“Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.” - Brian Tracy

It’s been a crazy year for me. I made the very hard decision to end a relationship I’d been in for more than eight years. No, I didn’t end a marriage or break up with my best friend, but it sure felt like it. I quit my job at American Express OPEN. It was hard because we still loved each other, but I’d known it wasn’t going anywhere for a long time. I stayed in it because it was comfortable. And I was scared not knowing what was next.

Isn’t that always how it is?

Luckily, Amex introduced me to something special. My final job there was to lead a team that did business development deals with start ups. I basically got paid to talk to entrepreneurs about their business and how I could help it grow. I met amazing entrepreneurs who became friends and mentors like David Kidder and Cheryl Rosner. I talked tech with VCs. I greenlighted OPEN’s TechStars Sponsorship. And I closed deals with the likes of Clickable, AdReady, and Facebook. After all that I knew. So I ended it.

Like anyone after a major break up, I’ve played the field since leaving Amex. It was the right thing for me to do. But now I’m ready to commit. I don’t know what the next stop on my professional journey will be, but I know it will be as a part of the NYC Tech Startup Community. 

I’m so thankful for everything that’s happened to me this year: Strangers have become friends. Alex Taub inspired me to start the NYC Tech BD Breakfast Series. I learned how to drive social commerce at Have to Have. I learned how to help companies transform their sales and marketing processes with tablet computers at StoryDesk. Charlie O’Donnell encouraged me to start this blog. I could go on and on.

So this Thanksgiving, one of the many things I’m thankful for is the NYC Tech Start Up Community. You are special. You are uniquely New York. You’ve helped me take a step forward toward achieving something bigger and better.

And isn’t that what it’s all about?