In business, when success is finally found, it feels very, very good. Finally, after all of your hard work and dedication to your goal, you’ve arrived. It can often feel as if this success is owed you – after all, weren’t you the one who put in all the hours to attain it?
It’s absolutely normal, healthy, and expected to feel a sense of pride when you reach a certain level in your business. You have a lot to be proud of, after all! But a problem arises when, instead of feeling grateful for your success, you expect it instead.
Many business owners find that without gratitude in their lives, their businesses fail to deliver – in many different ways. Being self-absorbed to the point of believing success is owed to you is a slow poison to your business mindset, and in turn, your business itself.
Success in business – or in any area of our lives – is something that must be planned, focused on, worked towards, and above all, earned. And, it must be appreciated, not taken for granted as something that is owed to us.
One of the best ways to create an attitude of gratitude is to share what has helped create your success with other business-owners – maybe those who haven’t yet reached your level of success. You can do this in many ways – business consulting at no charge, business mentoring – and your local Small Business Administration will be able to help you in finding up-and-coming business owners that truly need a helping hand up.
Your business knowledge, wisdom, experience and advice is worth sharing in order to help others achieve their own goals and dreams in business. In this way, you help “pay it forward”, in essence taking action on your feelings of gratitude and thankfulness for getting where you are today.
Another way to express gratitude is to actively reach out to your own business mentors, and thank them for sharing their knowledge and experience with you. Your mentors have helped you get to your level of success, and letting them know that they are appreciated goes a long way towards creating that gratitude mindset that you need in business.
The success of your business may not rise or fall depending on your level of gratitude, but having a mindset that is full of gratitude will definitely help your business, and will also help your overall life!