I talk a lot about being grateful. Most of us – even during these horrific economic times – still have FAR MORE good in our lives than bad. I also feel that a positive attitude stems primarily from a foundation of gratitude. That being said, I feel compelled to share 10 things for which I am truly grateful that came my way during 2009. These are in no particular order:

• @Nik_Nik’s Cult of Personality Twitter Greeting Video. Nicole Nicolay is one of my favorite people in Social Media. When I first got into Social Media earlier this year, I connected with her, and she sent me a link to this video. I think she – of all people – typifies and embodies the SPIRIT of Social Media: smart, cool, fun, funny, clever and creative. I also love her EBook on Twitter for real estate professionals and the awesome blog that she and her husband Reggie Nicolay co-founded, MyTechOpinion.com. She also Tweeted a video that I’ve watched – oh, 50 times? – that always makes me laugh. Keep up the great work, Nicole!

• Stefan Swanepoel’s Social Media Trends book. This is the definitive resource on Social Media and real estate. Get it. Read it. Do what it says. Send Stefan a thank you note. Also, looking forward to his Real Estate Trends Report 2010, which comes out in February and will probably make it to my list for next year!

• The Social Media Revolution Video. This is powerful. It is the reason I do most of what I do these days. Watch it and let it move you as it did me.

• The Social Media Return-On-Investment Video. This completes the questions raised in the Social Media Revolution Video. And threw a lot of gasoline on my “I love Social Media” fire.

• Gary Vaynerchuk’s “Crush It.” This book lays bare the formula for success in Social Media: work WAY harder than your competition, create a monster digital footprint, blog, blog, blog and have a PASSION for whatever you do. This book just speaks to me, because it’s HONEST. There are no shortcuts to the top of Social Media. It’s a marathon, and may the hardest worker win.

• Chris Brogan’s “Trust Agents.” Another great read from one of the icons of Social Media. It’s all about the relationships that we create, and how those relationships are earned and cemented via trust.

• Twitter. It is zero exaggeration to say that my life changed the day I really gave Twitter a try and started making Social Media a part of my everyday existence.  How did I get by not knowing all the incredible people that I now communicate with on a daily basis? I would love to provide a list, but I know that I would overlook someone. But YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. And thank you for being such an important, integral part of my life each and ever day.

• Todd Waller. Todd is our new Vice President of Operations at Professional One. But, far more important than that, he is the brother I never had. I cannot say enough about Todd and how truly BLESSED I am to have him as my business partner and my friend. He is that rare mixture of smart, savvy, ethical, technical, selfless, optimistic, kind and objective. It took me THREE YEARS of soft recruiting to land him, but it was worth the effort!

• The Creative Genius of JibJab. OK, this is “light” and sort of trivial, but I love these guys. I drink from coffee mugs I bought from them featuring my dog doing hip-hop in a Santa outfit. I laugh hard at videos like this and this and this. They are a perfect of illustration of how technology can be used to connect people in a light-hearted – but still powerful – way.

• YOU! This blog is meaningless unless people like you read it. I sincerely THANK YOU for taking the time to read this. I know we all have a LOT of things we can do with our time, and I am honored and flattered that you would take time out of your busy schedule to read anything that I might write.
  
  

Thanks for making 2009 an extraordinary year. I look forward to connecting with you in a deeper, more meaningful way in 2010.

Happy New Year from everyone at Professional One Real Estate!