Thank you

Thank you, dear readers, for your time and attention. Without you, this wouldn't be as much fun. Thanks also go to all of you who comment and those who link, Stumble, Digg, Twit, and share in other ways. I know how challenging it is to have only so many hours in a day and I am grateful that you would spend some of those precious moments here.

Thanks also go to my Twitter listeners. I'd like to get to know you, and please do not feel offended if I have not added you. I am listening and I do care, one person at a time. Thanks also go to the "friends of friends" on FriendFeed - without you, Scoble wouldn't have such large discussions (all in good fun).

A special mention goes to Marketing Profs: Daily Fix (that Ann Handley is awesome), Social Media Today (Robin Carey in particular), Marketing 2.0, and Fast Company for allowing me to type even more words than you thought possible and publish them there.

I'd like to thank the members of the Academy... ... my agent, my producer, Michael Jackson, Mickey Schulhoff and my whole family at Sony Music... I'd like to thank my family, all of my friends who have stood by me... but especially... I'd like to thank Chris Brogan, without whom I never would have hit #57 on the List of Most Influential Marketers of 2008... thank you... thank you...

Chris is one of those rare people who never misses an opportunity to talk about others - and that is why so may are talking about him. My new very special discovery from this conversation is Shannon Paul.  She writes well, she has great sense of humor and makes sense of things. Thank you, Chris for highlighting her work and thank you Shannon for doing such good work.

Thanks go to Adam Singer, one of the most enthusiastic connectors I met via Twitter. Adam pairs me with someone and two who have given me more then enough material and ideas to chew on in his social media power users and influencers - part 4.

Now for the interesting part - those who made the time to meet me in person in 2008.

Thanks go to Mark Earls for a lovely conversation over dinner (that was just rated the best new restaurant in the city, by the way). I am very grateful to Luc Debaisieaux for clearing his schedule over a weekend to spend time catching up in Brussels. We had a great time together in Antwerp courtesy of Kris Hoet. 

Grazie tante to Micheal Walsh for spending a productive afternoon in Milano - don't be a stranger now - where I also met briefly Marco Montemagno (Italy's Internet guy), and Luca Conti who sat with me on the train in regular class instead of his first class seat for the Milano-Modena tract. It made for an instructive two-hour conversation. Grazie also to Sara Borghi for meeting me for coffee and to Gianluca Diegoli for meeting me for drinks in Modena. You ought to learn Italian just to read his work

Merci to Mark Goren for a fantastic conversation over breakfast and dinner (in that order), Mitch Joel for sharing lunch with me and showing me how you do a presentation (thank you also for the book), Pinny Gniwisch for being so hospitable, Adele McAlear for arranging dinner and Andy Nulman for picking up the tab. Montreal is a true jewel - plan to visit in the summer.

Thanks to Ann Handley again for allowing me to share what I know about Web sites at the B2B MarketingProfs Forum and meet Chris Brogan, Chris Penn, and Matthew Grant. And I am grateful to Tim Brunelle who invited me twice to speak at MIMA, where I met Lee Odden (we sort of met at the Philadelphia PRSA a year earlier), Katie Konrath, and Ze Frank, among others.

There are too many to mention, so honorable mention goes to CK, Drew McLennan and Lori Magno for pulling off Blogger Social 2008. Special mentions go to Paul Soldera, Anna Farmery, Mario Vellandi, Marilyn Pratt, Steve Woodruff, Seni Thomas, Gavin Heaton, Arun Rajagopal, and Sean Howard. Thank you for making the gathering even more social.

This year I haven't attended too many conferences, so I am especially grateful to those who made the time to meet me during my travels. This might not be innovative, but I do remember you, what you are interested in, what you hold dear, what you dream about - and I will gladly play supporting role in whatever pursuit or endeavor you choose. I believe that's where the real influence is.

[image courtesy of Bryan Dalton, Mistake the Beautiful]

Comments

[eamonspotlightideas]

Hi

Have enjoyed / got a lot out of your blog over '08. Good luck for '09.

Eamon
www.spotlightideas.co.uk

[Jeremy Meyers]

Your family at Sony Music says you're welcome and thank you for your words.

[Ricardo Bueno]

Hi Valeria,

I just wanted you to know, that it's been GREAT reading and learning here! You always write such thought-provoking content and that's what's so great about it all!

Here's a toast to a great '08 and wishing you all the best for an even better '09!

[Adam Singer]

Hi Valeria,

Thank YOU for providing me much great inspiration and ideas here. This has fast become one of my favorite blogs to read.

Wish you a great 09!

[Luc Debaisieux]

Valeria,
Well, well... would you mind if I turn it the other way around : dear Valeria, THANK YOU for giving me the chance to spend some time in your lovely company while you were here in Brussels! You are a fantastic person and friend and I really hope 2009 will bring us new opportunities to meet.
Buono anno 2009!

[Steve Woodruff]

And, of course, it was a pleasure to converse with you (live and virtually) in 2008, VM! Keep up the good work!

[Valeria Maltoni]

Thank you all for your kindness. And of course you know I have more posts coming and surprises up my sleeve for 2009. Stay tuned tomorrow :)

[Neil]

Keep up the good work in 2009. I follow your outstanding blogging here and over at Marketing Profs Daily Fix.

[Sonny Gill]

Valeria - thanks so much for everything you do for your community here. You share your knowledge openly and aren't afraid to connect with your readers. I appreciate that and look forward to a great 2009!

Cheers!

Sonny

[Anna Farmery]

Valeria - you know how much I value your work and meeting you in 2008 was a highlight. Thank you for continuing to share, give and engage us.....you are one special lady

[Shannon Paul]

Valeria - I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to make my way over here to respond to this post. Many thanks to you for mentioning my work and for everything you share with your readers. I have learned so much from you in the past year and I can't wait to see what you cook up in the new year. Cheers!

[Marilyn Pratt]

What a lovely end of year idea. Thanks for reminding us how powerful are acknowledgements, a vital part of any real conversation. I'm grateful for the one you generously and graciously gave here.

[Mark Goren]

Valeria – thank you for coming up to Montreal this summer and spending a day with me. It was a highlight of my summer.

All the best for 2009!

[gluca]

Valeria - it was a pleasure for me. Looking forward to the next drink in Italy or in the US :)