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Our First Year Is Over…And It’s Something I Will Always Remember

What a feeling. We didn’t know if it would last six months when we started. We didn’t know if the stream would be dependable for a large audience. We didn’t know if there would even be a large audience.

And yet, when the first year ended, we had worked about 50 weeks out of 52, the most I’ve worked since 30 years ago in Albany, New York. When I was at Westwood One and CBS Radio, we worked about 45 weeks most years with seven weeks of vacation and holidays.

I had no idea it would be like this: working seven days most weeks, often frustrating, exhilarating, and the most fun I’ve had since my first three years in LA 1988-91.

As we went along, it appeared that we had created something bigger than a call-in show for the internet; we created a social network of our own, a social network of P1s that goes beyond being loyal to our show, they now support each other in so many ways. AND us.

For many months now, I have begun to believe that our P1 concept is more important than our show itself.

The show is the town square of our own social network. And, it’s my belief that, no matter how lousy the economy has been for six years and continues to be, our P1s can become more successful, personally and professionally, by ignoring “Big Box” companies and private equity bottom-feeders and simply supporting the people we know, the people we trust, the people who share our values and want the same things we all want, in short, the population of our P1s.

To see the P1s supporting each other’s businesses (and, by definition, each other) is pretty damned special. And it’s growing exponentially. Every time you guys send me a picture of the bread you bake, the pizza you make, or the coffee you brew at home rather than spending five bucks or more at Starbucks, it really resonates that people just need a little reminding once in awhile that the power is really in our hands.

I am happy to have brought a little idea (the new version of our show) to share with everyone. I am even happier to see where you have taken life on our show and turned it into the ultimate living remixes and mash-ups. Your input, your suggestions, and especially your fracturing of classic rock songs on Be Funny, really make me feel that investing in what I believed in, betting on myself (and, by extension, you) was the right way to go.

Remember what I’ve often said on the show: ‘I’ve never lost money betting on myself.

Let’s not stop here. I will keep going if you will. Support the people who make our show possible. Support your fellow P1s in any way you can. And we will all support you as well. If I felt the need to quit today, which I definitely do not, I would never forget how you guys responded at the 2012 holidays, after the recent “State of The New Normal Union” email, and after our ruined First Anniversary eBay auction. These moments remind me of what happened to the character George Bailey in the later moments of the movie It’s A Wonderful Life. A holiday movie for sure, but if you think about it, the characters in it are the original P1s.

What we have all created here together is special. This really is our “wonderful life.”

Before anyone says it to me, let me say it to you: Happy Anniversary!

9 Responses to Our First Year Is Over…And It’s Something I Will Always Remember

  1. JR April 2, 2013 at 12:21 am #

    Hell yeah!!! Here’s to another year. What makes this so special is that we all feel that we’re A PART of the show and The New Normal. The transparency, the content and the tireless work from the whole crew make this unique audio experience that can’t be found anywhere else. In 2013, I’m hoping that TNN will focus their marketing efforts on finding new first-time listeners. This is the year to go even bigger. Like the people who stumbled across the show on their radio dials. P1s sought you out, but there are so many former listeners who probably don’t know that you’re back! And there are many more untapped people just waiting to stumble upon the show – just waiting to be hilariously offended and call in. “It pays to advertise.”

  2. CurlySue April 2, 2013 at 1:51 am #

    You will never lose money when you bet on yourself because we will always be here to support you! Feliz Aniversario and cheers to an anniversary worth celebrating! We love you even more than you know!

  3. David April 2, 2013 at 2:02 am #

    Grats Tom!

  4. Paul April 2, 2013 at 2:37 am #

    The best part of all this is that now there is no censorship, no management breathing down your neck, nobody trying to pull your strings, you run the whole show! So you can be far more real and more entertaining then you ever were on terrestrial radio! You’ve also paved the way for many others to follow in your footsteps and enter the internet radio medium as well! Congratulations on your success, Tom! I’ll continue to support your show in whatever way I can for many years to come!

  5. Ramon Thomas April 2, 2013 at 4:24 am #

    Your work is not only an inspiration Tom, it is sheer willpower. The secret ingredient must be the team of people around you. After that comes us P1’s also known as Zealots! Everywhere I go, I tell guys to wake up and listen to your show.

  6. Andrew Escalante April 2, 2013 at 9:25 am #

    It’s been an honor and a pleasure to be a part of the future. Thank you Professor and the rest of the guys for the amazing work that you do.

  7. Josue Menjivar April 2, 2013 at 10:23 am #

    Of course, we applaud Tom and the crew for this great day, the first year anniversary, but I also want to thank the true P1’s as well for supporting the show every which way. You guys believe in Tom, by your immense support. From contributing to the Content Kitty, to the Premium Tom subscriptions. Tom bet on himself, and you guys proved how right he is.
    I feel like a family member hanging out every week for a couple of hours with all of you guys.
    Thanks Gary, Dino, Art, and the father I never had, Tom.

  8. Jose Antonio Hernandez April 2, 2013 at 1:52 pm #

    You the best, Tom. 😉

  9. David April 4, 2013 at 4:15 am #

    Tom, it’s pretty crazy how it’s been a year already. One year ago, pretty much to the date, I drove to the nearest BART train and rode into the San Francisco area to listen to Ron Paul speak, then after getting home late at night, I stayed up until the early hours of the morning listening to the replay. Now, last night I did the same thing driving to the same BART to go into the city, now I’ll listen to the replay I missed again. Grats again.

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