Things to give thanks for in your business

​People and things you take for granted all year
 
Thanksgiving is our favorite holiday. Its name says it all. In a perfect world, every day would be Thanksgiving; we should always be cognizant of the others who make our lives possible, and better.
 
But we’re always busy. At least we have a holiday set aside each year to remember.
 
Now, if you’re in the consulting business or the ad biz, your list may differ from those of other people’s. But not by much, we’d wager. Here, then, is a little tally of thought-starters for you when you bow your head at the dinner table this year:
 
Thanks for technology
 
We could write an incredibly long post on this topic alone. We’re old enough to remember when advances such as touch-tone dialing, cordless phones, fax machines, and desktop publishing were disruptive. They were just the prelude.
 
What do you rely on, every day, that helps your business hum? Here’s a hint: What drives you absolutely bonkers when it doesn’t work or isn’t available to you?
 
Yup. Things like a reliable, persistent internet connection. Ditto for wifi and cell service. So let’s raise a glass to those anonymous nerds who keep the grid going for the rest of us. Heck, you wouldn’t even be able to read this article without them.
 
We’d also toss certain app developers into that mix. Whether on your laptop, desktop, or phone, you know there are certain apps you absolutely live on. A toast: May they always be updated! May they never get broken by evil operating-system updates!
 
Thanks for vendors
 
They’re not on staff. But they still make you look good. Great, even. They’re the ones who answer the call when the tasking seems improbable, the deadline impossible. These are people who are in it for more than the money. These are people who take pride in their work and won’t put their name on it unless it’s great. The ones who, in addition to being great professionals, approach each assignment, each phone call, each email with alacrity. You gotta love ‘em. To you, great vendors! Happy Thanksgiving!
 
Thanks for clients
 
They can—and should—be demanding. If they weren’t, they wouldn’t bring out your best. Sure, they pay the bills. But they help you become a better businessperson. And the best ones are good people, too. A few months ago, we were faced with a family emergency in the midst of various projects, and needed to take a day off to deal with it. The response we received from our clients was overwhelmingly compassionate. It didn’t have to be. But it was. We are blessed to have clients this good. Here’s hoping that you are, too.
 
To great clients! We give thanks!
 
Thanks for the team
 
These are the people you’ve hand-selected. The ones you demand a ton of, daily. The ones who come early and stay late. How often, throughout the year, do you simply give them a big “thank you”? This is your chance.
 
Great people are irreplaceable. Treat them as such.
 
Thanks for America
 
We assiduously avoid politics in these articles, but there’s simply no denying that we live in a land of unparalleled opportunity. Whatever its flaws, the United States is, in our opinion, the greatest country in the world, perhaps because it wears its flaws so openly, and works so hard to self-improve, even if convulsively. There’s a national character at work, the kind we witnessed during the family emergency we mentioned above, that permeates the social fabric, and makes this a great place to live and do business.
 
And of course, Thanksgiving is an American holiday.
 
Thanks for family
 
Who will be sitting across from you, and beside you, at the Thanksgiving dinner table this year? This is your true inner circle. Spouses, parents, children, pets… in the words of the old World War II films, they’re “why we fight.” No matter how hard a day you’ve had at the office, you still get to come home. Be thankful.
 
What are you thankful for this year? Let us know. We’d love to hear.

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