The winter holidays–whether you celebrate Christmas, Dongzhi Festival, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Pancha Ganapati, Yalda, or something else–are a time to reflect on the past, honor the present and hope for the future. Here at TechWhirl we’re most familiar with Christmas traditions, and enjoy the mythic fun of Santa Claus. Somebody who keeps an eye on us and rewards us for good behavior, but isn’t our boss… it’s a pretty appealing idea, no matter what your age.
2013 is the third anniversary of our “Dear Santa: All I want for Christmas” extravaganza, and we asked some of the leaders in technical communication, content strategy, and customer experience management, as well as our own TechWhirl Special Writers Unit, to tell us what they’d ask Santa to bring them as we head into 2014. Over the next week, we’ll give you a glimpse into the holiday wishes of these good boys and girls:
- Tom Johnson
- Kristina Halvorson
- Shep Hyken
- Mark Baker
- JoAnn Hackos
- Jack Molisani
- Noz Urbina
- Marcia Riefer Johnston
- Craig Cardimon
- Ryan Minaker
- Andrea Altenburg
- Roger Renteria
- Rachel Houghton
- Al Martine
- Connie Giordano
We hope you enjoy them all, and feel free to put in a good word with the jolly guy yourself by posting a comment or two.
Happy Holidays!
The Gang at TechWhirl
Candy Canes from Leading Lights
Here’s a few short, but sweet, wishes from some well-known experts in the world of content and communication:
Kristina Halvorson, Founder and CEO of Braintraffic, and author of Content Strategy for the Web (2nd Edition) (Voices That Matter)
:
Here’s what I’d like to see under my Christmas tree: a shift in the “content marketing” conversation, away from tactics and towards content strategy. The push for “more quality, always-fresh content” is distracting companies from the real issues at hand, which are centered around the lack of an infrastructure that will allow them to make strategic decisions about content. Also I would like a Fluevog gift certificate.
Mark Baker, President, Analecta Communications, and author Every Page is Page One
(and TechWhirl’s Users’ Adovcate):
My tech comm Christmas wish list:
- For tech comm to wake up and realize where its audience has gone. (Hint: the Web)
- For people to think of structured writing more in terms of improving quality rather than reducing expenses.
- That by 2014 tri-pane help shall be banished from the Web.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Etc.
Mark
Shep Hyken, customer service speaker and best-selling author of Amaze Every Customer Every Time
:
Dear Santa,
I’ve been good. Here’s my list.
- World peace. I know it’s a big one, but maybe this will be the year!
- 1,000 more LIKES on my Facebook page. (www.Facebook.com/ShepHykenSpeaker).
- Better customer service for everyone. Don’t we all deserve it? And, don’t more companies want to give it? It’s all a part of my wish for world peace – and retail happiness.
Thank you Santa!
Always be Amazing!
Shep
