Tag: Gratitude

Practice Your Gratitude

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“…And I know it’s not much

But I’ve nothing else fit for a king

Except for a heart singing hallelujah

Hallelujah”

  • Lyrics from Gratitude by Brandon Lake

Every year at this time, I find myself in a season of reflection between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Each one now carries a much different meaning, especially since both of my parents are now at home in heaven. 

During this season, what are you thankful for? What memories do you still look back on that still bring a smile to your face?

I read about the Thompson family, who played a little game called “Say Something You’re Thankful For. It was supposed to be heartwarming. It was supposed to be meaningful. It was supposed to bring the family together.

Year after year, it had never succeeded. Not once.

This year, however, seven-year-old Lucas was determined to win…even though no one had ever explained how one wins gratitude.

Grandma started. “I’m thankful for my health,” she said, patting her knees as if they had personally carried her through the Great Depression.

Aunt Carol followed: “I’m thankful for my cat, Mr. Whiskers, whose presence fills my home with joy.” (The truth was that Mr. Whiskers filled her home with fur and passive-aggressive judgment, but who was keeping track?)

Then it was Jimmy’s turn. He had planned all week. He cleared his throat dramatically, stood up, and declared: “I’m thankful for…not being a turkey.” Everyone stared.

He continued, hands on his hips like a tiny philosopher: “Because if I were a turkey, this holiday would be very different for me.”

The table erupted in laughter- except Uncle Dave, who choked a little in his mashed potatoes. 

Also, Jimmy added, sensing his comedic momentum, “I’m thankful for Wi-Fi, juice boxes, and that Mom can’t make me eat green beans if I hide them under my napkin.” 

Mom sighed. Grandpa applauded. Aunt Carol looked like she wanted to adopt him. 

And for the first time in the Thompson family history, the game brought everyone together. Even if half of the togetherness involved checking under napkins for hidden vegetables.

As we gather around the table during this season with your loved ones, may we need to be less concerned about how perfect everything must be and practice gratitude for what matters most- those gathered at the table, cherishing every moment, and when we can, hiding vegetables.

©2025 Doug Dickerson

 

The Amazing Power of a Thank You

Credit: Google Images

No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind. – Taylor Swift

As the father of two now grown and married daughters, I am a Swiftie dad. All through their teenage years our home was filled with the vibes of Taylor Swift.

It was only fitting that they traveled from South Carolina down to Tampa to see her on her Eras Concert tour. I was glad that they finally got to see her in person. It was the ultimate bucket list concert for them.

Her remarkable success speaks for itself. But what truly sets her apart is her tremendous generosity. It was reported in Forbes that she gave out bonuses totaling more than $55 million to her dancers, riggers, sound technicians, catering, and truck drivers. Multiple sources reported that she gave $100,000 bonuses to each of the 50 truck drivers on her tour.

But as impressive (and deserving) as the bonuses were, what I find most impressive is that Swift has held steadfast to the lost and dying art of handwritten notes. In fact, Swift is a prolific note-writer. 

A copy of one of the hand-written notes to a truck driver was made public in which she expressed her thanks for their hard work.

Credit: Google Images

Swift has been widely known to send these hand-written notes to friends and fans alike. This makes me wonder, could there be one for this Swiftie dad and his daughters?

In life as in your leadership, expressions of gratitude and thanks are very important. 

In fact, survey results published at BlueBoard reported that 2 in 3 (67%) of employed Americans don’t always feel appreciated for their contributions at work. In addition, nearly half (42%) of respondents feel their company lacks a strong culture of appreciation.

In light of this, what does this mean for you as a leader and for your organization to build a culture of appreciation and gratitude? Here are a few thoughts to consider.

Gratitude and appreciation are the foundation of your employee engagement

Much has been said and written here and elsewhere about employee engagement over the years. But little has been said about gratitude and appreciation being the foundation upon which it’s all built and sustained. It’s time we acknowledge it.

Building a culture of appreciation and gratitude begins with those in leadership. Some might be dismissive of this idea as simply being too much of a “soft skill” idea when in reality, it’s needed more now than ever. People will have buy-in with what they help create and when they are appreciated for their efforts and sacrifices.

Gratitude and appreciation are the future of your leadership

The future of your leadership and that of your organization hinges on your understanding of what it means to create and sustain a culture of appreciation.

In the BlueBoard survey, they also reported that a lack of employee appreciation can:

  • Cause employee disengagement
  • Impact your employees’ sense of belonging
  • Erode employee confidence
  • Trigger job insecurity and anxiety in your workplace

If you want a strong culture of appreciation, strong morale, etc., then you begin with an understanding of the power of ‘thank you’. At every opportunity, make it a practice to show your appreciation and gratitude to those around you. It means more to them than you can imagine. Click To Tweet

As for helping this dad with two daughters, I’d like to express my sincere appreciation to Taylor Swift for making our home a happier place during those middle and high school years. From the boyfriends and the proverbial broken hearts and proms, and eventually on to their weddings, Taylor’s music has been there. Now they are raising up little Swifties of their own. 

Thank you, Taylor, for accompanying us on the journey!

 

©2023 Doug Dickerson

The Power of a Thankful Leader

Credit: Google Images

If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s about to get. – Frank A. Clark

A story is told of two men who were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Instantly they darted toward the nearest fence.  The storming bull followed in hot pursuit, and it was soon apparent they wouldn’t make it. 


Terrified, the one shouted to the other, “Put up a prayer, John. We’re in for it!” 


John answered, “I can’t. I’ve never made a public prayer in my life.”


“But you must!” implored his companion. “The bull is catching up to us.”


 “All right,” panted John, “I’ll say the only prayer I know, the one my father used to repeat at the table: ‘O Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful.'”

With all of the pressures and demands that are placed on leaders today, it’s as important as ever to stop and give thanks. In this season as we prepare to do just that, let’s examine why it’s important to you as a leader to give thanks. 

It puts the past in perspective
Every leader has a story to tell regarding his or her journey. You’ve had ups and downs, struggles, and sacrifices along the way. There were times you probably thought about throwing in the towel. But here you are. No, you haven’t “arrived” yet, but you are in a good place, and in comparison to where you were, you are very blessed.

It’s important to remember the past but not to live there. The perspective you gain is in knowing that every trial and experience along the way has prepared you for this moment and for a bright future ahead. Be thankful for your past and where you have come from, but keep looking forward.


It gives the present a purpose
When you develop a thankful heart as a leader it helps give purpose to your present. If you are holding on to a hurt, or bitterness from your past, you won’t be effective as a leader today. Let it go. You are right where you are for a reason. Your past experiences, good and bad, have prepared you for this time and place in your leadership journey. You may not be where you want to be, but then again, you are not where you once were either. 


It’s as you understand your purpose and put it into context you can excel in your leadership skills. As you carry within you a thankful heart and serve with humility you can set the course for a bright future. Click To Tweet


It gives hope for the future
When you learn the secret of a thankful heart it frees you as a leader. When you learn to count your blessings instead of your troubles, it will help you look at your troubles with a different attitude. You are not defined by your past and you are not the sum of your fears or your mistakes. You have a solid grip on the present. You have hope.


Your future is wide open and is predicated on being thankful for all the blessings you now enjoy. As you ponder these and other blessings during this time of the year, do so with a renewed commitment to not neglect this important area of your leadership. What are you thankful for?

 

©2021 Doug Dickerson

The Power of a Thankful Leader

Credit: Google Images

If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s about to get. – Frank A. Clark

A story is told of two men who were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Instantly they darted toward the nearest fence.  The storming bull followed in hot pursuit, and it was soon apparent they wouldn’t make it.

Terrified, the one shouted to the other, “Put up a prayer, John. We’re in for it!”

John answered, “I can’t. I’ve never made a public prayer in my life.”

“But you must!” implored his companion. “The bull is catching up to us.”

“All right,” panted John, “I’ll say the only prayer I know, the one my father used to repeat at the table: ‘O Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful.'”

With all of the pressures and demands that are placed on leaders today, it’s as important as ever to stop and give thanks. In this season as we prepare to do just that, let’s examine why it’s important to you as a leader to give thanks.

It puts the past in perspective
Every leader has a story to tell regarding his or her journey. You’ve had up’s and down’s, struggles, and sacrifices along the way. There were times you probably thought about throwing in the towel. But here you are. No, you haven’t “arrived” yet, but you are in a good place and in comparison to where you were, you are very blessed.

It’s important to remember the past but not to live there. The perspective you gain is in knowing that every trial and experience along the way has prepared you for this moment and for a bright future ahead. Be thankful for your past and where you have come from, but keep looking forward. Click To Tweet

It gives the present a purpose
When you develop a thankful heart as a leader it helps give purpose to your present. If you are holding on to a hurt, or bitterness from your past, you won’t be effective as a leader today. Let it go. You are right where you are for a reason. Your past experiences, good and bad, have prepared you for this time and place in your leadership journey. Click To Tweet You may not be where you want to be, but then again, you are not where you once were either.

It’s as you understand your purpose and put it into context you can excel in your leadership skills. As you carry within you a thankful heart and serve with humility you can set the course for a bright future.

It gives a hope for the future
When you learn the secret of a thankful heart it frees you as a leader. When you learn to count your blessings instead of your troubles, it will help you look at your troubles with a different attitude. You are not defined by your past and you are not the sum of your fears or your mistakes. Click To Tweet You have a solid grip on the present. You have hope.

Your future is wide open and is predicated on being thankful for all the blessings you now enjoy. As you ponder these and other blessings during this time of the year, do so with a renewed commitment to not neglect this important area of your leadership. What are you thankful for?

©2018 Doug Dickerson

The Power of a Thankful Leader

thankful

If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s about to get. – Frank A. Clark

A story is told of two men who were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Instantly they darted toward the nearest fence.  The storming bull followed in hot pursuit, and it was soon apparent they wouldn’t make it.

Terrified, the one shouted to the other, “Put up a prayer, John. We’re in for it!”

John answered, “I can’t. I’ve never made a public prayer in my life.”

“But you must!” implored his companion. “The bull is catching up to us.”

“All right,” panted John, “I’ll say the only prayer I know, the one my father used to repeat at the table: ‘O Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful.'”

With all of the pressures and demands that are placed on leaders today it’s as important as ever to stop and give thanks. In this season as we prepare to do just that, let’s examine why it’s important to you as a leader to give thanks.

It puts the past in perspective

Every leader has a story to tell regarding his or her journey. You’ve had up’s and down’s, struggles, and sacrifices along the way. There were times you probably thought about throwing in the towel. But here you are. No, you haven’t “arrived” yet, but you are in a good place and in comparison to where you were, you are very blessed.

It’s important to remember the past but not to live there. The perspective you gain is in knowing that every trial and experience along the way has prepared you for this moment and for a bright future ahead. Be thankful for your past and where you have come from, but keep looking forward.

It gives the present a purpose

When you develop a thankful heart as a leader it helps give purpose to your present. If you are holding on to a hurt, or bitterness from your past, you won’t be effective as a leader today. Let it go. You are right where you are for a reason. Your past experiences, good and bad, have prepared you for this time and place in your leadership journey. You may not be where you want to be, but then again, you are not where you once were either.

It’s as you understand your purpose and put it into context you can excel in your leadership skills. As you carry within you a thankful heart and serve with humility you can set the course for a bright future.

It gives a hope for the future

When you learn the secret of a thankful heart it frees you as a leader. When you learn to count your blessings instead of your troubles, it will help you look at your troubles with a different attitude. You are not defined by your past and you are not the sum of your fears or your mistakes. You have a solid grip on the present. You have hope.

Your future is wide open and is predicated on being thankful for all the blessings you now enjoy. As you ponder these and other blessings during this time of the year, do so with a renew commitment to not neglect this important area of your leadership. What are you thankful for?

© 2014 Doug Dickerson

 

 

 

 

Leadership Minute: A Life of Gratitude

gratfule

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. – John F. Kennedy

As leaders we have much to be thankful for. No amount of words will ever suffice to express the gratitude we have for those in our life- past and present who helped us along the way. While kind expressions should be expressed it’s how we live our life that truly counts. Living a life of gratitude ultimately leads to a different way of leading. When we remember with gratitude those who gave us that first break, or those who welcomed us not just as colleagues but as friends, we tend to understand that those were defining moments in our leadership development. It’s from those experiences and many more that we learn how to live a life of gratitude and pass down those expressions of gratitude to those coming along behind us. Are you living a life of gratitude?