An Ode To Unwavering Focus

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Today’s column marks the one-year anniversary of my Online Spin column (and 11 years since I was first featured in the publication -- how time flies). Writing a substantive and thought-provoking weekly column is no easy task, particularly while growing a business. The weekly deadline was both rewarding and challenging. But now I must pass the torch.

I’ve had the distinct pleasure of being part of the digital marketing industry from the beginning. Other than the thrill of the early rollercoaster ride, there has never been a more exciting time to be in the business of digital communication. The era of big data, the transformation of social business, the ubiquity of mobile experiences, and the impending explosion of over-the-top TV and connected devices all add up to the converged and always-on future that we have been promising marketers since the digital dawn.

Digital media and technology platforms have been, and continue to be, disruptors of industries -- and the catalyst for organizational and cultural change. Being part of a communal David that is slowing but surely converging with Goliath is exhilarating in every way.

For brands that are trying to prioritize investments and make sense of the pace of change, it is often difficult to separate the hype from reality, but I remind you of Amara’s Law: "We tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long run." Just over 10 years ago, Amazon was scoffed at, Google had just emerged from a research project, Apple’s future was uncertain, and Facebook wasn’t even an idea.

I want to thank MediaPost for the pleasure of working with such a dedicated and talented editorial team. But most of all I want to thank you, the readers of MediaPost, for your support and enthusiasm, encouragement and inspiration. The Online Spin has been a great experience. Really, it’s not goodbye, just see ya later.

You can continue to follow Jason’s thoughts on Twitter @jasonheller.

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5 comments on "An Ode To Unwavering Focus ".

1. Ted Rubin from Collective Bias / The Rubin Organization
   

   commented on: March 6, 2012 at 12:47 p.m.
   Jason... your posts will be missed. Appreciate all your input and thinking. Amara's Law is so incredibly relevant right now with everyone spending more time on figuring out what's next instead of concentrating on what is now. Look forward to finding your content in other venues. Thank you for sharing.
2. Ted Rubin from Collective Bias / The Rubin Organization
   

   commented on: March 6, 2012 at 12:49 p.m.
   P.S. Important to evolve, invent, and reach beyond our grasp, but at the same time so necessary to keep our eyes on the ball.
3. Jason Heller from AGILITi
   

   commented on: March 6, 2012 at 2:17 p.m.
   Thanks, Ted!
4. Joe Mandese from MediaPost
   

   commented on: March 7, 2012 at 7:05 a.m.
   Thanks for contributing so much to think about, Jason. It may have been a relatively short Spin run, but I have a feeling people will be thinking about your posts for the long-run.
5. Jason Heller from AGILITi
   

   commented on: March 13, 2012 at 3:51 p.m.
   Thanks, Joe. It's been a pleasure!

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