Gratitude In Uncertain Times: What the TopRank Marketing Team is Most Thankful For

Have our views on thankfulness changed in the turmoil and uncertainty of 2020?

As the U.S. celebrates Thanksgiving Day, the pandemic continues to have a profound global impact, making this start to the holiday season one unique in modern history.

This doesn’t mean that we have less to be thankful for, however — indeed the opposite may be true, based on what our team here at TopRank Marketing have taken the time to reflect on for our traditional post sharing messages of thankfulness.

Our ability to see and express gratitude in difficult times can be especially meaningful and replenishing. This may be a prime year to consider the words of writer G. K. Chesterton.

[bctt tweet=”“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” — Gilbert K. Chesterton” username=”toprank”]

Let’s open our hearts and take in messages of thankfulness from our team during this unprecedented pandemic year, shared with the hope that you’ll also be inspired to reflect on some of the silver linings that may be hidden in our lives if we take the time to listen.

What the TopRank Marketing Team is Most Thankful for in 2020

Lee Odden

CEO and Co-Founder

2020 has been a remarkable year for many reasons. With all of the challenges, uncertainty and obstacles, I could not be more proud of my team at TopRank Marketing for how they have adapted quickly, with care and quality to every speed bump to roadblock they have encountered.

Amidst the significant changes and challenges, new leaders have emerged, processes have been refined and accountability for work quality has improved.

Most of all, the attention and responsiveness to customer needs that have been a hallmark of TopRank Marketing for many years were rewarded with incredible customer retention rates, program expansion and the addition of some of the largest client engagements we’ve ever had in our 20 years in business.

I am thankful for the leadership of our management team, the next level organizational and relationship management skills of our account team, the unrivaled creativity of our content and creative teams, the tech and marketing mastery of our SEO team, the industry leading capabilities of our fast growing influencer marketing team, our internal marketing for keeping this blog and our social media accounts a source of insight for hundreds of thousands of people and how operations has been able to make sure everything we need to do business is working properly.

I am thankful for the continued confidence and partnership with our clients who represent some of the top B2B brands in the world. The opportunity to collaborate and create influencer content experiences with these brands is a source of inspiration to our team and to the B2B marketing community at large as we get to share success stories through case studies and industry awards.

I am thankful for the TopRank Marketing community of industry influencers who have raised the bar on our collaborations with clients and helped us produce meaningful, impactful marketing resources that customers actually love.

I am thankful for our community of marketers who visit us here on our B2B Marketing Blog, read our newsletter, attend event presentations and engage with us on our social media channels.

2020 has been remarkable not just because of the challenges, but because of the way those in our community, amongst our clients and team have responded. The clarity of our purpose in creating content experiences that inspire by helping B2B brands become the best answer for their customers has served our clients and company well. 2020 will be one of our most successful ever.

I am eternally thankful for the opportunity to live a dream of working with an agency dedicated to making a difference for our clients with care, creativity and impact. Thank you!

Jane Bartel

Senior Account Manager

I’m thankful for everybody who learned and leveraged new ways to tell their stories, create their content, and reach their audiences this year. This includes many of our clients as well as my yoga and school-teacher friends, my travel-blogger parents, my trivia team, and everybody keeping in touch along the way — all of whom I admire very much. I’m a lucky person to be surrounded in both my work and home life by caring, compassionate, funny, kind people who value growth.

My amazing husband and our snuggly dog Monroe are endless sources of mood-boosters, and undisputed MVPs of our “quaranteam.”

Lane R. Ellis

Social Media and Content Marketing Manager

In our uncertain 2020, I’m especially thankful for my wonderful family, friends, and associates.

Celebrating 19 years of marriage with my amazing wife and pandemic partner Julie Ahasay tops my thankfulness list, along with the joy of having my parents Konnie and Bob in my life, as well as my astounding and always-inspiring 103-year-old grandma Lilly Haldorsen, who is living through her second pandemic.

I’m thankful for over 36 years of using the Internet, and to still be able to run, mountain bike, and cross-country ski the beautiful trails of Duluth, and for our loving cats — Phineas Faustus and Kukla Francis Oliver.

It’s a great time to reach out and give the world and its endless opportunities a cozy wintery embrace, so here’s a big virtual hug to all of you I’m lucky enough to know, lovely family and friends. Thank you.

Elizabeth Williams

Senior Account Manager

In reflecting on 2020 there is so much more to be grateful for than meets the eye. So yes, my children got too much screen time. But they also got 5x more baking soda/vinegar science experiments, pillow tents and Friday movie nights with their parents. Yes, I miss getting out of the house, but I cannot rejoice enough for the innumerable moments my husband and I have had.

I am also thankful for our TopRank Marketing team – dealing with COVID and civil unrest in real, close-to-home ways – all the while coming to work ready to hustle, learn and drive results. I’m grateful and optimistic for all of the outstanding talent that has joined our team this year. And, I’m proud of the growth in each and every single one of us professionally and personally in 2020!

Speaking of growth… we are beyond grateful to announce baby number 3 coming to our locked down home in June 2021! And yes, we have confirmed – it is just one baby.

Joshua Nite

Senior Content Marketing Manager

In my professional life, I’m grateful for an amazing team that stays engaged and keeps in touch even when we can’t be in the office together.

Personally, I’m grateful for my at-home team — my wife, my 5-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son. We’re getting more together time than ever before, but we still enjoy each other’s company. Couldn’t ask for a better lockdown crew.

Debbie Friez

Influencer Marketing Strategist

I’m thankful to be busy working with fabulous clients and amazing thought leaders every day. In a year that has hit many people very hard, I know that each day is a blessing. And, I am especially blessed to be able to get up every day and walk into my office and do work that I enjoy.

On a personal note, I am thankful for my health and that of loved ones who have recovered from sickness. And in a time when I don’t leave my house, I am especially blessed to have my husband and fur babies keeping me happy and busy.

Mike Odden

Research Analyst

I am mostly thankful for my wonderful family, my wife of 56 years, our three children and seven wonderful grandchildren.

I feel blessed to be father of this great family! May the new year bring enlightenment.

Birdie Zepeda

SEO Strategist

While these are things I’m always appreciative of, 2020 has me extra thankful for family, friends, and good health. I’m thankful for discovering sports like roller skating to keep me active during these tough times.

I love working alongside the amazing businesses we, at TopRank Marketing, partner with, and I’m grateful I can continue to do so and achieve great results.

Keith Widerski

Account Manager

I’m thankful for the amazing team and collaborative work environment we have at TopRank Marketing. All throughout this wild ride we call 2020, we’ve stuck together and have been able to achieve some incredible milestones and results for clients.

On a personal level, I’m thankful for the health and support of my friends and family. Thank you all for continuing to challenge me and make me a better person each and every day. And of course, my new puppy Chief who we got in the middle of this pandemic. He has certainly helped keep us plenty busy and can always help brighten up a Zoom call.

Mairi Morgan

Senior Influencer Marketing Manager

Bizarrely, I’m thankful for 2020 and all of the curveballs it’s thrown. Personally, I’ve been grateful for all the extra time with immediate family — even virtual schooling a 7 year old while trying to entertain a 4 year old! — as I’ve realized we have a lot of fun together and are very fortunate.

All of our wider family lives abroad so we’ve not been able to see them in almost a year, which has been really sad, but made me value them all the more and be tremendously excited for travel and reunions in 2021!

And professionally, if 2020 didn’t go the way it did, I may never have landed at TopRank Marketing, as I was lined up for another role which quickly evaporated as Covid took hold. I’m so grateful to now be working alongside such a stellar crop of people and being at the cutting edge of B2B content and influencer marketing for some amazing clients. Every day is invigorating and brings a new challenge, and a lot of collaboration and laughter. All things to be celebrated : )

Nic Michael

Influencer Marketing Strategist

In a year that has felt like a decade, I am thankful that me, my family, and loved ones are all healthy and still standing. I also started at TopRank Marketing this year which was scary and exciting, but the team is amazing and supportive which I am truly thankful for.

Lastly, I would like to thank quarantine for allowing me to hone my cooking skills — I’m no Gordon Ramsay, but an air fryer does wonders.

TopRank Marketing Gives Thanks For You

All of us at TopRank Marketing are grateful for you, and thank you for being the supportive fans, amazing clients, and enthusiastic influencers that have allowed us to achieve personal, professional, and brand success.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,

The TopRank Marketing Team

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