The year is all but over.  Most people feel like it’s been 2 years packed into 1.  Our industry can be a huge assault on the senses sometimes huh.  As we all go our seperate ways for the holiday season to reflect, here are my wishes for the SharePoint community for 2013 :

It’s the dawn of a new age; do you know who you are yet?  If not, maybe take some time to ask yourself that.  Don’t worry if you don’t have the answer yet, hardly anyone does and there are no right or wrong answers.

Promote good behaviour – the bullying and viciousness in the industry has to stop.  If you have been a been a long time victim of bullying, resolve to make a stand and deserve better.  If all else fails, know when to get out.  Everyone deserves to be treated with respect even if you don’t agree with their point of view.

There is more than enough business for everybody, let’s work better together and maintain exceptional standards of ethics in all our dealings to better serve our customers.  We can’t be all things to all people, so find partners who can address the things you aren’t so strong in.  Make sure they have the same work ethic as you do, your reputation is at stake.

Take pride in yourselves and your work.  If you’re charging R500 – R1300 ($56 – $146) an hour or more for your services, you are expected to deliver high quality work, meet your deliverables, be a team player, manage your time properly and produce content on demand. If you can’t do that, you shouldn’t be charging so much. No-one is irreplaceable.

New people need to step up to community leadership.  The way has been paved in every country in the community space but the leaders of those communities can only do so much and maintain that momentum so long.  We need people with fresh ideas and long term goals to step up to the plate.  There is still much we can improve on.

Share your knowledge freely.  Don’t be afraid to write a blog or post a question or answer on a forum.  You have so much to share and there are going to be people out there who need to hear what you have to say.  Learn how to sign up for a blog then take a deep breath and just do it.  Post your blogs to Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn so people can find them.

Be kind to each other.  We work in a highly stressful industry and tempers and passion flair regularly.  Have compassion for yourself and your colleagues and co-workers.  Everyone has a break point and needs to vent sometimes.  Don’t hold it against them indefinitely because one day you will be in the same situation and will need some understanding.

Say thank you.  If someone does you a kindness in any way, have the grace to say thank you, and mean it.  The givers in the world usually except nothing in return for their generosity, but a well-meant thank you can make all the difference in the world. If you’re a taker and have been abusing givers your whole life, just remember that one day those givers will simply stop because of you.  What will the plan be then?  How about being a little generous yourself if that hasn’t ever been your thing; it could change your life.

That’s it really, and my last post for 2012.

This will be my home for the next week, enjoy whatever you’re doing for your well-earned break.  See you in 2013.