Looking Back on 2011
2011 has been a phenomenal year for me. I grew tremendously as a woman. I took career risks that I never would have imagined. And they paid off big time. Since becoming editor of StockTwits FX last year, writing started to become extremely difficult. As editor, I was charged with the responsibility of increasing the content and traffic of the blog. So I experimented: I tried writing on other currency pairs. I tried writing link fests. I tried to cover pairs beyond my bread and butter. I tried writing every week. I tried writing everyday. I tried recruiting other writers. What resulted was an inconsistent mess. And a deep admiration and respect for those who post with a frequency that I have come to use as my gold standard, namely, 50Pips, Abnormal Returns, and The Reformed Broker.
I considered stopping. I considered quitting. But I stuck with it. Even as blogging had started to become extremely painful. But I have to thank Howard Lindzon and Phil Pearlman for their mantra: “it’s a marathon, not a sprint.” Phil said this to me when I first joined the team. And I didn’t really understand it then. I do now. Their patience with me and the blog has been unbelievable and I am forever grateful for their mentorship. It allowed me to finally figure out my voice. On December 13, I started the Sterling Digest. The first daily post that came from me with such ease and FUN that it surprised me. What a delight! And while I took a break from blogging this week, I am so thrilled to finally discover and embrace my unique voice in the blogosphere, even if it took all year.
My blogging and association with Stocktwits brought me to the attention of some big guns of finance including mentions on Abnormal Returns and features in Forbes Magazine and CNN Money. Pretty amazing! In addition, my first book (chapter) dropped in July and I was featured in my alumni magazine for the very first time. I did my first speaking engagement to a group of traders that was received very well. Unbelievable! I am so excited for the opportunities that I will leverage as I continue to blog on these forex markets.
I have began to make real steps toward becoming a micro VC in African companies by becoming an advisor. I advise now 2 African companies and 3 US companies. I had a friend tell me, “Wow, Lydia, I can’t believe how much you know.” When she said that I had to stop and think that I do have over 10 years of entrepreneurial experience now. WOW. I am really that old! LOL. I am thrilled to harness that knowledge and experience to the benefit of others. While I am still learning everyday, sharing what I learn is enjoyably rewarding.
Personally, I became a very involved mother in my children’s school and school district. I started 2011 attending meetings and learning the school system. I used what I learned to write a plan for educating gifted children in their school. My motivation was, of course, my daughter. She was bored for all of 3rd grade. Unacceptable. But the more I became involved, the more I became an advocate for the brightest in the school who were being underserved due to budget constraints, cuts, and lack of parent outcry.
As a member of the school site council, I pushed for the plan to be funded and implemented the very next school year. It worked. Parent participation is way up in the school’s GATE program. The GATE students are now pulled out during the day to receive special instructions and projects. They will go on their very first GATE field trip next month. My daughter for the first time, now a year older, has “work to do for GATE.” I love it! This school year I have become the school site council chair, GATE PAC chair, PTA secretary, and attendees of several more councils and committees. Yes it is a lot but so rewarding as real change is taking over their school. My daughter wrote her 1st business plan and presented it with a PowerPoint presentation. She’s 9. I wrote my first business plan in business school at age 23. My parents have ever written a business plan. It’s awesome the generational breakdown that occurs as kids are getting exposed to more at an earlier age. My advice to all parents: get involved in your children’s education. Yes, you will be THAT parent but they’ll thank you for it later.
Hubby and I celebrated 3 years of marriage and returned to his home country of Curaçao. My first time on an island - woohoo! I can take that off the bucket list.
2011 has been an explosion of accomplishment. I look forward to leveraging my social networks and knowledge to enter new frontiers and take advantage of more opportunities. 2011 showed me my true potential, strength, and wisdom through a myriad of trials, mistakes, and successes. I am excited and ready for 2012.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
