Apart from all the personal blessings we recount at this time of year, I thought it might be good on this day to take note of the blessings related to being a technology entrepreneur.  Here are some of the things for which I am particularly grateful:

… those many of you who call me, Tweet me, ReTweet me, message me on Facebook, or email me with comments, questions, criticisms, and kind words about TechDrawl content.  It’s gratifying to know that people are reading and responding to what I write.

… the prospective investors, partners, and customers who have respond with a quick yes, or even a quick no.  Either is preferable to remaining in limbo.

… any day that passes when I don’t have to reboot at least one of my many workflow devices, including the cable box, modem, router, phones, camera, iPad, MacBook, or even the iRon (small joke there), or update a handful of apps, or download and restart to install software, OS, and firmware fixes.  Heck, even my Dodge Ram Hemi required a software update during its first scheduled service.

… the fascinating complexity of many of the aforementioned gadgets, normally accompanied by a UI or a full-auto setting that keeps that complexity hidden unless you have a personal interest in it.  I’ve noticed, for example, that the print books on the shelves at B&N that explain all the features of the newer digital cameras are generally bigger than the cameras themselves.

… the circularity of the universe of computing.  I was musing last week with someone who shares my advanced youth about the fact that computing power went from time shared access to a remote mainframe to fully distributed desktops and is now right back in the Cloud.  Instead of a 75-pound Teletype for access we have 1-pound pocket-able smart phones. 

…  the year of the pivot.   I have since my early career always noted that every one of my startups (excluding banks) ended up in somewhat different businesses than originally envisioned.  Peachtree Software grew out of a retail computer store and was made possible a bit later by the proliferation of Microsoft BASIC and CP/M standards, the former enabled by a contract abrogation when MITS (Altair) was sold and lost its exclusive on that all-important programming language.    Pivot became the term of 2011 as so many lean startups were able to fatten up by redirecting their energies or combining with others in a sea of incalculable competitors.

… role models.  I’m in the midst of reading the Steve Jobs biography, and I had the pleasure last week of hearing Michael Dell in a small setting in connection with the 1SS class at the University of Texas.  Their life trajectories could hardly have been more different, but they both just show how much impact one smart, determined person can have even in a complex, competitive, and fast changing technology world.

… resources for tech entrepreneurs.   Having started in an era when there were none, and I mean none, it’s amazing to see the attention being given to this by universities, angel groups, VC’s, incubators, and more.   We’ve gone from 100% OJT to plenty of help, thanks in large measure to successful entrepreneurs who have chosen to deploy some of their wealth and talent back into the arenas which rewarded them.

… big insurance companies.   I have made changes in health plans and life plans this year, and dealing with big insurance companies makes me realize that a large part of corporate America is still trying to function on 70’s era computing.  There’s still plenty of straightforward IT opportunity out there, remarkably so in anything related to health care and/or muddled by government interference.

… college football.  If anything has more ups and downs than the tech industry, college football can claim that title.  This has been a particularly interesting season with so many thrilling games and major upsets as the season draws to a close.  At least my two favorites GT and UT are faring better this year than last.  This has nothing to do with the technology topic, but what would Thanksgiving be without football?

<photo from Harvard Sports Analysis Collective attributed to Baltimore Sun, yes it’s the Thanksgiving pro game, not college>