For the past four years, the Wednesday before U.S. Thanksgiving, I have run The Grateful Challenge.
I first learned about this from Judy Dunn and Jennifer Devitt has since kept me accountable to doing it.
The challenge is this: Set a timer for 10 minutes and write down all of the things you’re grateful for—or things that you love—as fast as you can. The goal is to get to 99 (2013 was 82, 2014 was 67, 2015 was 99, and last year I did it a bit differently).
It’s not an easy task.
You’ll see it took me three years to get all 99 jotted down in 10 minutes.
(Copy and paste helps because many of the things transfer over.)
My Personal Grateful Challenge
This year, I’m going to continue the trend I began last year.
They do say content with visuals is more interesting—and it’s easier for me to do that with only 10 than 99.
Without further ado, here is my personal grateful challenge.
The Spin Sucks Mastermind Group
Three years ago, I created a mastermind group made up of PR firm owners.
I was scared to death to do it.
I didn’t know why anyone would pay me to coach them in how to scale a PR firm.
But I took a leap of faith and today I have a great group of colleagues and friends.
They have pushed me to grow.
They have challenged me and made me think about things in new ways.
Hanging out with them has been an incredible experience.
(This photo is a year old. It’s the only one I have of all of us together. But…Go Cubs, Go!)
The PR Dream Team
As I said in my Thanksgiving email to the PR Dream Team yesterday, I concocted this idea while sitting on my front porch discussing the merits of Slack with a friend.
We had no idea if it would take off or flop.
But it has become an incredibly rewarding experience.
I think we may actually rule the world together and create peace.
I fully realize it’s my thing, but I cannot imagine doing my job in today’s constantly changing world without the PR Dream Team.
The Content Secret to Closing More Clients
Earlier this year, we launched the Content Secret to Closing More Clients masterclass.
It was meant to be something else entirely, but the people who entrusted their businesses to us helped us reframe the online course.
Today, I get to spend two hours a month with these smart people who are focused on growing their businesses.
I have found peers—people who challenge me to do better every day.
The Spin Sucks Community
I have been so incredibly blessed because of the Spin Sucks community.
People ask me all the time how we’ve built such a great community.
I’ve taken stabs at guessing, but the truth of the matter is it’s all you.
It has nothing to do with us.
It has been such a crazy ride the past nine years or so.
Thank you for showing up here every, single day.
My NEW Bike!
We added a family member this year: Lizzie, my new bike.
Everyone makes fun of me for treating her like family, but I spend 10-12 hours a week with her.
She is family.
And what a beaut she is.
The Spin Sucks Team
For the November Fireside Chat, I interviewed the Spin Sucks team.
It was fun to see their personalities come out and see how different the answers were to the same questions.
But the most impressive thing was how excited they all are to work with you.
To bring you new products and new ideas in 2018.
It was very satisfying to hear that (and without any prodding!).
The Opportunity to Hang Out with Crazy Smart People
Sometimes I look at everything we’ve achieved at Arment Dietrich and Spin Sucks and I have to pinch myself.
Since the advent of social media, we’ve been able to truly flatten out the world.
We can hire the best person for the job, no matter where they are in the world.
I get to meet so many of you when I’m speaking at events.
And the idea that I get paid to write and speak is just crazy.
My dad used to say he didn’t understand how I did not choose a career in writing.
It just took a little while to get there.
Our Parents
Those of you who have kids know your relationship with your parents changes when the little ones arrive.
Even your relationship with your in-laws.
Suddenly you completely understand what they sacrificed to get you into the world.
It’s also fun to see what they sacrifice for your children.
For instance, my mom is a tailor and she doesn’t get paid unless she’s working on someone’s clothes.
But to hang out with the Bean, she drops everything.
My mother-in-law HATES the cold and snow, but she will go outside and play in the snow with her grandchild.
And my father-in-law has no qualms about playing games that require, well, imagination.
I am grateful they are all in her life.
This Relationship
When my little beanie arrived, Jack Bauer was NOT happy.
For eight years, he was my one and only.
Now he was supposed to share me?
It got a little better when he realized she would feed him from her high chair.
Today, they tolerate each other so I have to capture moments like this when I can.
My Little Family
Likewise, you know exactly what it’s like to watch your heart walk around outside of your body.
When you watch your spouse with them, it feels as though your heart cannot handle any more.
I have this photo on my desktop laptop so it always shows up when I speak.
The reaction people have is always great.
I mean, how can you not love these two?
Your Challenge
Now it’s your turn.
Set your timers for 10 minutes and get to work!
You can either do the top 10 things, like I did, or go for the big Grateful Challenge.
I recommend the latter, particularly if you’ve never done it.
If you publish your list, post the link in the comments here so I can share all of the grateful posts for the next week or so.
Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!
