Many people look at the Holidays as quite simply the most joyous time of the year. Who can blame 'em? Bright flashy lights, free candy, parties, family.the list goes on and on. And there is the other half, the ones who look at this season as one of the most stressful of year.

Well add CEOs to the second list.

First, there's an incredible amount of political jockeying that goes on internally - who gets the cards, who gets the wine baskets - wait, do we offend someone by sending out wine? Uh oh, Chanukah was earlier this year. That means for some of our customers, cards will be arriving too late anyway. Wow, is it easier from a customer relations standpoint just to disregard this season altogether?!

Next, there's that obnoxious un-written rule that says on an executive level anything I need to get wrapped up by year's end better be done by Dec 21th. Post this magical date, we enter the "dead zone" that seems to exist until a few days into January while every decision maker and C-level exec is on their extended Holiday trip. Despite this dead-zone, it never fails that some overly obsessive individual has a pressing need to get something done on the 26th, or even worse, on New Year's Eve day!

So somewhere in all this we've got to reward what I consider to be the most deserving staff in the managed hosting industry. Okay, so that means planning a party. Try getting 45 people, all with family or friends to agree on a single date. Not happening. So which conflicts do we chalk up to "tough luck," and which do we make accommodations for? While we're on the topic of 45 in agreeance, let's we talk about the venue for the event. Sorry Mark, Hanna Montana concert is out this year, hate to disappoint the girls.

It is at this point that I'll perform the least stressful task assigned to me by wishing everybody a wonderful holiday season, and all the best for 2008!

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