Gratitude: The Really Big Payoff

by Jack Carroll

Gratitude is a cornerstone of my life. A day never passes that I do not in some conscious way reflect on my blessings and gratefully offer thanks for them. I am particularly reminded of grace today on the weekend of Memorial Day (in the United States). Next to the Thanksgiving holiday, it is the one that pushes gratitude under our noses and asks us to reflect on the wonderful blessings present in all of our lives. Especially, how much has been done for us by others.

We work hard. We solve problems. We do the best we can to keep up with all of the various aspects of the game. In sales, we are sometimes almost overcome with problems and the very real accountability of making quotas. So the question of whether the glass is half empty or half full always comes up in our lives. The answer is that it is always both—for everyone. Your happiness and satisfaction in life depends almost entirely on which part of the glass you focus on.

If you're in the "Life's a bitch and then you die" camp, I guarantee that's the way that life will be. On the other hand, if you focus on the goodness and the grace in your life and are thankful for that, your very act of gratitude opens a pathway for more goodness to come into your life.

Here’s one example from the Internet of how to express gratitude in one area of your life: "Gratitude" by Cactus Ventures.

Make gratitude an important part of your life. I can recommend no practice that will produce more positive results.

Oh, you've heard this before? Well, I'm sorry, but hearing doesn't count. Practice counts. If you're practicing acts of gratitude regularly, congratulations. If you're not, what are you waiting for?

Have a wonderful week selling. And have some fun along the way.

Subscribe to the e-mail version of the SalesLinks Bulletin.

Browse the archives of the SalesLinks Bulletin.

Once a week, during your weekly planning or your personal accountability time, reflect for 10 minutes on all of the good things that you can think of in your business, personal, social and spiritual lives. Make a list and write them down in a  special notebook or personal journal. Don't worry if it goes slowly at first. You have a lifetime to practice.

Once a day in your business or personal life, find a way to express your gratitude and appreciation to someone who has done something valuable or meaningful for you in your life. A teacher, customer, manager, mentor, friend, spouse, another member of your sales team. Call them up or write them a note and acknowledge their contribution and the value to you of their thoughtfulness. Do it every day and watch your life manifest incredible abundance.

Subscribe to the e-mail version of the SalesLinks Bulletin, which includes the Sales Tip and Practice.