"Let the journey be a journey" and a humping Santa gif.
Alright, Turkey Day is over here in the US, which means the entire country is basically like:
Yeah, humping Santa gif.
You're welcome, now bring on Christmas. I think we need it more than ever this year.
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving if you're in the US. I personally learned two things over this annual celebration of gluttony:
1. The secret ingredient to my Polish grandmother's stuffing is butter (shh)
2. Pictionary is about five million times more fun than Scrabble
In this edition of the World's Best Newsletter:
1. Calling Bullshit on 'Marketing Pundits' - Post Election
2. Networking pays off - if you're shameless and skillful
3. Why we're thankful to be marketers
4. Investing in your people and Commander's Intent
5. Journalism matters. Context matters. <<<<<If you skip the rest, read this one.
6. Quote of the week
Kathryn Roy is the real deal. We met through Masschallenge where she volunteers as a mentor, and where she delivers the truth whether you're ready for it, or not. It's so refreshing.
Her article (and most of her writing) is the same gift of blunt, smart, brave perspective. It calls out the slew of responses to our recent election by marketers who rushed to share "what we could learn" and offer advice. Unfortunately, much of this was just... bullshit. Clickbait. Take a read. It's justified and it's awesome.
2. Networking pays off - if you're shameless and skillful
I'm a good softball player, but I'm a terrible clarinet player. I'm good at cooking, but I'm bad at math. These are skills, some learned, some natural, but skills nonetheless.
Networking has always come easy to me (I'm endlessly interested in people... they are truly a fascinating species), but it's also helped my career tremendously.
Here's an excellent article from The Economist that digs into why networking matters as a skill. The author argues that networking has critical components to get right - be shameless about who you seek out, and always flatter them (yes, really.) Have something good to say. Show up. But don't be an asshole. They say it more eloquently here - a really excellent read.
3. Why we're thankful to be marketers
You've heard me complain about marketing plenty in this newsletter. But, true to the calendar of ubiquitous-events-we-can-blog-about, I was asked by my good friend David Pereira what I am thankful for as a marketer. My response?
I'm thankful for the literacy it provides in understanding our world, and for that feeling when it actually works.
Read more in the article, where I (naturally) compare marketing to crack. Classy, Katie, real classy.
4. Investing in your people and Commander's Intent
This article is great, especially for those who manage teams. It describes Commander's Intent - an end state when all is said and done used in the military. My favorite line:
“Your people will grow with or without you. The question is who will they grow into?” Read more.
5. Journalism matters. Context matters.
As our president-elect openly attacks the institution of journalism (unless it favors or flatters him), as our country is divided by partisan news TV talking heads, as our physical newspapers die from failing business models forcing many readers into the wild west of online news, as that very online news media is fueled by fake content and memes... it's never been more important to understand the role that journalism and CONTEXT play in our collective understanding of the world.
This video from Media Matters sums it up nicely, with historical examples. Please watch.
6. Quote of the week
"Let the journey be a journey."
This soundbite came today from Marti Konstant, a marketing strategist who I admire and learn from every time we have a conversation. When you're on a journey in life, maybe the kind that feels unpredictable or unfamiliar... even if you're not entirely sure where it will end up or how it all fits into the "master plan," sometimes you've got to let the journey be exactly that, a journey.
Be open to what's next. Let your mind be open to new things.
After all, that's how we grow.
Have a fantastic weekend,
Katie