As the sun sets on 2008, I’ve never been one for publishing a year-end family Christmas letter with the obligatory cheesy family picture, but I thought I’d at least take a moment to summarize one of the more extraordinary years of my life, and offer a preview into what promises to be an epic 2009.
I have now called Seattle home for over a year now. I was reluctant to return from Washington DC at first, but with a tremendous community of friends and family to welcome me back, this transition has certainly been with no regrets. Upon returning to Seattle in the Fall of 2008, I jumped on board a Seattle-based startup company which has since sent me all over the world to make new friends and build an extraordinary business. 2008 thus began with a blitz of travel to the United Kingdom and Australia for work, followed by trips to New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Dallas, and Phoenix throughout the course of the year. In managing our company’s NYC office while still living in Seattle, I nearly fulfilled my goal of living a bi-coastal life (don’t take that the wrong way, Flyover Country) although I can only last about four days at a time in NYC before the lack of trees, ubiquitous smell of urine, and general angst inspire me back west.
In early 2008, I partnered with my friends at Pear Press to help release a groundbreaking book project by Dr. John Medina, Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School. Thorough yet accessible in it’s breadth of research and life application, Dr. Medina will change the way you approach work, productivity, and lifestyle.
What began for me as a simple conversation among friends in January, quickly led to my involvement in a growing community of friends in Seattle that are committed to the abolition of modern day slavery. To be sure, there are more slaves in the world today (an estimated 27 million) than ever before, and that includes incidences of human trafficking in the US, and even in our own city of Seattle. This realization compelled us– mostly students and young professionals– to host awareness events in cooperation with the Washington State Task Force on Human Trafficking, to launch a local Seattle blog (www.endthetrade.com) for ongoing local awareness efforts, and to participate in a new fund raising concept called Climb For Captives.
Climb For Captives was a stunning success in launching a community-based, blitzkrieg-style fundraiser, where our team raised nearly $20,000 in over a month by simply partnering with friends from our own social networks. On July 5th, our team summited the 14,411 foot (4,392 m.) Mt. Rainier, and all of the funds we raised were donated to The Home Foundation, which works to eradicate modern day slavery through advocacy, education, and relief efforts for victims of human trafficking. Later in the summer, I then completed my first triathlon at Flowing Lake with most of the Rainier Team.
Shortly after Climb For Captives, we got connected with a documentary film project called CALL+RESPONSE. Communicating the abolitionist message in a genuine and inspiring way, CALL+RESPONSE was an innovative experiment in open source activism and mobilization, and I’m proud to say our grassroots efforts in Seattle provided the film with one of the most successful releases in the US.
Perhaps one of the best parts about being back home is getting to see my lil’ sister & her husband, who have been loving the married life for over a year now. The newest member to our family in Seattle is a lil’ guy named Derby:
2008 will, for all of us, be one of the most historic years of our lives. With the symbolic emergence of China as a major world power in hosting the Beijing Olympics, to the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States, to the devastating economic effects of greedy governments, corporations, and citizens alike– 2008 represents a dramatic time of transition when the baton of leadership has most noticeably progressed from old to young. Undoubtedly, 2008 has witnessed the emergence of the Obama generation, and with it a renewed call to justice, community-bassed innovation, and authenticity. This rise of young energy, vision, and leadership will inevitably redefine how the game is played in 2009 and beyond. As for my 2009, it promises to be nuttier than a squirrel turd:
Traveling multiple times Down Under, to NYC, London, Toronto, Vancouver, and India for work. I also hope to break into New Zealand, South America, and Boise and I’d love to get back to Israel, China, the Dominican Republic/Haiti, and Minneapolis
Spending some time with this legit little lady
Continuing to work with CALL+RESPONSE in mobilizing our local communities in the ongoing fight against slavery
Beginning a monthly campaign to serve with my family in Seattle through various ministries, organizations, and churches
Speaking at a conference on the intersection of social entrepreneurship and the eradication of human trafficking
Consulting with a new documentary project unveiling the international realities of infanticide and abortion
Working to create an ongoing conversation between young, emerging business leaders and retiring leaders who aren’t wanting out of the game just yet
Hoping to summit a few more mountains and bag a few more triathlons
Here’s to an epic 2009 for you– soli Deo gloria
