"While 2008 was a tough year for everyone, it was full of surprises and interesting connections." Joi Ito wrote today. I can only agree. Last week Lisa asked me what my top three moments of joy were in 2008. Here they are:
1. Lisa and I were married.
(photo: Rodrigo Sepulvéda Schulz)
2. "Peace is a question of will," said my father Martti when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Watch the Nobel lecture video and "Every conflict can be resolved" concert video with Scarlett Johansson, Elina Vähälä and Michael Caine.
3. "Kelpaisit lapiomieheksi," Juhani said in Finnish and smiled.
After several weeks working with shovel in hand and renovating a log cabin out in Eastern Finland last summer, my father-in-law, told me that I'd be welcome as a "shovel man" on any construction site.
For smarter travel
As for the startup life, it was an extraordinary year with lots of heavy lifting. Blyk, the free mobile network funded by advertising, surpassed 200,000 young customers in the UK and raised a further 40M euro in funding. Blyk's success in the UK shows that the concept works. The business is on track to launch in the Netherlands next year, with other markets to follow. After three years of growing Blyk with the team, I decided it was time for my next step. Starting tomorrow January 1, 2009 I'll become CEO of Dopplr, the online social tool for smarter travel.
For 2009, the year ahead, I'd like to leave you with a short piece I wrote for Joi Ito's book Freesouls. It was my honor and privilege to write an essay - entitled Intelligent Travel - for this amazing book. Other contributors include Lawrence Lessig, Cory Doctorow, Yochai Benkler, Isaac Mao, Lawrence Liang and Howard Rheingold.
"Sometimes one must stop and sit by the roadside, and wait for the soul to catch up..."
The essay begins with this old African proverb. Continue reading more of Intelligent travel in English or in Chinese translation.
I wish everyone a Happy New Year.
1. Lisa and I were married.
(photo: Rodrigo Sepulvéda Schulz)
2. "Peace is a question of will," said my father Martti when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Watch the Nobel lecture video and "Every conflict can be resolved" concert video with Scarlett Johansson, Elina Vähälä and Michael Caine.
3. "Kelpaisit lapiomieheksi," Juhani said in Finnish and smiled.
After several weeks working with shovel in hand and renovating a log cabin out in Eastern Finland last summer, my father-in-law, told me that I'd be welcome as a "shovel man" on any construction site.
For smarter travel
As for the startup life, it was an extraordinary year with lots of heavy lifting. Blyk, the free mobile network funded by advertising, surpassed 200,000 young customers in the UK and raised a further 40M euro in funding. Blyk's success in the UK shows that the concept works. The business is on track to launch in the Netherlands next year, with other markets to follow. After three years of growing Blyk with the team, I decided it was time for my next step. Starting tomorrow January 1, 2009 I'll become CEO of Dopplr, the online social tool for smarter travel.
For 2009, the year ahead, I'd like to leave you with a short piece I wrote for Joi Ito's book Freesouls. It was my honor and privilege to write an essay - entitled Intelligent Travel - for this amazing book. Other contributors include Lawrence Lessig, Cory Doctorow, Yochai Benkler, Isaac Mao, Lawrence Liang and Howard Rheingold.
"Sometimes one must stop and sit by the roadside, and wait for the soul to catch up..."
The essay begins with this old African proverb. Continue reading more of Intelligent travel in English or in Chinese translation.
I wish everyone a Happy New Year.
Happy new year to you and Lisa too...
Posted by: Matt | December 31, 2008 at 07:10 PM
Dear Marko,
I could not be more pleased that I was with you for what undoubtably was the most important of these three moments! (Not sure I would want to be part of moment 3! :-)
Congratulations on the move to Doppler! Now that you are a CEO, just to try (unsuccessfully, as always) to keep up, maybe I'll declare myself "King" of 3QD! :-)
Best wishes to you and your family for the new year.
Always proud and happy to be your friend,
Abbas
P.S. Here's what my Christmas was like: http://www.3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily/2008/12/alpine-christmas.html
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