I'm a T.G.I.M. type of guy. I love fresh starts. I love to get back in action, I love to start over clean. I love to work hard from a clean slate.

And while I don't want to use the word "enjoy" - I truly do appreciate the opportunity that a new year gives me to reflect on what I've accomplished since the last time I was here reflecting.

In many ways, this past year has been excellent. I'm very careful about setting New Year's resolutions because I insist that they matter, that I remember them, and that I (can) do them. To that end, I usually only have 1 or 2 resolutions, and I take them very seriously.

Last year saw me set 2 personal/spiritual resolutions - and I'm pleased to report that I accomplished both of them.

This year I have a single New Year's resolution - so ambitious and audacious that I dare not reveal it, except to hopefully report on it's success 1 year hence. I'm thrilled and exhilarated at the prospect of tackling it. It will make me a better person, a stronger businessman, and it will require me to give/do/accomplish more than I ever have. It will also help bring to fruition the dreams, ambitions and efforts of the past 10 years.

Life is short -- when I turned 30 I looked back at my life to that point and determined that I simply had not taken proper advantage of my time. I vowed then and there to make measurable, distinct and ambitious progress each year of my life. The new year provides the opportunity to reflect, measure and re-commit to that.

What is life except an opportunity to do more and better each day than we've ever done before? Time marches on. The next year will pass whether I take advantage of it and accomplish great things, or not. Why not accomplish great things?

We should all set ambitious goals - carefully and deliberately so that they can be accomplished - and then go for it. In 10, 20, 30+ years from now - I don't want to look back wishing I had taken better advantage of my time.

If not me, then who?
If not now, then when?

I'll set my goals high. Lay a plan to accomplish them. Then do it.

Happy New Year!

I like these end of year lists.

Here's a list of a whole herdload of end of year lists. Enjoy.

Wow - fascinating news. Especially in light of UPS's purchase of Mailboxes Etc. a couple years ago.

Hmmm... things are getting interesting.

FastCompany Blog has some interesting thoughts about it.

So I fired up the Wal-mart music store yesterday and purchased a song (REM's Bad Day).

I have to report that the experience was (almost) exactly what I wanted it to be.

No special software to browse the selection or download the music. I just purchased it like I would a portable clothes washer and when I finished checkout - I got a little link where I downloaded my music. That's it. I double clicked the downloaded file and it fired up Windows Media Player and played. No fuss, no muss (quick poll - anyone ever used "muss" except are part of that phrase?).

Anyway, nice and simple, and remember -- simple is a very good thing indeed.

No complicated digital rights management stuff to worry about. (Note that it does invisibly do digital rights mgt. The file comes as a WMA and you can't share it with other computers, but according to Wal-mart you can back it up, burn it to a CD or put it on a portable device without problem).

Plus it only cost me $.88 + $0.07 tax = $.95 total. Can't beat that. Simple, cheap and easy.

So in the end - to be perfect - what I really want is this model, only with an MP3 as the final file so I'm not so constrained.
Chances of the RIAA going for that are nill and never.
That and there's still squat for selection.
We shall see what the future brings.

Amazon -- are you thinking about this?

Regarding my previous post about Boeing, this article puts it in clearer relief. And I couldn't agree more.

We can no longer afford business as usual. If we are to keep our current employers and attract new ones, legislators must look for new ways to improve Washington's business climate.
The 2004 legislature needs to approve the Competitiveness Council recommendations. The Council's reforms include streamlining regulations, changing liability insurance laws, and reforming the state's costly workers' compensation system.
Yes, we should celebrate our victory in the "Battle for Boeing." But the battle for Washington's economic future has just begun.

I updated my front page. I also updated my "Express" service description. Calling it Jumpstart Express to more clearly identify that it is designed as the first step in making over your website.

It's still a crazy good deal (for a little while longer), an inexpensive way to jump-start things if you need to update your site to actually reflect and serve your corporate goals :) (most websites do not).

The top items searched for on Google that bring me traffic (updated regularly, for my amusement mostly):
1) Anti-Walmart
2) Delete index.dat files
3) Kevin Rollins
4) TV advertising is dead
5) Spokane Blog
6) Krispy Kreme Mishawaka

Funny 'dat.

What a wonderful time of year this is. I hope you'll take some time to relax, enjoy those you love and soak up this wonderful time of year.

A special thanks to Simply Northwest. A client of mine, and today they sent me a wonderful gift basket full of exciting northwest goodies. I was really blown away and touched. There's just something about an unexpected basket of goodies to make you feel special and Simply Northwest does it with class and style. Send one to someone you missed during Christmas for New Years!

Stay tuned - later this week - it's the top 5 (or maybe 10) blog entries of 2003 - the votes are in! Make sure you subscribe to FrogTracker so you are in on the juciest stuff.

News.

And in typical Wal-mart fasion, it's less than the competition at $0.88/song.

Unfortunately, like all the competition, the selection is pathetic.

Wal-mart music.

And unlike their competitors, looks like you don't need a special "player" to browse the selection or listen to samples.

Search functionality seems lacking.

They also claim you can only:

I love it.

I didn't think I would - but I do.
I like the way it looks.
I love that it will be called the "Freedom Tower."
I love that it will be taller, higher and more majestic than the tower the terrorists knocked down. Even the tallest building in the world.
I love that it will be 1776 feet tall.
I love that it follows the form of the statue of liberty.
Awesome.