Imagine people being as nice and joyful year-round as they are during the holidays. It’s possible, with gratitude. Gratitude is not just for holidays. It is a skill that can be used and made stronger every day.
Last year, I interviewed leaders and many others who shared their gratitude stories and practices. Here’s a summary of the leaders, followed by practices and challenges of gratitude.
Brian, the polite Canadian, spoiler – being polite is not gratitude. Polite Canadians and Gratitude are NOT the Same Things
The hospitality industry, with its DNA deeply rooted in gratitude, often doesn’t label it as such. Brian, a seasoned professional in this field, has a unique take on this. Despite not practicing daily gratitude, he embodies a spirit of gratitude.
Our…
Maria, the minister and executive coach, heard Oprah speak about gratitude, and it changed her life. Planks, Teeth, and Gratitude: Some Ideas to Build Your Practice
I’ve known Maria for over twenty years, and it surprised me when she told me how she started her gratitude practice. She is an accomplished executive coach, trained as an interfaith minister. She is fiercely independent, smart, and my friend. She doesn’t…
Saja, the Immigration lawyer who calls herself a border wall destroyer, exudes gratitude. Grateful Border Wall Destroyer
She has been there and done that. The Statue of Liberty used to be a tourist attraction to her, but in 1995, it became a symbol of her new home. She has been an immigration lawyer since 2006 and was an immigrant to the United States. Saja is a business immigration…
Gayle, one of my favorite coach teachers who I knew I had to interview because of her positivity. She has thought long and deep about gratitude and told me to Forget the silver linings. Be grateful for the clouds!
Life Choices If you met Gayle today, you’d never guess that she suffered from depressive and suicidal thoughts as a teenager. Yet she turned her life around and has created a life of deep gratitude and meaning. This raises the million-dollar question: What makes a…
It’s been three years in the making, and I’ve rewritten it three times. I’m grateful for everyone who gave me feedback, redirected me, and was brutally honest. Please keep it coming. Three times is the charm. I hope to have a draft for early reviewers in the next few months. In the meantime, I started leaking parts of the book out last year. The working title is Three Leadership Truths of Gratitude.
Here’s is Truth #1 – Gratitude Makes EVERYTHING better.
What problem are you facing right now? Is it life-altering, unable to deliver as promised, or are you stuck in traffic? Regardless of the level of the problem, have you tried gratitude? Regardless of size, gratitude is part of the solution to all problems. A strong…
Here is Truth #2 – Gratitude is a Strategic Leadership Skill
I don’t know about you, but I’m already planning for next year. Here’s something to consider: more gratitude. Stop eye-rolling and keep reading. I know you are already grateful because you follow me somehow unless you are family and feel an obligation. BUT (I rarely…
The third truth is that gratitude is not easy and has many challenges. I’m curious why more people aren’t grateful more often. So, I’ve asked and interviewed many of you.
I’ve collected almost fifty gratitude challenges (and solutions so far) that will be all in one place in the book.
Here are a few of the challenges from 2024 identified:
How can you be grateful for something (or someone) you don’t like, Are You Grateful For That Annoying Person Or Thing?
Do you know that annoying pressure tire sensor on your car? It looks like a harp with an exclamation point in the middle. The one that tells you your tire pressure might be low. Do you run right out to get it checked? Or ignore it? Mine was too sensitive, going off…
You don’t need to wait to be grateful; it’s never too soon after a tragedy. Gratitude co-exists with everything. Here’s more about that: Is it too Soon to Be Grateful?
Are you joyous and happy, grief-stricken and sad, or just burned out?
Regardless, it is NOT too soon to be grateful. Now is a perfect time to be genuinely grateful, without fake or forced gratitude. Faking or forcing gratitude is one of the thirty forms of gratitude…
I dedicate this to Ginny, aka Virgina Greiman. I regret not being able to interview her about gratitude. I met Ginny through teaching Project Management at Boston University and worked with her for many years. She sadly recently passed away. When I first met her, I saw gratitude in action. She was a smart, savvy, and professional woman. I was so impressed at her ability to say difficult things that needed to be said while being calm and appreciative. Over the years, we worked on several projects. She wrote the forward to my last book on gratitude; here’s a snippet of what she wrote:
Here’s a snippet of the forward that Ginny wrote,
In today’s complex globalized society, it is essential that our leaders understand the value of gratitude and how gratitude can be integrated into the business environment to enhance organizational systems, improve performance, and, most importantly, as a tool that can create happiness, trust, and optimism. This is an indispensable book for those seeking to improve their leadership skills and obtain better outcomes in their personal and professional lives. In Memoriam: Virginia ‘Ginny’ Greiman | BU MET
