I’m grateful for gratitude. I’m also cuckoo for Coco Puffs, but that’s another story (Gen Yers and younger; don’t worry — that something we used to call a commercial). 🙂
My friend, Sandy Harper even has a “Gratitude Bootcamp.” What a great idea. In my opinion, Gratitude is the foundational character trait of all other character traits. Without it, it’s simply really difficult to be Successful (in all the areas covered by the term, “Success”).
I was just reading through a short little book by Dan Sullivan called, The Gratitude Principle. Founder of Strategic Coach, Dan is widely recognized as one of the world’s top business success coaches; his client list reads like a “Who’s Who” of top entrepreneurs.
While I could’ve probably read it in about 30 minutes, it took more like 90, going through pen-in-hand and studying so many of his wisdom-filled lessons.
In the section “Proactive Gratitude 8” (he shared 10 different gratitude principles) he wrote the following in terms of predicting our future:
“You are constantly being shaped by what you appreciate in life. If you appreciate the most admirable people, the most beautiful things, and things that have the greatest value, then that is what you will become yourself.
“If you value something that is very limited and exclusive, that shuts you away from other people and experiences, then that’s the kind of person you will become.
“Our lives are constantly shaped by what we appreciate most.”
He then asked, “What kind of person do you want to become? Then, what must you be grateful for to become that person?”
WOW!
Your thoughts?
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Dan Sullivan’s words, “You are constantly being shaped by what you appreciate in life,” have an added meaning to me. I am trying to learn there is something to appreciate in everyone we meet and everything we do. When I focus on finding those things to appreciate, I am doing good!
Thank you Bob for this it reminds me of Be Do Have. I was talking with the owner of the company in our weekly leadership meeting (COC-cup of coffee meeting) about that very thing yesterday. We were discussing what a vital role gratitude plays in our life. How it helps to keep us grounded in the midst of the challenges we are surrounded by in our day to day tasks, our interaction with our team members, and our clients. It got me to thinking and for me gratitude is a surrounding of the things, more general and in a lot of cases maybe the same for others. Appreciation perhaps in more specific as it is personal to you the individual with a different definition than others may have. So I am gratful for you and John David Mann for writting the Go-Giver and Go-Giver Sells More, I am grateful for the Go-Giver group and the opportunity to be a part of that team. What I appreciate is more specific…you for creating the concept, defining it, and delivering it in you books, the core of the heart sharing kind of person you are for that. For the Go-Giver Team, each individuals go-giver energy. As different as we are in personality, traits, and qualities…we too are different it what and how appreciation we have for things and others is. That is what I mean about the gratitude and appreciation difference for me. Others may share that they are one in the same, and for them they are right, for me this is how I choose to view them and allow that to serve me and others to see maybe a little different thought. Thank you for the time and energy here as well Bob…
Looks like gratitude week, Bob. Ha ! I will grab that book and checkout the bootcamp. We started #gratitudemonday on twitter this week. Please pass it on and join in if you can. My blog post monday was titled; Attitude of Gratitude. Like you, I am grateful for so many people and so many things and I totally agree with you and your wonderful statement above:
“Gratitude is the foundational character trait of all other character traits. Without it, it’s simply really difficult to be Successful”
Thanks Bob. I am grateful for you and all you do.
Al
Al, thank you. And congratulations on your new website and blog. You’re doing some really terrific things, my friend!
Beautiful and heart warming post, my friend! Yet another book to add to my list! It is absolutely important to focus on gratitude and use that to shape your personality and life. Sandy Harper, although I do not know her personally, shows her gratitude in her FB postings/comments to others. I know she is successful from that alone! I also loooved your last question in today’s post, “What must you be grateful for to become that person.”. You have given me something to think about. Keep up the remarkable work!
Hi Bob,
Great post today. I couldn’t agree more. I can look back at my life is see a measurable difference in my happiness, focus and results ever since I started appreciating life’s true value and blessings.
It would be wonderful if more people could figure this out on their own by attending a workshop, reading a book, etc… in my case, it took the loss of a good friend on tour in Afghanistan and the near death experience of my son when he was 8 days old (Jan 5, 2010).
Today, I live my life and I’m grateful for every new day and the amazing people I’ve surrounded myself with motivated and inspiring people as – a daily challenge to be better for myself and others.
As always Bob – thank you for sharing with us.
Gratitude, one of my favorite topics. Like Chi Chi, I will definitely add this to my list. I need to chew on this idea for awhile, as the idea of appreciating “the big things” is a new one. Meaning that I tend to appreciate the little things…a lot. Perhaps too much? Hmmmmmmm….. chew, chew, chew.
Very interesting thoughts, as always, Mr. Burg. (May I call you Mr. Burg?)
YOU are always at the top of my gratitude list
Chi Chi: Thank YOU, my friend. I appreciate your always kind comments.
Vince: Thank you. Yes, the difference is immeasurable, isn’t it? Or, perhaps, “measurable.” I’m sorry about the loss of your friend. I’m very grateful that your son is fine though!! Thank you for sharing with us.
Linda: I don’t think there is a dichotomy between the two. I think it’s appreciating “all” the things, both big and small. And, I appreciate YOU. (No, you may not call me Mr. Burg. You may call me Bob LOL!!)
Wow “Proactive Gratitude…” can shape a life!! You can look at the opposite side of gratitude as ungrateful/critical and see that this too can shape a life. Have you ever met a person who judges, criticizes and gossips? Well, they very much “look like” the very things they focus on. However, we mustn’t forget that if we look hard enough, we can see the vulnerability and even strength in that person.….they DO have laser focus that CAN be redirected to the good things.
This post, My Bob, really got me thinking about where I focus. What we appreciate most is the place we should put our focus. Where we focus is a choice and wouldn’t this be a much kinder world if we all choose to look for grace, mercy, beauty, kindness, love, friendship and strengths?
Domo arrigato! I appreciate you Mr Burg and this piece is really good. Interestingly enough, Bob, my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. Not Christmas, not Independence Day, not New Year’s but Thanksgiving. Perhaps in part, because I realize that our family overcame much dysfunction with an alcoholic father.
Few things move me more than seeing the good and the beauty in a powerful story and I give thanks at that time in a powerful way.
BTW, there’s a book called The Book of Awesome which I’ve not read in total, but has these everyday things that pop up that are so cool. Stuff like you pull into the parking lot right at the time someone is leaving and you get the parking slot closest to the store!
I’m grateful for you, Bob and the wisdom you bring!
Joe
Hi Bob
Thank you for the vibe and the great reminder!
Our friend Ghandi said it well “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Rich
Whenever I get into a funk, unmotivated or undecided, I ask “what can I be thankful for today – and how can I show that appreciation thru these decisions I have to make right now.” Most of the time, it gets me unstuck enough to move forward…Thank you Bob for the reminder! Remy Gervais
Bob ~ The Gratitude Principle. It’s on my list! I believe that which we focus upon, we receive more of – good and not so good. But what an amazing concept… where we focus our gratitude, shapes who we become… shapes our future selves. Thank you for sharing this wonderful nugget, my friend!!
Sabrina
Of course, this post is amazing! In the last few days, because of a series of events, I have come to realize I have so much to be thankful & gracious for. When I read the book, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker, I learned the phrase, “What I focus on expands.” I have, of course, seen it a million times after! I continually choose as an act of my will to focus on the positive. Your point takes it even further.
When my son, Bryce, was small he of course loved Kids Meals. Knowing his motivation was the toys included as to where he would eat, I also used them as a lesson on gratitude. He became angry & upset one day because he received a duplicate toy. I then refused to purchase Kids Meals for a month or more in order to encourage appreciation & gratitude toward having food, not just toys. He never complained again! Instead of leaving this strictly as a disciplinary action, we created a basket to fill with duplicate toys to pass out during Saturday Sunday School events. As Bryce watched the kids express appreciation, it changed his heart! As adults, the lesson isn’t as easily learned.
I love having & encouraging others to have an “attitude of gratitude”, but I also like to say, “latitude of gratitude!” Focusing on how high I wish to climb in life is directly related to how gracious I am, not only in great times, or around great people, but also in adverse conditions. During my climb, YOU, among a select few fabulous leaders, are whom I most appreciate. Amazing examples are provided daily through work ethic, edification, loyalty, respect, determination, focus, servant-leadership, & ETC.! My life has definitely been shaped by such influence.
Thanks again for a genuine lesson, as well as example! The quote selected from the principle ROCKS!
I appreciate you!
g
Amy, great lessons and teachings from you, as always. Thank you!
Monica, absolutely, Keep up the great work, my friend!
Joe, your gratitude for life shows up in all your interactions. It’s very noticeable about you that you always have kind things to say. Thank you for being such a great example.
Rich, terrific point!
John, thank you for your feedback and the points you made. Excellent food for thought…and appreciation!
Sabrina, the pleasure is mine, my awesome amiga. All of Coach Dan’s info is amazing. Very happy to share his wisdom-filled insights!
Great post and a great topic Bob! Gratitude is far more powerful than most people realize! I keep a gratitude journal on my bedside table and write in it EVERY night no matter how tired I am! It is truly a life changing practice! It is mind blowing how the whole world seems to change once you start taking time to be grateful for everything. Thanks for this post, and the book suggestion 😉
Wonderful post, Bob. Gratitude is truly transformational. One of my favorite quotes is from William Blake, “Gratitude is heaven itself.” And I love this one from Meister Eckhart, “If the only prayer you said in your whole life was ‘Thank you,’ that would be enough.”
I am thankful for you, my friend.
Hi Bob,
Dan’s mention of shutting you off from people and experiences when you value limited things or experiences is spot on.
Appreciate more things, you have more things to be appreciative for. You begin to see the beauty in what you have, putting you into a whole new vibration.
You literally get more of what you choose to see. Tune into abundance by being grateful for all the richness you experience now. More wonderful things will move into your life as you see the wonder in your relationships, you ideas, your physical possessions.
Thanks for sharing your insight Bob.
RB
Thanks Bob I am always grateful for everything you do.
P.S.
carn’t wait for the new book!
Kind regards
Barry
HeatherO, always a great idea to write those things down. Good for you!
Remy, what a terrific shift in focus, with extremely beneficial results. Way to go!
Ava, thank you for sharing those two awesome quotes!
Ryan, truly great advice, indeed. Thank you!
Barry, much gratitude for your kind comments, my friend!
Bob, this is a very insightful and genuine blog. You are doing something right and unique to create an environment where sincere and ambitious people engage in thoughtful and tactful idea sharing. “Small minds talk about people. Average minds talk about events. And great ideas talk about ideas.” E. Roosevelt.
Something I have learned about gratitude…it is very powerful not only to experience it, but to express it with passion. My wife is an expert at expressing gratitude. When she receives a gift or a token of appreciation or even a kind gesture she lights up like a Christmas Tree. She says thank you with intense passion, she writes thank you cards, she brags about people…as a result people adore her. Whenever I want to pick myself up, I just pick up a thoughtful gift for my wife karin. You see, people want to be heros. People want to feel significant and they want to matter to others. So, when you really express gratitude to others they feel like a million dollars. And when you help others feel this way…the rewards are ten-fold. Very often people think of expressing gratitude quitely through prayer or writing in journals, or “focusing” on it. Thats nice and all, but I have learned that gratitude can be much more powerful if expressed frequently, sincerely, and on a grand scale. Imagine what this approach could do for business relationships, love relationships, and the quality of our life.
Bob, thanks for the reminder about the power of gratitude.
Hi Bob
What a lovely post! Tnx so much for sharing 🙂 I reckon I’ll be off to buy Dan’s book and share it with those whom I am grateful for, for being in my life…
It reminds me of a touching line in one of Jack Nicholson’s films, I think it was “As Good As It Gets”, in which he says to the woman he has fallen in love with “you make me want to be a better man”. He’s grateful to her because of her kindness but finds it difficult to show and speak of his gratitude. I reckon this killer line says it all. His life was invariably shaped by what he appreciate most… and he became the kind of person he wanted to become.
Good stuff!
Warmest as ever
Chrissie
The Entrepreneur Lawyer
(of the naked kind)