncle and other dad. I have been blessed to have my dad and always Tio Tito serving in role of parent. I have not been as close as I wanted to be this year but I have seen how he has been there for my family year around.

Grandma Lydia – Very grateful to have my Abuela Lydia in an active role in my life, she is always my conscious when it comes to many matters where I know she is looking out for the well being of myself and my family. Everytime I interact with her I know where the strong part in my character comes from. She can be the sweetest old lady but just don’t do something that makes her uncomfortable un purpose because she will switch her role very quickly.

My Brother Javier (@javierrcolon) – My brother Javier had an awesome 2012 by becoming a homeowner and moving out of an area that I wanted him to move out for the past 10+ years. With a lot of effort and dedication I am sure soon enough he will start out with new projects that will make him grow further in the professional side demonstrating what a great human being he is on the personal side even more. On the other side it is the first year I don’t get to hug my younger brother I can’t wait to see him in 2013.

Dad (The Great Don Tito) & Mom I have not seen dad in more than a year physically but thanks to my brother Javier I get to have some interactions via Facetime over our beloved apple devices. Thankfully mom has visited a few times this year and on the last occasion she did an extraordinary job at helping the family in a very difficult situation. I also got to spend a few days with mom and can’t wait when she comes to visit again. I also can’t wait for Dad to come by.

My Older Brother Luis Jr. (better known as Titito) – An awesome dad with a very impressive work ethic. I did not get to spend as much time as I wanted to spend this year with him but I am sure I will make up for it in 2013.

Rick Lipsett (@ricklipsett) – The workhorse of Papaheroes.com and my inspiration to continue running Papa Heroes and many other projects. My closest business partner (after Lucy), he is one of the people that help me keep faith in all humanity. Rick is a positive being that emits a great sense of peace and tranquility. He is also one of the most disciplined and creative individuals I know. I know 2013 will be great year for me and I am counting on Rick to be part of that journey.

Eudeliz Santiago – The most talented salesperson I know. She is so talented in convincing people that I am sure her new business a clothing boutique Blusas will take off and grow into a chain of stores. I am grateful for the support we have received in this past year on the personal and business side. I was able to restructure my business and tweak my sales process to be more efficient and effective thanks to her feedback.

Hector Santini-Umpierre – One of my few college friends that have stayed very close. Hector is a corporate lawyer who for years has always been ready to help me in the worst of circumstances. When I lost my home in 2010 he helped us deal with the legal issues taking a lot of weight from my back and guiding us towards the next steps. When I have an issue I call him as my advisor and more importantly trusted friend. I appreciate so much to have someone like Hector always there to clarify many things. In 2013 I see myself working along Hector a few more things and we are in the process of setting up his website.

Liz Glick – Moving to the San Juan Metro area has been a unique experience a change for positive things. It also had opened the door to new friendships of people that in very little time have grown closer to Lucy, Daniela and Myself. On most afternoons I get to have conversations with an experienced business owner who is also one of Daniela’s playing mates. Liz and her beautiful dog Paloma on many days bring that outlet I need to vent or share my daily experiences. I am very thankful for having her listen to my many experiences and even more grateful of how she treats my daughter.

Amaury Valle – My morning running partner Amaury gets me over my psychological barrier of not wanting to run in the morning. Amaury is about my dad’s age but he is very young at heart and does a great job at keeping himself in the best shape possible. I also get the opportunity to talk about the economy, politics and other interesting subjects which Amaury and I share similar thoughts with.

Cirene and Rezat – Two of the sweetest people I have ever met. If someone was ever hyper connected without having to use any new technology is these two beautiful human beings. Owners of Butterfly People a gallery of pure beauty in Old San Juan (If you are going to Old San Juan I highly recommend you stop by and say hi to them). After meeting them it is very usual to bump into people that know them and have very great things to say. Rezat has also become a mentor of my goals of keeping my mind, body, and spirit as a priority and nurturing all of them as much as I can. Cirene has also become a great source of support for Lucy and they so loving with my daughter Daniela. I am sure if Heaven exists your neighbors there will be like Cirene and Rezat.

Gabriel Pagan (@therealgabo) – The great Gabo always there to share his opinion and make me change mind. Not many people are able to do that so smoothly as Gabo does. If something bothers me or I have to keep something in check I discuss with Gabo and I know he will give me his thoughts where I can apply into my life as I wish. I can always count on Gabo for solid advice and I look forward to working with him even more in 2013.

Rob Hatch (@robhatch) – When I first met Rob over a phone call about two years ago I remember thinking he was even a bit intimidating. Over time I quickly realized what a great heart he has. Recently Rob took the challenge of adopting a daughter and expanding his family to having three kids. I admire him for changing the life of a child. I have to say that Rob also has helped me change many things this past year and I appreciate the fact that I have had him guiding me very closely for the first part of 2012.

Chris Brogan – A very well known celebrity online but he is my good friend and strategic business partner. Chris has a million things in his head. Always extremely busy but never misses an opportunity to think about others. Every time Chris feels there is an opportunity for me to think of something he sends it my way. Every time I am feeling a bit down and depressed I send him an email and seconds later I get a response back from him which usually makes me quickly laugh or smile. I am very thankful to have him as mentor. If Chris can take time to help others as he does day by day we can all do the same.

Don Ramon Morales (@guarionex88) – Every-time I think of Ramon it makes it hard for me to believe he has not been in my life for decades. The impact Ramon has had in my life has been huge. He is one the most loving and grateful people I know. His optimism is something I try to get some more for myself because he is always working hard to make things happen. 2013 will be a year for great things for him and I will be watching and waiting to celebrate. I am grateful to call Ramon my friend and I am looking forward to having Daniela meet her uncle this year.

Milta Feliciano – For visiting at the beginning of the year and helping us kick start the year having lots of fun while Daniela got to meet her aunt. Over the years I have seen how Milta has learned how to focus on what for me are the important things in life. I want to applaud her for always moving forward and being an awesome mom to 4 kids.

Margie Clayman (@margieclayman) – I am a big fan of Margie she is always thinking of others. I also admire the consistency of how she produces great quality content on her blog. I will make it a New Year’s Resolution to stop by her blog more often. So thankful to have her always sharing great stuff and even more grateful of her awesome sense of humor. I also look forward finally giving good ole Margie a big hug in person in 2013.

Michael Castro (@michaeldcc) – Thanks to Michael I don’t feel alone when I write about things that the masses will not agree. He has always been a supporter of what I do and I am even a bigger fan of what he does. Michael creates conversations and discussions on topics that most people rather not talk about. But most importantly whenever I have needed help from Michael he has been there to offer his help and I love him for that.

Andres Vazquez – I met Andres many years ago and I had always seen how his personality stood out from the others in his industry. The past few months I have seen what a good heart Andres has and the balance he has in between running a profitable business and helping the communities around him. If more small business owners took his approach we would have a healthier business enviroment here in Puerto Rico.

Osvaldo and Jennifer – We met Osvaldo and Jennifer from Tropical Bloom a few years ago sharing our experiences on how to use online platforms. Gratefully they have become great friends. This year one of my highlights was visiting their beautiful farm up in the mountains of Añasco, Puerto Rico and having such a great time. I can’t wait till I do that again. As always they are willing to help even though they are extremely busy. I want to see more of Osvaldo and Jennifer in the near future.

Damaris Gonzalez – I met Damaris through my best friend from High School Ferdinand Almodovar and going to school with her sweet sister Daisy. Over the years she has become closer to my family and me. Although we don’t live as close I always enjoy when I get to spend time with her and her family.

Carlos Juan and Maria Del Carmen – This two angels falling from heaven throughout the past years have always been close to use when we have needed them. From Daniela’s birth to moments where we really needed the help they have been available. I did not see enough of them in 2012 and I am willing to change that in 2013.

Michael and Danny Luperella – These two young men are Lucy’s nephews and I really love the fact that they where able to meet their cousin Daniela. Our daughter is named Daniela thanks to Danny’s suggestion. I hope I see more of them in 2013.

Melvin Rodriguez – My good friend and now neighbor. My blood family is not close to us so Melvin has filled in the gap as one of Daniela’s close uncles. Living close to him has been a great convenience and if you want to have a good laugh and good time in the metro area just tag along with him. Melvin is also an awesome salesperson but even better people person. I always listen to his experiences and learn a bit more on how to approach many things in my life based on his experiences.

Quique Gonzalez – Someone who has been my side in spirit for many years. He helped me get my first job after college and has always been there to give me solid advice on how to approach many of life’s hurdles. I plan to visit and see him this year I would love for my daughter to meet one of my spiritual fathers.

Miriam Gonzalez – Her advice in many aspects of my life has always been very useful. Being that she is Daniela’s Godmother I am planning to visit her in 2013. There is nothing better than spending time with those you love.

Guillermo Trillo – Business and personal can mix very well when you get to work with individuals like Guillermo. He is always thinking of meeting business goals but makes it a priority to make those around him happy. This year I did not do as many projects as I wish I could with him but we have many more solid years to get enough projects to work together with him.

Bianca Estrada (@PayasaAgapita) – Another online friend who become a close real friend. My daughter loves watching youtube videos of her character Payasa Agapita. I also appreciate the help she has given me on the business side. Just sharing thoughts with her on many local business issues helps me make better decisions. Bianca is someone I can call on when it comes to solving any of my problems. I am also thankful she and her husband Fernando are Calle 13 fans like I am.

Kelvin Lomboy (@kelvinlomboy) – One of the top IT security experts in this side of the hemisphere (only because I don’t know any on other side). Kelvin does his job and is always looking for a challenge when he is doing his job. I admire the passion he has in what he does and I can’t wait to see him get as far as I know he can get.

Robbie Vorhaus (@vorhaus) – Watching his status updates either on Facebook or Twitter helps me focus on what is important day by day. Robbie is currently working on launching his book that might be an idea for you to keep an eye on. His One Less One More™ approach has helped me tackle many personal and business obstacles.

Diane Brogan – Mom of one of my favorite people. This year Diane always stopped by the blog periodically and commented. I also had the privilege a few times a week to read her blog posts where I got to lean more about her and her awesome husband Steve. One of my 2013 goals is giving Diane and Steve a big hug in person.

Armando Navarro – A very disciplined human being when it comes to work and many aspects he is also one of the people I make the most requests in the month. Thanks to Armando I have been able to accomplish a few things. I am his customer over at Doral Bank (Armando is the only reason I continue to do banking with them) but I consider Armando an awesome and great friend.

Tamar Morales – La Jibarita de Utuado who currently lives in Bridgeport, Ct. We are very happy to have her as a friend. I can’t wait till she moves back to Puerto Rico so we could spend more time with her.

Evelyn Yvette – One of my most hard working cousins. With four kids she always finds the way to hold multiple jobs and make her family a priority. She inpires me and is an example for those that struggle with finding a balance and keeping family a priority.

Mark Hayward (@mark_hayward) – The most talented connector I have met to date. Mark has a unique way of connecting people with the only purpose of being helpful. Mark invited me to work on bringing the 140conf to Puerto Rico and thanks to him I was able to get to meet some awesome people who influenced me in many ways during 2012.

Javier (@toxiclunch) – I missed hugging my tough and badass friend Javier this year but that is what 2013 is for. I hope I either get to go to Los Angeles again or he comes to Puerto Rico to visit so we can spend some quality time together.

Berni Xiong (@bernixiong) – Always reaching out and sending good vibes. She is full of energy and might be able to share some. One of the few others I want to meet in person in 2013.

Sean (@LTLV613) – Every once in a while I get to chat with Sean. One of the first people I chatted with via twitter. If you want to stay up to date in everything that is happening in the U.S. let me know.

Pablo Montero – My biggest congratulations to him since he recently got engaged. If many more flight attendants would have Pablo’s attitude flying would be a pleasant experience everytime you got on a plane.

Melissa Delgado – Very grateful for supporting our efforts and local bloggers like myself. I was able to make it to SXSW 2011 thanks to her and her awesome colleague and boss Julian Cable.

Obed Roldan – He always keeps me motivated. On most interactions he is communicating how he appreciates what I do sharing my experiences. But I also tend to communicate how much I appreciate the many thins I have learned from him.

Kaila Smith – One of the super moms that I admire. I stay up to date on what she does by reading her Facebook updates. Just by how she expresses herself I am grateful that I was lucky enough to have met her in grammar school back in the 80’s. I can’t wait till her daughter starts publishing her writings as she enjoys writing and I perceive she will be a very talented one.

Keiko and Scott – I met Keiko when I worked at KPMG in New York and weeks later I met her awesome husband. They are expecting a baby boy in the next month or two and I can’t wait to meet him. One of the highlights of our year was their visit this year. Daniela and we all miss their presence very much.

Joseph Harrell – I met Joseph waiting on my flight back from SXSW 2011. A marine with a great attitude and a big heart we got to spend time with Joseph as he visited the island on an acting job which they filmed in the southern part of Puerto Rico.

Aaron Manley Smith – A one hour conversation in March during SXSW gave me a few guidelines on serious things I needed to fix with my attitude towards many things. I appreciate that Aaron took the time to meet up with me on my last visit to Austin. I realized what an awesome dad he is and how with simple knowledge he can convince someone like me to change many things in my daily life.

Steve Garfield – I hardly create video but when I do I follow Steve Garfield’s guidelines. I had the opportunity to chat with Steve at the Samsung Blogger’s lounge during SXSW. I really got to see in person Steve’s great attitude towards life and how he spreads happiness to those around him.

Betzaida Burgos – I met Betzaida when I was in college. She has always been one of the sweetest individuals I ever met. Years later as parents we interact periodically on parenting tips and our experiences as parents via facebook on occasions.

C.C. Chapman – I had met C.C. in the past but this year I was able to get closer to him by reading his bog and getting to chat with him in person during march. I also exchange an occasionally email or so regarding parenting and experiences that he and I enjoy sharing. If you are looking to read a book to start out the new year in a positive way check out Amazing Things Will Happen.

James Fierce – I met James via Google+ he truly went out of his way to meet up and be as helpful as possible during my week at SXSW 2012 this year. I have continued to communicate with James although we have different views on shoe styles.

Nando Caban – I met Nando via Google + also and had the privilege to meet another Puerto Rican with so many common interests. I exchange emails with Nando at least once a week and can’t wait to get to work together on a project with him or to the least to sit down and have coffee with him.

Many Blessing for 2013! Start making the best of it now!