So, if you're thinking to yourself, 'What's the one long read I should bring with me for the Thanksgiving weekend?' I'm glad you're here.
Whether you're headed to the in-laws, off to your parents' house, traveling by plane, rail, car, or just looking for an escape from the kids for a few minutes, there are many things to be thankful for and even more to complain about these days.
The Four Ps is a mix of both. Let's carve it up!
THE PROFESSIONAL: Gratitude, Not Attitude
As your thoughts turn to turkey, stuffing, and the inevitable debate over the best type of pie (it's apple, just stop with your pumpkin shenanigans), I'm beyond excited to kick off what has always been my favorite time of year. Beginning as a high school student and continuing well into my 20's, I dressed up as Santa Claus and went to hospitals, schools for special-needs students, and underprivileged community centers to spread the joy. My love for Christmas music is well-documented, my penchant for holiday parties knows no limits, and my gratitude meter goes off the charts.
So, as we gather around the table, temporarily pushing thoughts about the world to the back of our minds and focusing inward with family and friends to give thanks for our blessings, remember that there's also an untapped wealth of benefits waiting for leaders who bring this spirit of appreciation into their professional lives.
Think about it: when was the last time you expressed sincere gratitude at work, beyond a quick "thanks" in an email? If you're scratching your head, don't worry, you're not alone. While we often reserve our deepest thanks for family gatherings, dishing out a hearty serving of gratitude at work can have transformative effects. This isn't just about being thankful for the big client wins or appreciation for listening to my podcast; it's about recognizing the small acts, the everyday efforts, and the quiet contributions that keep the gears of your business turning.
So pass the sweet potatoes and let's delve into why my 5-Pronged Gratitude Approach will be the secret ingredient your business needs.
Genuine Interaction: Take a page out of Texas Roadhouse CEO Kent Taylor's book. Despite overseeing a colossal team, he makes time for direct, meaningful conversations with his staff. This personal approach not only garners valuable insights but also shows genuine interest and appreciation for their input.
Trust and Benefit of the Doubt: Adopting a mindset of trust towards employees can lead to a supportive and innovative environment. Assume positive intent, and you'll find that underperformance is often not due to lack of effort but barriers like inadequate training or unclear directions.
Empathy in Action: Empathy isn't just a feel-good factor; it's a performance driver. Managers who understand and empathize with their team's daily challenges can provide more effective support, leading to better overall performance.
Celebrating the Small Victories: Recognizing the smaller achievements can be incredibly motivating. It's about acknowledging the effort and progress, not just the end result. This can transform the workplace into a more dynamic and positive space.
Peer Recognition and Initiative: Cultivating a culture where team members appreciate each other can be more impactful than top-down recognition. This peer-to-peer gratitude can strengthen team bonds and enhance motivation.
So, with a sprinkle of humor and a dollop of heart, unleashing the power of gratitude in your professional environment is like Friday leftovers, but for boosting team spirit and productivity. 81% of employees would hustle harder if their bosses just mastered the art of saying "thanks" in more meaningful ways. It's not about grand gestures; it's the simple, genuine acts of understanding, appreciating, and empathizing that turn the workplace into a well-oiled, happy machine.
Let's channel our inner gratitude guru and transform our workplaces into arenas where small victories are celebrated, everyone feels valued, and productivity soars – not just because it's nice, but because it works wonders! 🚀💼🎉
THE PERSONAL: Turtle Power
In the heart of our home, a new obsession has taken root - or perhaps I should say, it's slowly crawled its way in. Our daughter, with the determination only a child can muster, has set her sights on a shelled companion. Turtles, in all their slow-moving glory, have become her world.
The journey began innocently enough, sparked by the infinite wisdom of YouTube. Turtles, the internet declared, make great pets. This revelation was a siren call to our little one, leading to an all-out campaign to convince her mom and me.
Initially, I entertained the idea. After all, my own fleeting childhood experience with turtles at sleepaway camp (a short-lived venture) made me believe this could be a manageable lesson in responsibility. However, research quickly turned excitement into apprehension. The pet store's turtles, destined to grow up to 14 inches and live for four decades, required a habitat that rivaled a small aquarium. The costs were not just financial (a whopping $500 for the setup alone) but also in terms of commitment. How long would this turtle craze last?
Determined to face this head-on, we ventured to the pet store. We hoped the reality of a 40-gallon tank and the prospect of a decades-long commitment would gently dampen her enthusiasm. But something unexpected happened – we found ourselves charmed by these sociable, cute creatures. Their little faces and slow, deliberate movements had an allure that was hard to resist.
Yet, practicality prevailed. With the wisdom of parents who have seen many a fleeting passion, we shifted the conversation from a flat "no" to a strategic "not right now." The compromise? A holiday promise and a more manageable pet choice. Enter Velvet, our new betta fish, whose arrival has brought a different kind of joy to our home.
As Velvet swims in his bowl, a constant, serene presence, we're reminded that sometimes the best outcomes are those that take unexpected turns. I am grateful for these family adventures and how they shape our lives on small and grand scales. From turtle dreams to fishy realities, our home remains a place of learning, love, and the occasional aquatic escapade.
THE PODCAST: Casey gets an at-bat
Snarketing Podcast Episode 13 - Our Thanksgiving episode, talking with Casey Terrell, a seasoned marketer in the restaurant and CPG industry.
In 35 minutes, we covered:
🎨 West Point to LPQ: How a balanced education shaped his marketing approach.
🍟 Outback's Aussie Cheese Fries to Korean snake shots, army experiences and playful pranks at Burger King.
🤹 Modern CMO: Merging tech knowledge and behavioiral science with marketing in the digital era.
👻 Haunted B&B Adventures: Restoring a Victorian B&B and encounters with the ghostly resident, Sophie.
🤝 LinkedIn as a "Fryer's Club:" How his West Point buddies keep him grounded.
🧠 Marketing Clairvoyance: The dream of predicting consumer needs effortlessly.
💻 Digital Marketing Evolution: Witnessing the shift from traditional to data-driven strategies.
THE PRACTICAL: Oh, the Humane-ity
In another wild, wacky week of A.I. news and notes -- from the firing (and almost re-hiring, then not re-hiring) and actual re-hiring of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to the GPT-ification of everything -- my advice is to focus on the software first, not the hardware. I've created about 10 very practical, personalized GPT tools over the past two weeks, each of which I use multiple times a day and is already saving me hours of work, and many errors.
One story that moved from the top of the headlines down pretty quickly (though it may re-emerge as holiday shopping season gets underway: the Humane AI pin. Finally available for sale last week, this tiny, wearable technology is the latest entrant in the "Do I really need this?" league, joining the ranks of other whimsical gadgets that have graced our lives. It's touted as the next big thing, but let's not get our digital hopes too high - this isn't the gadget that's going to make your smartphone obsolete.
Picture this: a device that's less of a discreet butler and more of a loud, attention-seeking sidekick. The AI pin, with its public interaction style, is akin to having a mini billboard pinned to your shirt. Privacy? That's so last year. In the world of the AI pin, every notification is a public announcement, and every command a shout into the void. Sure, it's a step towards futuristic, screenless tech. A step that's more of a hop, really. It's exciting in the way that experimental tech usually is - full of potential and equally full of kinks to iron out. The AI pin bravely ventures into the realms of AR, eye tracking, and gesture control, but let's not forget, it's still in the "novelty" phase of its evolution.
And at $700, one really must ponder the mysteries of economics and marketing. It's like paying for a premium smartwatch, only to wear it as a badge. Innovative? Definitely. Practical? Jury's still out on that one. In essence, the AI pin seems to be a classic case of creating a solution and then desperately searching for a problem. It's a gadget that whispers (or rather, announces loudly) "I'm from the future!" but forgets to tell us why we need that future now.
THE POLITICAL: The Long Road Ahead
Within political spheres, there's very little for which we can be grateful at the moment. Things aren't good. And if the Presidential election was today, it would DEFINITELY not be good. So I'm grateful there's still a year to turn things around.
The White House needs to do... something. By most key metrics, the economy is starting to pick up. Inflation is down, and consumer confidence is on the rise, but the American public is giving 'Bidenomics' the cold shoulder. According to the latest episode of 'Polls and Politics,' a mere 35% of Americans are buying what the Democrats are selling on the economy.
In come the progressive groups, toting private polling data like a bucket of cold water. "Surprise! Your economic message is as flat as yesterday's soda," they essentially say. Despite Biden's team highlighting everything from lowered inflation to low unemployment, the public's mood remains stubbornly gloomy. The irony? While the administration is busy patting themselves on the back for policy wins, the average Joe (not to be confused with Amtrak Joe) and Jane seem to think things are WORSE than they were four years ago. Yes, even after being told about the economic upswing, 7 out of 10 folks still think the economy is more 'down and out' than 'up and coming.'
The White House's response? A mixture of optimism and a "
" attitude, with a hint of frustration simmering beneath the surface. They're sticking to their guns but now with an added twist – maybe acknowledging the economic pain while subtly reminding everyone, "Hey, remember that time under Trump?"
So here we are, with the Biden administration in a bit of a pickle, trying to convince Americans that their economic glass is half full, not half empty. It’s a tough sell, a bit like trying to convince someone that brussels sprouts are as tasty as a cheeseburger. The road to the 2024 elections just got a bit more interesting – and bumpy. Buckle up! But at least we've got a year... scratch that... 50 weeks to get things back on track.