Right. 2006 is wrapped up and the new year is a couple of days fresh. Did I achieve what I set out to do and did I learn anything? That last part is the easiest one to answer; of course I did. It’s all about learning, isn’t it?
2006 was the year when I decided that the Swedish market was too small, that I wanted to find a new audience and try my wings, so to speak. Actually, I think I dove into that route the year before really, when I decided to monitor the blogosphere, Web 2.0 and new media in general on the international side of things. As opposed to the national (Swedish that is) which is restricted, stale and boring.
I started writing in English on a professional level, freelance here and there, and then joined PDF gaming magazine PTD. It worked. I didn’t expect that, people who know me well thought it nice that I for once was uncertain and modest about a new venture. Not that I’m the bragging type, I just tend to have a set mind to what I can achieve, and if I don’t for any reason then I won’t move in that direction. Going international, as in writing in English, was something I truly didn’t know if I could manage. As in manage well enough, not actually manage: I want to be good at what I do, I want to learn and I want to evolve.
It worked out nicely, and left me with a throbbing thought of why I hadn’t done this before. Modesty might be a virtue, but it’s a bloody shackle as well. Add uncertainty and you have a mountain of negative karma to overcome. I doubt I’ll make the same mistake again, but who knows.
The Blog Herald took me on, via Matt Craven. That was an experience, a learning one. When I moved to 901am it was as a much more experienced blogger, but still a learning one.
I launched Bloggertalks, and will take it a step further this year. I got design gigs, with more lined up, and I got to see a blog launching schedule fall to pieces. Will have to make up for that in the coming weeks, which is less of a problem than one could imagine since most of it is out of my hands by now. Or rather, not relying on me, this for once feels kind of nice. Nevertheless, it’ll certainly feel good when the last blog in the first sub-network goes live in April or so.
2006 has been a chaotic and at times hard year. The last three months have been tough, to say the least. I’m working way too much, balancing old projects with new ones, freelancing, doing design gigs and letting off products to make room in my crowded schedule. A web worker isn’t supposed to have normal working hours, but these last few months have been ridiculous. January will be no better, but I’ll cope for a while.
I have no resolutions, only lots to achieve. A personal time frame is being made, and goals are being set. I’ll share, to be sure, during the year. And most likely look back at 2007 when the year ends, with fog clouding the events as they always tend to do in my world. Create, and move on. React, and move on. Exist, and continue.
I never was the sentimental one.
The holiday issue of PTD, the PDF magazine where yours truly is a regular contributor, is out now. It sports a cleaner look, as well as an in-depth focus on the new generation gaming systems.
The July issue of 