Who I Learn from Every Single Day
Who inspires you to be a better person? Makes you want to read more, learn more, and put actionable ideas and plans into place? Who makes everything fall into place, and because of that increases your knowledge and awareness?
I’m incredibly fortunate that I’m part of a great community, both here at my blog and on the likes of Twitter and LinkedIn. Some great minds wander these social hallways and impart some immense wisdom every single day. Today, I want to share four of the folks that get my creative and business juices going, each and every day.
David Spinks 
is one of the smartest Gen Y guys around (and there are a few). He runs a blog over at davidspinks.com that continuously makes me ask questions – always a good thing. He has a knack of opening discussions like nobody’s business, like the one on The Social Media Bubble. David has his finger on the pulse of a lot of what’s making impact in the digital space – so much so that Scribnia took him on as their Community Manager over the summer. Yes, he’s that good.
Sonny Gill 
is a bit of a Jack of all trades (in a very good way), though his blog at sonnygill.com announces him as an online marketer. I’ve been connected with Sonny on Twitter for a while now, and had some really great thought-provoking conversations with him about marketing and social media (hey, two of my passions!). Sonny’s also the co-founder of #CmtyChat on Twitter, discussing all things community (another passion!). Basically, this guy’s got smarts.
Susan Murphy 
is one of the most singularly brilliant and creative people I know, with drive that would make an F1 race car seem slow. Let’s see – she’s partner at Jester Creative; she teaches Video Production and Web Media at her college in Ottawa; she’s on the Board of Directors at SAW Video, promoting Ottawa’s media artists; she co-produced the 12for12k promo video. Oh, and she writes one of the more human social media blogs around over at SuzeMuse.ca. Simply put, Susan is doing what we sometimes just talk about.
Jim Connolly 
is a marketing guy from my neck of the woods over in the U.K. And a little bit more. Jim writes a consistently kick-ass blog over at jimsmarketingblog.com (does EXACTLY what it says on the tin) that strips down marketing for businesses of all sizes into easy-to-implement action plans and ladders to success. He’s also got a cool blog over at thetechnewsblog.com where he shares some of the lesser-known tech and business news. You want a sharp mind? Check Jim out.
There are many, many more people that I learn from daily and I’ll revisit this list frequently to hopefully introduce you to more great people.
I’m a firm believer that we never stop learning – once we think we know it all, we may as well give up the game because we’ll just be left behind. These folks, and others like them, help me stay in touch with the rest of the pack and for that I’m truly grateful.
How about you – who’s your learning post?
17 Responses to “Who I Learn from Every Single Day”
Kind words, buddy. Appreciate you putting me on this list – but really, knowing that someone out there is actually learning something from me (as I am with you and many others).
I would have to say that both @tjdietderich and @kottavio have inspired me to be a better PR professional and in general day to day things.
I started working with @tjdietderich in March and immediately took a liking to her go-getter, I-don't-hold-back attitude. I knew absolutely nothing about social media and instead of telling me to stay off and leave it to the social media pros, she sat me down, made me a twitter account and started the ball rolling. I continuously go to her for advice on pitching blogs, and writing pitches in general. She always has great insight and always pushes me to do my best.
I had the pleasure of going to college with @kottavio but we only became friends via or positions as Resident Assistants at Quinnipiac University. Kate, is a perfectionist that truly works so hard that to watch it is exhausting. However her passion and drive for the best is contagious.
Thanks Christina – and now I've started following TJ from your sheer infectiousness about her, and from what I can see, she more than lives up to that. I love the fact she didn't hold you off but instead encouraged, and that's where more people and companies need to focus.
I was already connected to Kate, and through her (indirectly) have met more really cool and smart people. Now that's where social media really works!
Cheers!
Aw, Stina, I'm going to cry or something; you're too sweet. To repay the compliment, you help keep me focused on end goals like none other. I'd probably spend half my time dreaming up crazy ideas if you didn't keep me grounded.
He'll kill me for saying this, but my boss @jeff_nordtstedt is always pushing me to learn more, do more, try new things, and go beyond what people think is possible. He lets me create value, even if it means sometimes making mistakes.
Group hug, I guess!
Danny,
Thanks for sharing this with us. Just a hunch that you're probably on their 'short list' of people that inspire them. I appreciate you always sharing the knowledge and today, the 'brainiacs'.Danny, you ask a tremendous question here. Thinking back now, after only 4 months of living in New York City, and being fully engrossed every day in a hot-bed of the PR world, I have met so many truly wonderful people who inspire me each and every day – both personally, and professionally.
From the professional standpoint, I'm really inspired by the people who take the time to cultivate their communities. People like you, Danny, and someone whom I have been very fortunate to get to know in person, Valerie Simon, who always takes the time to listen to my queries and please for advice.
And from a personal/professional combo perspective, all of the good people that I'm fortunate to be associated with at the PR Breakfast Club (http://prbreakfastclub.com/) (#prbc on Twitter), and the many others that we chat with every day on Twitter, those are really the ones that keep me jazzed and excited/inspire about PR and what I'm doing in my life. I owe a lot to them, and I'm very proud to be associated with all of them.
Thanks for asking this great question, Danny, and for giving all of us the opportunity to reflect on who is helping us get to where we want to be. Because we all have dreams and goals in life – personally and professionally – that we need help reaching.
Keith Trivitt
@KeithTrivittLove the Brainiacs reference – maybe I should theme it Warner Bros-style for future editions?
Valerie, Pete and the rest of the guys you mention here are all smarts for sure. What makes them (and you, and others) even smarter is that they're not greedy with their knowledge or time. If they can help you grow, they will. If you need support or just plain old advice, it's there.
Can we ask for any more? Probably not.
Hi Danny,
Thanks for being kind enough to mention me on what is, as you know, one of my favourite blogs. Your generosity has me (almost) lost for words!
Who's your learning post? What a great question! Really enjoyed hearing your picks Danny@. I have really enjoyed getting to know Sonny and David through their tweets and blogs. I am regularly impressed by their thoughts, and learning more about their background makes it easy to see why. I am looking forward to learning from Susan and Jim- appreciate your directing us toward them!
Keith, I very much appreciate the kind words, and hope that you realize how much I learn from you as well. Your positive energy is contagious and it is exciting to see the community you and the #PRBC are developing. There are so many folks who teach me every day… through social media, in the office, and at home. From my boss to my 3 year old (who, let's face it, is my boss at home) I try to surround myself with folks I can learn from. Danny, thanks for being one of them!
Two people that have influenced me a lot lately are Danny Brown and Louis Gray. I know it's too easy to say Danny, but I really have followed lots of great people and blogs by connecting with Danny. Louis has also influenced me enough to write a recent blog post about how he is a filter that allows me to be more efficient.
Anyways, keep up the good work!
Social media was a totally new concept to me last fall but it completely intrigued me. The concept of being connected to people all over the world, often through Twitter, people I had never met and might never meet. Early on, I selected people to follow and of your four choices only David Sprink is new to me, but I will fix that, I followed Sonny from the start. Susan and I met on Twitter and she was kind enough to review a video script for me for Wausau Whitewater and I'll never eat hummus without thinking of her! Jim, also was kind enough to give me price coaching when I was stalling on launching my website for Design Resumes after 25 years in business, and you, Danny, set the model that I used to push communication and fundraising using ChipIn for Wausau Whitewater. There are more people on my favorites list and it grows every day.
Danny,
I love this idea. Started a similar post a month or so ago and never finished, so this will inspire me. Way better than a FF or something with no substance to it. This is the true value of social media to an individual: the ability to discover and connect with new people; to freedom that comes from eliminating the artificial hierarchies that often exist inside companies (based on title or generation); the chance to explore your own ideas and get real time reactions to them. I have found college students, creatives in New Zealand, planners in the UK, screenwriters in LA and a few people up there in Canada to join me in the conversation. Thanks again.Thank you Kyle, really appreciate that – and Louis Gray is awesome for sure.
I love your sharing style – “I'll never eat hummus without thinking of her”; that's a story to be told right there!
Glad the ChipIn functionality worked out for you and the great stuff you're doing over at Wausau, Julie.
You hit the nail on the head, Edward. It doesn't matter what level of “connector” we are ourselves; it's the connections we make through others that can really grow us. Cheers! (and make sure you finish the post and share it with us!)
Wow Danny, I am truly honored. As I've said many times before, you've been a great mentor to me from the beginning, and I can attribute much of what I know to you and your writing.
To be placed on this list, with Jim and Sonny who I've looked up to, and Susan who I'm sure I will (just followed Susan) really means a lot to me.
Thanks.