A Marketer&#8217;s Thanksgiving

Ann Handley BIO

11.21.12

A Marketer’s Thanksgiving

Ah, Thanksgiving. Here in the US, it’s a time when we pack ourselves full of food, friends, football, and family. It’s a day when we give thanks for our good fortune and opportunities. And it’s a time to generously remember those who have less in the way of both.

Thanksgiving might be in late fall—in New England, where I live, that’s a time of dormancy and dwindling daylight—but, nonetheless, this time of year also signals the start of a kind of reflection and renewal. We can unpack the blessings of the year that was, and look with a sense of renewal at the year looming in front of us.

From where I sit, I unpack a bounty of blessings: First, for all, you—subscribers, readers, you there who clicked on a random link and stuck around to read this—THANK YOU! We don’t take for granted that you have granted even a small bit of your valuable attention to us.

Second, to all my colleagues here at MarketingProfs who are—without exception—the most fantastic group of colleagues I’ve ever worked with. It’s hard in a virtual company to foster a sense of oneness. It requires far more intention and effort on the part of each individual. But somehow we make it work, and there’s a special kind of grace in that.

Finally, a special shout to all of my friends and colleagues in the larger marketing world—which, ironically, feels more like a small marketing village to me sometimes. Last year, I dedicated this post to many of them. All of those I named then still continue to inspire and educate and make me laugh. And this past year the list has grown to include many new friends—like Dane Sanders, Kerry Gorgone, Shelly Kramer, Michael Brenner, Matt Ridings, Hunter Boyle, and Tim Hayden (to name but a very, very few)—whom I’ve had the pleasure of seeing a little more of in 2012 (and will, hopefully, see more of in 2013).

So happy Thanksgiving, all! May your blessings be as numerous as mine this year. I’ll leave you with this image by our own Veronica Jarski, who reimagined the First Thanksgiving as a social marketer’s feast. Enjoy!