It’s a wonder that the U.S. and Canada are not the same country.
Other than the big border that divides us—well, that and they have a much better leader than we do (if you can call him a leader)—we’re pretty much the same.
I always feel bad when they don’t get the new iPhone or Netflix shows or Amazon Echo or Facebook features as quickly as we do.
It truly makes no sense.
Can’t we just become one?
(You’ll see below that they really don’t want to be with us right now. And, really, who can blame them?)
It’s about this time of year that I truly want to be one with them.
They get to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving on Monday and we have to wait another six weeks.
Of course, Thanksgiving in the U.S. signifies the start of the Christmas holiday.
A tree certainly won’t last from October 10 until January 2.
But still, I love my Canadians and wish we could just be one.
With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to help them celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving, which is this coming Monday.
I asked my Inside PR co-hosts, the Spin Sucks community, and the PR Dream Team to tell us what they’re thankful for this Canadian Thanksgiving.
Clients, Team, and Data
Clients! Without them, we’d have nothing. Clients who understand the importance of an integrated PR strategy. Clients who are comfortable incorporating paid elements into their plans to help increase their search results and online engagement. And most of all, clients who provide direct feedback and don’t hesitate to heap their praises for a job well done!
Our team! Spodek & Co. operates with a virtual team of amazing people who share a strong work ethic, are results-driven, and have a strong desire to keep learning and improving together.
But, I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank Gini for her guidance in helping me determine our company values and build the right team.
Analytics, data, and improved reporting services! I was a math whiz in school who grew up to have a love-hate relationship with numbers and am thankful we have them to help keep our work on track. — Eden Spodek
Create, Educate, and Help
I’m thankful to be in a position that allows me to create, educate and help people.
If my work leads them to something that makes their life and work better, easier, and more efficient so they can be their best, then I’ve done my job well. — Karen Wilson
Good Reasons to Fritter
I’m thankful for the world of social and digital media that is constantly evolving and matches my attention span!
It rekindled my curiosity to learn new things (that now includes trying to get a handle on AI, neural networks, and chatbots), exploded my connections and introduced me to so many amazing people around the world that I now call colleagues and friends.
It also gave a good reason to fritter and ignore email!
And, of course, I’m thankful for Gini and the Spin Sucks team! — Martin Waxman
The Right People
I’m so thankful I’ve found the right people to surround myself with. People who lift me up, who always support me (hi, Gini!!) and who push me to be all that I can be—and right out of some of my coziest comfort zones.
If I hadn’t found those people, I bet you I would be sitting in a cubicle right, now counting down the days to retirement, and no true entrepreneur wants that! —Lara Wellman
Collaborations
Work-wise, the collaborations with clients and other marketing companies has brought a lot of open doors this year. I love it when competitors can become collaborators as the (pumpkin) pie is big enough for all of us, and then some.
Non-work (I run my own show, is there ever “non-work”???) I’m thankful for my prosperity, my health, my dear family and friends, and the chance to start horse-back riding lessons. Working with a 1,000-pound animal to collaborate and cooperate on a ride is a magical and humbling experience. — Jennifer Kelly
A Handle on Anxiety
The thing I’m most thankful for is that I’m getting a handle on the anxiety that has at time crippled me, and that I’m finding work that is making me happy without hitting the triggers that will send me into dangerous territory.
I’m making less money and I’m not pushing to the toppermost of the poppermost (to use the phrase of the Beatles’s manager Brian Epstein), but I’m happier and more fulfilled. — Bob LeDrew
#AllTheThings
I’m grateful for my autonomy. I’m still a freelancer and business owner after 10 years and a ton of wrenching industry change. I’ve got this!
I’m grateful for my friends who are fellow business owners, folks like Eden Spodek, Martin Waxman, Donna Papacosta, and you, Gini!
Everyone has been willing to share the digital strategies that are working for them and the ones that tanked. Fail in front of your friends so you don’t have to fail in front of your client, friends let you do that.
I’m grateful for WordPress and social media. Paid media is definitely having a “Frankenstein moment” on social, but all the other organic benefits of these platforms still apply, and I continue to take advantage of them one post at a time.
I still marvel at the power of self-publishing. “I saw your article,” > “I loved your drawing!” > “Could you do this for us?” are music to my ears.
I’m grateful for my new Wacom drawing tablet. Now I’m learning how to combine my writing with my drawings and I’ve come full circle with my 10-year-old self. It’s strangely calming.
I’m grateful there’s a gym in my building. A thriving business needs a healthy owner.
I’m grateful that I’m not a picky eater because Thanksgiving dinner is my favourite meal of the year. The rest of the week will be turkey and cranberry sandwiches at my desk.
I’m grateful for the How To Be A Freelancer book my mom bought me 20 years ago. That book planted the seed and her belief in me fuels me every day.
Finally, I’m grateful that you asked me for my thoughts, Gini. — Alison Garwood-Jones
The Border Between Us
As a human being, the fact that I live in Canada—voted the second-best country to live in (for the second year in a row)—ranks pretty high.
I’m thankful I can work from home, and for my amazing wife who works in the same industry.
I’m thankful I can make a living doing what I love, with the amazingly fun, yet crazy, Spin Sucks team.
And I’m thankful I can do that remotely, with a border safely and securely between us. — Mike Connell
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!
I swear I did not pay a single soul to mention me or the Spin Sucks team!
(Well, that’s not entirely true. I do sign Mike’s paycheck so he was obligated. But not anyone else!)
This is another reason I want us to be one—Canadians are so nice.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of our Canadians!