What it is all ABOUT?

[Dave Park]

Where do you draw the line?
 

Your mother . . . Your boss . . . Your God?
 

Most of us are fantastic complainers. When someone doesn't meet our expectations, we let them know it (or let them have it as my Grandmamma would say).
 

It is not wrong to expect excellence or taking the steps to get it. Vince Lombardi wrote a book on excellence. Famous people have quotes on excellence. Mother and fathers teach excellence in stories. Teachers certainly grade on excellence. But the problem is that we tend to take excellence for granted. Heck we take thoughtfulness, kindness, joyfulness, gentleness, compassion all for granted.
 

You all have heard about the “crooked picture” syndrome. You know when you go into a room with framed art work on the walls, and where is your eye drawn to? The crooked picture of course. Sometimes we try to convince ourselves that it is not crooked by tilting our heads.
 

You don’t notice the other art works that are perfectly plumb or level.
 

When things go as we expect or are in order, we don’t even notice or acknowledge it.
 

This condition is called “snow blind”. To see if others around you have it, think for a moment of the many contributions made to the people around you. At work, in your neighborhood, in your family, in your church, etc. . . . Are you thanked enough? What about criticism?
 

Where does your gratitude to criticism experience leave you?
 

Gratitude Deficit: Is this a Disorder or A Global Epidemic?
 

“Almost everyone I know, from pastors to parents, from cashiers to carpet cleaners, from architects to accountants, suffers from GDD: Gratitude Deficit Disorder”, writes Howie Jacobson. “Despite all our good intentions and actions, we receive much more flak than gratitude. We are hungry for genuine appreciation and thanks. We want to know that we matter, that our efforts are making the world a better place.”
 

What about your clients, your vendors, your coworkers? What about your family and friends? Whatever happened to sharing the “Love”?
 

This has been a rough year. What have your business associates, partners, mentors done that you’re truly thankful for? Where does your business originate from? Have you thanked them?
 

You can make you own list here. If you cannot make a list then you had better find another job or another partner.
 

Between now and the end of the year, how can you communicate your appreciation? I challenge you to catch people do something good. Then tell them about it.
 

Spend five minutes now making a list of people you are sincerely grateful towards.
Then create a plan to thank them. (Please no hidden agenda)
 

Be Genuine.
Be Easy.
Be Truthful.

Be Real.
Be Enthusiastic.
Be Authentic.
Be Loving.

Be Yourself? Ha!
 

Real Gratitude, Not Opportunistic Holiday BS
 

I'm not talking about a Christmas sales fliers: “To thank you for being such a good client, we’re giving you an extra 15% off until we make our sales quota.” (Ugh! I think I am going to throw up)
 

No, I'm talking about honest, unselfish, respectful acknowledgment of another human being. A real person. Here is the twist: Living gratefully is probably the most selfish thing you can do. In the moments when I am immersed in gratitude, for a caring gesture or a spectacular summer sunset, I feel phenomenal.
 

The next step in this selfishness is that when these people notice your gratitude, they may even work harder to please you in the future. WOW, they may even start thanking you.
 

Now Back to Business. Rule Number 3 in Business: “Find a Need and Fill It!
 

Do you think it's possible that giving gratitude away in your business could actually make you more money? You better believe it.
 

Now make that list and get with the gratitude and remember it is not all about you, it is about them. (Or is it?)
 

Dave Park
Advantage Home Inspection Raleigh
www.adrdu.com

[Leslie Flowers]

Totally love this post Dave. Have missed your articles on inSide frankly.

Last year I gave my first gratitude luncheon for my mastermind participants over the past 4 years. I am very clear that had they not had Faith in my abilities to teach, I would not be an unconsciously competent expert. I held this year's gratitude luncheon a week before Thanksgiving. It turned into a reunion for my first and second masterminds who hadn't connected in some time. Olalah Njenga gives a gratitude event for her Breakthrough grads, as does Bill Davis for Team Nimbus members. Tim Moore did with Dancing Elephants. Bev Mahone did her first last night for all those who had participated on her Boomer Beat radio show. Not only do I find it uplifting to GIVE this kind of appreciation. I absolutely love being at the receiving end as well. Lovely message.

[Dave Park]

Hey Leslie - Thanks for the comment. I have been a little out of the fold the last year as a number of projects have taken up too much of my time. I look forward to see you again and know that you do not have GDD!!!

Chow!
Dave

[Angel Lebak ~ Virtual Assistant]

Hey Dave, great post!  I completely agree with what you noted:  "Do you think it's possible that giving gratitude away in your business could actually make you more money? You better believe it. "  I am absolutely convinced people watch to see if you and your business are run with a spirit of integrity and good character.  Excellent share!

[Michelle Gower-WordPress Mentor]

I've written many posts about this very topic, and I love that you added this: I'm not talking about a Christmas sales fliers: “To thank you for being such a good client, we’re giving you an extra 15% off until we make our sales quota.” (Ugh! I think I am going to throw up)

One of the few cases in which giving something away for free is worthwhile.

Yesterday a friend broke her nail. I took her to my nail girl to get it fixed since we were on our way to an event. My nail girl fixed her nail and didn't charge her as expected. When my friend asked why not, my nail girl pointed at me. If I wasn't loyal before...

Great post!

[Dave Park]

Michelle and Angel - Thanks for the comments.

Here is a thought on Loyalty. One would assume that the beneficiary is the consumer. After all, the consumer is always the object of the "loyalty affection," right? Think about this before you answer.

"Loyalty Affection" is subject to the perks and privileges bestowed by an appreciative brand or business. But somewhere in recent history the idea of loyalty has changed, and not for the better.

Brands and Business today are screaming, “show us your loyalty and see what you get!”

We mainly get a one-way relationship in which we hand over personal information and data.

It’s time to shatter the loyalty myth and get back to a mutually beneficial brand-client-consumer relationship. Sounds like Loyalty and Gratitude need to "tie the knot".

Later Gator!
DAve