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Thanks Indeed
Thanksgiving. Since for most of my adult life my family has been spread across the country or even planet, this has not for years been a “get family together” holiday. Most of my Thanksgivings have been of the “gosh it’s nice to have a four day weekend” variety more than anything else. But this year, I’m actually going to take the time to remember the spirit of the day. In no particular order (except for number one), here are things I am thankful for this year:
- My wife Holly and son Anthony, who remind me every day that there are more important things in life than my job, my company, social media, or anything else.
- I’m still alive and semi-kicking. I’m not as healthy as I once was, and age is starting to take its toll. But I’m alive, I can get up every day, I’m mobile, and it doesn’t take too many miracles of modern science to keep me breathing.
- My company turned three straight quarters of profit and we had a successful IPO. After the stressful past two years and not knowing what the future held, it feels indescribably good to have things clicking now. Thankful also for all the people who either stood by us or have agreed to give us a second chance.
- I have a remarkable team and extended team of people who are outstanding at what they do and help make me successful. Every one of them is a blessing.
- The Red Sox, Tigers, Cardinals, Reds and even the Nationals. And that the Yankees failed in their efforts to buy another World Series.
- Detroit. Everything about this place — from the resiliency and scrappiness and grit of its people to the simple placid beauty of watching the Detroit River flow by on a summer afternoon.
- I landed a book deal. It’s been a life goal for me to write a book someday, and now I’m doing it. I’m incredibly thankful to all the people whose efforts over the years made me look good enough to get a book deal.
- The remarkable community here in Detroit, including Dave Murray, Brandon Chesnutt, Alicia Dorset, Audrey Walker, Henry Balanon, Becks Davis, Stephen Clark, Hubert Sawyers, Adrian Pittman, Hajj Flemings, Jane Fader, Angela Hernandez, Charlie Wollberg, and dozens of others.
- Some wicked smart people in the social media world who teach me something by example almost every day, including Geoff Livingston, Aaron Strout, Mitch Joel, David Meerman Scott, Chris Brogan, Joseph Jaffe, Peter Shankman, Olivier Blanchard, Liz Strauss, Lucretia Pruitt, Jason Keath, Amber Naslund, and many others. Every one of them teaches me something different than the others. Sometimes, I even disagree with them or they with me. That is why they are so awesome.
- Some really cool people I’ve met online and/or in various outreach efforts with GM. Some are social media rock stars, some are just rock stars in their own worlds. But I love ‘em all the same, and they are proof that online friends are damn well real friends. Brian Simpson, Jessica Randazza, George Smith, Nicole D’Alonzo, Emily Haughey, Summer Boone, Casey Mullins, Chris Moody, Anissa Mayhew, Jeff Pulver, among many others, have made my life more enjoyable through their presence in it. Thank you, guys.
- Little things that make life fun: the Sesame Street Grover Spice Guy; Armando Galarraga and Jim Joyce reminding us what sportsmanship is; the funny look on Wayne Gretzky’s face when the pillar didn’t work during the Winter Olympics; the look on the young Chilean son’s face as his father was brought out of the San Jose mine.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
