To be honest, I can scarcely believe it's really 2001. I'm not sure what it is about the end of one year and the start of another that gets me feeling nostalgic and reflective about the future but the fact is, I get that way most years.

The last few days I've been looking at things a bit different than usual. Maybe it was hearing John IP and MikeFold on Webmaster Live the other night and remembering how this business used to be. Maybe it was exchanging holiday phone calls with a few of the friends I've made in the biz. Maybe it was just taking a broad view of our industry, where it's at and the people you find yourself involved with. Whatever it was, it's got me making some resolutions for the new year.

Now I know, making resolutions is sortta asking for failure. At least that's why I've never made them before. But while I'm calling these resolutions, it's more like promises to myself to be mindful of certain things during this next year. Things that are personally important to me. Maybe I'm going on record with them so that if I start to lose focus, my friends will have something to point to and remind me.

So ... for good or bad, success or failure, here's my resolutions for 2001.

• I resolve to be more mindful of who I do business with. To remember that while everyone has the right to conduct their business like they want, I have the right to personally pick who and what I'm associated with. And that to the extent possible, I should give my business, my services, and my support to those in the industry who's ethics and business practices I feel comfortable with.

• I resolve to keep closer contact with some of the wonderful, bright and skilled people I've had the pleasure to meet in this business. To work closer with those I respect and trust. For my experience has been that when you deal with non-trustworthy folks, you end up in situations that leave you uncomfortable.

• I resolve to trust my gut more as hindsight shows it rarely leads me very far astray.

• I resolve to think more often of my blessings for I have treasures some look a lifetime for. I have the love and support of a good woman, I have a home that makes me comfortable and I have a vocation that allows me to earn a living without leaving either.

• I resolve to pay closer attention to actions and results and less to promotion and hype for the world is full of trickery and saying something doesn't make it so.

• I resolve to remember that change IS the natural order of things. That good and bad are a matter of perspective and that, to a great extent, I decide what my future will be by the choices and actions I make every day.

And finally ...

• I resolve to have more fun. To do things I like and things that help me feel good whenever possible. And to remember that when something stops being fun, there's generally a reason and I should look long and hard about how much I really need it in my life.

Well, I guess that's it. Should make for an exciting year.

My very warmest good wishes to you all for a safe, happy and prosperous 2001.

be well

- Khan