** This is a special post by Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO. Happy Halloween and be sure to check out today’s blog written by our guest blogger, Regina Kelton, found underneath this post! ** October 31 will always be a special day for me. It has always been great fun growing up and trick or treating and I continue this with my children. But, four years ago today, I took a gigantic leap away from the corporate world and gave notice at a magazine that I had developed and where I had spent 17 years of my life. October 31, 2003 is when I handed in my letter of resignation and told my previous employer exactly what I was going to do – start a magazine for the business and luxury traveler. To say they were unhappy would be just the tip of the iceberg. Now, they say entrepreneurs are born and not made, but, frankly, I think they are forced into it. Granted, I always had a vision of creating something unique, different and simply better than what I was doing or what I was forced to do, but, without change, I was never going to do it. So, when my company of 17 years was sold and they began to treat my employees in ways that did not sit well with me and when I no longer was proud to see my name on the masthead, I just had to go or die. Shakespeare said “A hero dies but one death, and a coward dies a million times” (or something like that) – well, I was dying over and over again each day. Now, many wonder how much thought went into leaving and how much planning. The answer is simple. Lots of thought and lots of planning, but both took place with never a thought of failure. I/we saw the world with rose colored glasses on and without them, I wonder if we would have made it. Of course the company and I made mistakes – several big ones – but they say you learn from your mistakes and I truly think we did. All the staff put their lives and careers on the line and no one could ever question their dedication to the project, to the dream. And unless you have put your family, your finances and your future at stake, you will never understand the pressure this creates. We launched Global Traveler with a “do or do” principle – we had burned the ships in the harbor and there was no turning back. We had to and would succeed and it meant many sleepless nights for all the staff and making sure we outdid the competition. I can remember emailing my staff at 3 and 4 am when we started. They awoke with their inboxes full of emails – they understood. I am pleased to say that Global Traveler has remained independent, with a unique voice, who cares about readers and employers alike. We have a wonderful dedicated executive staff, unparalleled writers and a true care for the audience. The integrity of the readership transcends into the way we do business. This has resulted in a very successful product, more profitable than another magazine in this niche, a secure future and a dedication to our goals as a corporate entity which are Relationships, Friendship and Trust (the mantra of FXExpress Publications, Inc). We have been good to this niche, we have stimulated others in the same category and shown them what one independent publication can do. We have forced the issue of auditing circulation independently, using third party research on audience studies – and we know how to have a good time while doing it all right. It has been fun. Thanks for supporting me and the team behind Global Traveler – a magazine that is dedicated to the readers. -Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO