I know it’s quite late for a “Happy New Year” or “resolutions” type of article.  And Valentine’s Day has come and gone.  I have been doing quite a bit of reflection over the last several weeks.  Reflection of course on the last year, but also on life and career in general.  So, please indulge me a bit.  I’d like to share several lessons, some of which on love, I learned in 2015.

1. Dorothy was right.  There’s no place like home.  I concluded my odyssey of the last several years by moving back to my beloved Charlotte, NC last year.  While I wouldn’t trade many of my experiences, I must admit that if I could have I certainly would have clicked my heels 3 times.  I gained a wealth of knowledge from my experiences in different parts of the country and in different organizations.  With my feet solidly planted once again in my hometown, I’m poised to put those experiences and lessons learned to good use, both professionally and personally.

2. I was right.  One of my first articles on this site was about my fondness for the dental industry.  Nearly five years ago, I wrote about my love of the products, people, and potential of this industry.  Those words still ring true today.  There’s no industry in which I’d rather be, and I’m happy to be writing my next chapter in it.

3. I love publishing.  Despite starts and stops, writer’s block, and some admittedly (in retrospect) questionable articles, maintaining this site has been a labor of love.  My first corporate job was in publishing, albeit in the operations side for a huge publisher of consumer magazines.  I’ve learned all these years later that I love it.  In 2014 and 2015, I engaged in a series of interview articles, 5 questions with, that really reminded me of my love for publishing.  And now as a natural off shoot of that series, I’ve started The Dental Insiders podcast with my friend and colleague Matthew Petchel.  I look forward to continuing these endeavors and seeing how they evolve.

4. There is much to look forward to.  Every day seems to bring new potential, new opportunities, and new promise.  Some of those I hope to share with you here on this site.  Last year was a bit of a dark time for me both personally and professionally.  I’m very excited and hopeful for what the rest of this year and the following years will bring.  I am looking forward to much, and I hope you are as well.

If you’ve made it to this closing paragraph, thanks for indulging me.  I try to limit the amount of personal posts on this site and stick to marketing, dentistry, etc.  However, sometimes those topics are intertwined.  It’s the nature of life, of learning, and of doing what you love.

As always, THANK YOU for reading.