Today I continue my week of sharing thought leaders who have shaped my career.
The list today is focused on the decade of the 2010s.
The Background
During this time, I was working at MRM.
This is the Relationship Marketing (digital/CRM) arm of McCann Worldgroup.
My primary client was GM, and I was learning about a whole new agency world.
This was also the decade of social media, and my thought leaders reflected this focus.
In addition, I was starting to dive into personal development.
And deepening my knowledge in the sustainability space – at work and at home.
As this decade of thought leaders moved in, my path of writing and coaching started to emerge.
At home, my kids went through their teen years and home life was hectic.
As we started to approach the 2020s, more “space” was returning in my life.
After they could both drive, I suddenly realized I could take a few moments for myself.
Reading increased and I returned to a love of a good fiction novel.
Here are the thought leaders from this decade that shaped how I think today.
My Top 8 Thought Leaders
Because this was a decade of transition and new interests, I was struggling to keep the list to five.
So, I’ve included four that shaped my perspective on marketing.
And five in the personal development space.
Let’s start with marketing.
All three of these thought leaders taught me how social media would take word-of-mouth concepts that were core to my CRM roots (direct mail & email) to completely new levels.
Jonah Berger – In 2014, I heard Jonah speak at SxSW on the topic of word-of-mouth marketing. The connection was how well he articulated what I had been trying to pull into my work for the past 5 years or so. He reinforced the idea of flipping the funnel and explores why ideas, products, and behaviors go viral. His books, including Contagious and Invisible Influence, break down the psychology behind word-of-mouth marketing and how brands can harness the power of social sharing to drive engagement and adoption.
Joe Pulizzi – Joe founded the Content Marketing Institute (CMI) and helped shape modern content strategies. I started following him through the CMI newsletters and then read books, including Epic Content Marketing and Content Inc. The emphasis of his work is the power of creating valuable, audience-focused content to build brand loyalty and drive long-term business success.
Richard Seireeni – A branding expert with a focus on sustainability, I was introduced to Seireeni through the book The Gort Cloud, which explores how green businesses grow through grassroots advocacy and word-of-mouth marketing. I was reading all kinds of books on green living and green work practices at the time and this book continues to influence how I think about systems.
Shifting the focus to personal development, there are five on the list.
Gallup – CliftonStrengths – A company, an assessment, and books. I took the CliftonStrengths assessment in 2014 and have been hooked ever since. Having taken many personality tests over the years this one provided the insight I had been seeking and got underneath how I think. I read everything I could find, listened to the podcasts, studied all the strengths, and used them with my team at work. Finally, in 2019, I officially took the courses and became certified in the tool.
Gretchen Rubin – From the moment I read The Happiness Project, I was hooked and have read every book she has written since. She is a thought leader in happiness, habits, and personal development. Her books and podcast explore how people can create fulfilling lives through intentional habits. Better Than Before provided me tips on setting habits, Outer Order, Inner Calm gave practical tips for keeping life organized, and Life in Five Senses reminded me to pay attention to the world around me.
Cal Newport – I picked up Cal’s book Deep Work when it came out in 2016. I had a work trip to New York and the book was the focus of the flights. He had me absorbed in how to achieve focused, distraction-free work. Since then, I’ve read his other books including Digital Minimalism and Slow Productivity. In his work, he challenges our always-on culture with books promoting intentional technology use and strategies for maximizing cognitive performance.
Laura Vanderkam – A time management expert who helps people make the most of their time through research-backed strategies. In books like 168 Hours and What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, she highlights how intentional time use can lead to greater work-life balance and success. She taught me to track my time to understand how I’m spending it. This is a practice I continue today. Her “Before Breakfast” podcast is also a staple in my morning listening. The episodes are around 5 minutes and provide great tips and ideas.
Lisa Woodruff – A leading voice in organization and productivity, her work focuses on helping people declutter their homes and lives. I found her through her podcast and then read her book The Paper Solution. She offers practical systems for managing physical and mental clutter, creating order, and boosting efficiency. I’ve always been an organized person, but her systems helped me reframe and reimagine my own organization style.
Summary
The 2010s were a decade of transformation, expansion, and new discoveries.
My professional interests expanded beyond marketing into personal development.
I saw direct marketing philosophies being reimagined with the rise of social media.
I realized that content strategy was going to be a wave of the future for marketing.
At the same time, my personal growth took center stage.
I didn’t know it at the time, but this was the seed for a growing interest in personal branding.
Another decade, another list of thought leaders who shaped the person I am today.
Your Turn
Are you familiar with these thought leaders?
Are there any on the list that you want to explore further?
Who would you add to this list of thought leaders who shaped your perspective in the 2010s?