Monday, December 6, 2010

Gratitude - Express Appreciation to the People in Your Life.

When you’re having a busy day, it’s not easy to tell others how much you appreciate them. Yet finding ways to value others is one of the best investments you can make to strengthen relationships. In this video I explain the payoffs for taking time to speak positive words to the people you care about.



What simple habits can you adopt for showing your appreciation to others on a daily basis?
"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others." - Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman orator

“When something does not insist on being noticed, when we aren't grabbed by the collar or struck on the skull by a presence or an event, we take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” - Cynthia Ozick, American novelist

"Silent gratitude isn't very much use to anyone." - Gertrude Stein, American novelist

“Change your life by consciously choosing to be in a state of gratitude.” – Wayne Dyer, American author

“Gratitude is the heart's memory.” - French Proverb

6 comments:

  1. Great timing! My girlfriend is on her 11th day of not smoking so I sent her a text message earlier saying how proud I am of her.

    Whether it be at the office or home I feel positive reinforcements like these can have a great impact.

    Thanks!
    Joe

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  2. Awesome example, Joe! Thank you for sharing the way you applied this important life principle.

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  3. Hi Meredith,

    Do you have any examples of leaders who have used their blog to express appreciation to others in a substantive way?

    Paul Levy, President and CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston is one who is good at it, eg:

    http://runningahospital.blogspot.com/2010/07/brava-maureen.html

    http://runningahospital.blogspot.com/2009/03/caller-outer-of-month-award-3.html

    but it's surprising how rare that is.

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  4. I will continue looking for these examples, Griff, and let you know as I find them.

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  5. I love this story, Meredith. When I was getting started in the software business, I was fortunate to work in a start-up with a great sales leader. He made it a point to let the product managers know how much he appreciated what we did.

    After all these years, I still have the notes he sent me praising me for taking time to learn what the sales force needed and providing them with great sales tools. He later encouraged me to move into the field as a consultant, and then take the leap to be the first woman in sales.

    I was not the only one he paid attention to - he was a legend in the company because he did so much for so many...

    Thanks for reminding me of him today, and reminding me to value this quality in myself, learned from a great master so many years ago.

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  6. Kat,

    Thank you so much for sharing that special story from your experience. It's amazing how much it means to receive positive words and the last impact they have on us. That's why I believe we need to look for these opportunities in every-day situations. You just never know what your words will mean to someone else.

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