Thanksgiving strategy
Thanksgiving. That magical time of year when families gather and kitchens explode with culinary ambition.
My family has many traditions around Thanksgiving - from eating the exact same thing every year, football and, yes, debating on how long to cook the turkey.
But here’s the thing: if we step back, there’s a lesson in all that madness. Thanksgiving, in its delicious, messy glory, is basically a crash course in strategy:
1. Know Your Audience (a.k.a. the Family): Just like brands need to know their customers, you need to know what your guests actually want. That means understanding dietary preferences, avoiding that “mystery casserole” that no one likes, and maybe bracing for unsolicited life advice.
2. Plan Ahead (The Turkey Waits for No One): The best strategies are built on timing. You can’t throw a Thanksgiving dinner together five minutes before guests arrive and expect perfection. In marketing or business, as in cooking, preparation makes all the difference.
3. Adapt and Improvise (Oops, We Forgot the Cranberries): Sometimes, your plan goes up in smoke—literally or figuratively. The key is flexibility. Substitute, improvise, pivot. Your audience will forgive a mishap if you handle it with grace… and maybe some humor.
4. Celebrate Small Wins (The Pie Survived!): Strategy isn’t just about the big picture—it’s about acknowledging victories along the way. That perfect dressing or the first family member to compliment your gravy? Celebrate it.
At the end of the day, Thanksgiving reminds us that strategy isn’t just about meticulous planning or flawless execution—it’s about understanding your people, adapting when things go sideways, and making the messy process memorable.
So, whether you’re building a brand, running a business, or just trying to get through Thanksgiving without tripping over the turkey, remember: a little humor, a dash of flexibility, and a big helping of patience goes a long way. And if all else fails… there’s always leftovers.