2008 sucked.  Pure and simple.  The economy sucked.  The real estate market sucked.  Many people’s lives were really not good in 2008.  We all know that 2008 was a rough one for many of our friends, family and associates.  Excuse my lack of eloquence but enough suckiness.

Let’s get positive!

I was tired about hearing about how bad 2008 was, so I put out a call on twitter to asking for feedback on what was positive in 2008.  Some of the responses were:

• Met tons of new friends and reconnected w/old ones while making $$ & having tons of fun at same time. Best part, it keeps getting better
• Got great clients, saw many bad agents/lenders get out of the business, met tons of great people from networking
• I made some really great new friends
• Many people found Twitter and can hopefully start turning around their dismal realities with the endless opportunities that abound here
• Learned to love the #mojito (had to include this one, try making a batch for a group of friends.  There is happiness in the mojito!)

Over and over, I heard one thing- the best thing about 2008 was the relationships.  In my own reality, I saw two friends take relationships and happiness over money, in both cases chooses to leave behind significant financial security for emotional security.  While financial security is definitely a huge part of our comfort, the true reality of life is that relationships and people are what make us truly successful in life.  Financial security and true happiness do not necessarily go hand in hand.

I will not deny, having financial security makes a lot of things in our lives a lot easier, and often helps relationships.  Financial hardship is often a leading cause of divorce.  With that being said, I know many, many wealthy people who don’t have true happiness in their lives because they have not nurtured the people in their lives.

My goal for 2009 is to focus on relationships.  My belief is that is a successful future will be defined by the relationships I (and we develop)- be it clients, friends, and family.  True happiness comes for the relationships we keep, not from the money in our bank accounts.

While this year was difficult for me on a personal level, I am fortunate that 2008 was quite successful for me professionally- far better than most of my peers.  Was it blogging?  Twitter?  Volunteer work?  Open houses?

Yes and no.  What is really was about was relationships.  Online relationships.  Offline relationships.  People are people regardless of where we meet them.  Plant the seed, water it, and watch it grow.  Your life and your business will flourish along with the relationships you keep.

Happy New Year!