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Ten Things To Appreciate Today

Guest post by: Michael Hume

Article Overview: Entrepreneurship is a form of inspirational leadership. Inspirational leadership requires encouragement. Encouragement requires appreciation, both of oneself, of others, and of life's many blessings. So I encourage you to find ten things to appreciate today. Here's a list of ten "thought-starters," blessings for which I find myself thankful today, and I hope it helps SPARK some ideas in you.

Ten Things To Appreciate Today

Count Your Blessings - Here Are Some Thought-Starters I've asserted that there are two types of adults in our society, especially in America: victims, and entrepreneurs. Victims rely primarily on others; entrepreneurs rely primarily on themselves, and help others. Victims' attentions are consumed by problems; entrepreneurs solve problems, but focus more on opportunities. Victims are mostly critical; entrepreneurs are critical thinkers, but tend to be more optimistic and therefore more appreciative.

A discouraged entrepreneur can slip into victimhood. True die-hard entrepreneurs are resilient, and can (and must) handle more than the average share of rejection and failure. We've all heard the stories about how many times an aspiring author submitted a manuscript before someone took a chance on her and published the blockbuster that many others had pronounced unpublishable; and we know many other stories just like that one, from virtually all walks of life. But everyone has their breaking point. Too much failure can discourage an entrepreneur and move her toward more of a victim mentality, and she'll go through rough emotional patches in her life that'll make her more susceptible.

I wonder if an encouraged victim can be nudged toward a more entrepreneurial mindset. I think, in many cases, he can. A dedicated victim - one who's chosen a lifestyle of complaint, negativity, and outward blame - probably can't change no matter how much encouragement you give him. But I think there's a spark of an entrepreneur inside almost all of us - I'd say more than 98% of the population - and part of my inspirational leadership mission is to find those sparks and try to encourage them whenever and wherever I can.

Entrepreneurship is a form of inspirational leadership. Inspirational leadership requires encouragement. Encouragement requires appreciation, both of oneself, of others, and of life's many blessings. So I encourage you to find ten things to appreciate today. Here's a list of ten "thought-starters," blessings for which I find myself thankful today, and I hope it helps SPARK some ideas in you.

Appreciate your health. No matter what it is, it could be worse, or you wouldn't be able to read or understand this.

Appreciate your age. If you're old, you know so much more than you used to. If you're young, appreciate your energy and develop your patience.

Appreciate your money and your stuff. No matter how poor you are, you're rich... especially in America, where the poorest families tend to own things the rest of the world's poor only dream of.

Appreciate your opportunities. If you have a job, that's great! It's an opportunity, and many entrepreneurs practice their craft in the employ of others by helping them build the busines for which they work; not all entrepreneurs own businesses themselves (though more and more are making the decision to be business owners in these times).

Appreciate your piece of the world. Go outside today, take a deep breath, and whisper some gratitude for the miracle of this planet. Even if the weather's crappy out there! Speaking of which....

Appreciate the weather. I remember many a time in the Army when it was cold, or rainy, and how powerful it was to imagine it was early August and how refreshing I would find that rain if it were... or to imagine Christmas in the Rockies on a particularly steamy August day and think about how warming I would find that day if it were.

Appreciate your home. Be it ever so humble, there's no place like it. And if you're homeless at the moment, you have a great opportunity to gain a new appreciation for having a home - any home. I've been homeless for brief periods, and it served as a spark for the entrepreneur within me to see that condition as absolutely temporary, no matter how much the victim in there wanted to embrace my misery as a permanent condition.

Appreciate your friends. More need not be said.

Appreciate your family. Sure, they drive you nuts like no one else can. But that's because you love them, and you should never take your ability to love others for granted. Embrace it... appreciate it! And they love you too, even if they don't show it at times.

Appreciate, especially, your Significant Other. Are you showing your appreciation? Take a minute today to think about something you can do for him or her that shows your love and appreciation; don't wait for it to be deserved or expected. Even an ex-lover can be appreciated for the part of his or her life they shared with you, even if it's easier to focus on the reasons s/he's an "ex" today.

One more bonus blessing: Appreciate your gripes! Yes, whatever problems you have in life, be thankful they aren't worse. I distinctly remember being a young husband and father with far more bills and obligations than money and opportunities... and I remember the struggle between my inner entrepreneur and my inner victim starting to turn the victim's way. It helped me more than I can tell you to truly focus on the fact that everyone in the family was healthy... and that something as silly as money was truly the only problem I had, and what a blessing it was that I didn't have to struggle through caring for someone in a wheelchair or a bed. That one thought sometimes gave my inner entrepreneur the upper hand. By the way, if you're caring for someone in a wheelchair or a bed, good for you. Appreciate the fact that you can, and that they are still with us.

I hope your appreciations outnumber your gripes today. And if they don't, I hope the struggle between your inner entrepreneur and your inner victim starts to swing in the entrepreneur's direction. The more you find to appreciate, the more likely that is to happen.

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Article Tags: count your blessings, inspirational leadership, personal responsibility, successful entrepreneurs



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Franchisng - This is a ll excellent information. I guess I am in a limbo about this. I have a great business that has the potential to be an a amazing franchise. But I am bogged down with the day to day work that franchising seems overwhelming. I also don't know if I actually want to take the risk to expand. Do you tamper with a model that works well? Things to think about! Anyone been in this situation?
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Re: HABIT:... The Helper of Entrepreneur - Hi topeyinka, When I read your post, my thoughts were refreshed with the words below: Just for Today...... Just for today......I will choose and display the right attitudes. Just for today......I will determine and act on important priorities. Just for today......I will know and follow healthy guidelines. Just for today......I will communicate with and care for my family. Just for today......I will practice and develop good thinking. Just for today......I will make and keep proper commitments. Just for today......I will earn and properly manage finances. Just for today......I will deepen and live out my faith. Just for today......I will initiate and invest in solid relationships. Just for today......I will plan for and model generosity. Just for today......I will embrace and practice good values. Just for today......I will seek and experience improvements. Just for today......I will will act on these decisions and practice these disciplines, and Then one day .... I will see the compounding results of a day lived well. by John C Maxwell in the book: Today Matters. I hope that helps someone.


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