It is has been slightly over a month since the launch of BRANDENTITY and I wanted to take a moment to express my complete and utter gratitude to all of you. The membership of BRANDENTITY has been growing at a significant pace, but even more importantly, breakthroughs are already taking place. I have been asked to speak, interview, and write for a variety of sources, which has allowed the IDENTITY REVOLUTION to become part of the vernacular of people around the world. But the intent of this blog post has nothing to do with me, but rather everything to do with all of you. I admire your courage to become pioneers in this process and subscribe to a blog that is for the most part, unlike anything that currently exists. Although we have only just begun this journey, and I know that there are thousands of people around the world that will join us once they feel ready, it has truly been an honor to embark and create the BRANDENTITY Empire with all of you.
Many of you may not understand why I feel this intense sense of gratitude for simply inputting your email address, watching a few videos, listening to audios, and reading blog posts on a weekly basis. Many of you might struggle accepting these acknowledgements because human nature tends to reject recognition because of our difficulty in receiving praise. Many of you might think that my appreciation is inauthentic because you do not believe that you deserve to be honored in this fashion. But I am here to inform you that the ACT OF RECOGNITION, for yourself and for others, should become part of your daily routine as you never know how far a good deed will travel. In this scenario, the “good deed” is simply acknowledging people, and yourself, for all of the wonderful contributions that are brought into the world. What I often find is that we rarely take the time to inform our network of family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and ourselves about how fortunate we feel to have them in our lives. This could be a parent, loved-one, child, friend, CPA, chiropractor, librarian, supermarket clerk, taxi cab driver, etc. What if you became 5% more conscious to the people in your world and provided 5% more “communicated appreciation” for all that they do?
This blog post obviously ties into Thanksgiving where everyone is able to celebrate their gratefulness for the people in their world. It is a time when families get together, stories are shared, and recognition is in the air. But like everything I do, I want this Thanksgiving to be different than the prior years because I do not want it to come to an end on November 26th. I do not think that there should be a particular twenty-four hour time frame where we express how we truly feel; and instead, we should make the conscious effort to include this routine on a daily basis. But in order for this strategy to have the far-reaching effect that I believe is possible, we have to learn how to receive gratification. A perfect example of this concept occurred just the other night, when I was a keynote speaker at an event in Indiana. At the conclusion of my presentation, I received a double standing ovation. There have been times that I have seen speakers shift their entire physiology when provided with a round of applause and I believe the reason is because they feel unworthy of this acknowledgement. But as I stood in front of the crowd, I accepted this recognition and felt proud of myself. At no point did I not understand why I was receiving this reaction; at no point did I feel the need to reject the gratitude; and at no point did I feel it was inauthentic. I earned that double standing ovation and I felt pleased about the “who I am!”
The point I am stressing is that when people approach you and express how much you mean to them, accept their gratitude because otherwise, they may stop offering it. Thanksgiving is a time to give and RECEIVE thanks and I want you to focus on the receiving because once you master this area of your life, you will begin to live with an even greater sense of self worth and be proud of the person who looks back at you from the mirror.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and please accept my complete and utter gratitude for believing in me and creating a foundation for BRANDENTITY.
How well do you receive “Thank You’s?”
What does this mean to you? Please leave a comment.
Acknowledgements for the picture from Flickr
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s funny, but ever since I was a young child I have always enjoyed making people smile (especially my parents, teachers, family and friends). Yep! I guess you could categorize me as a people pleaser &/or a giver, but I’ve also learned to set up some personal boundaries so as not to allow myself to become someone else’s door-mat. I believe I do the things I do today not just to receive those smiles but because it makes ME feel good. Whether it’s a quick “good morning” greeting to those who walk by me in the hallways at work, bending down to pick up something someone else has dropped, holding the door open for the next person walking up or just smiling at someone who looks in my direction, I find myslef constantly acting and behaving in ways to make someone else smile. The best part is everytime I give this smile to someone else the one on my face gets a little bigger. Have you ever heard the saying, “to be a good winner, you have to be a good loser”? Well in order to be good at accepting thanks and praise I think you have to be good at giving thanks and praise. Life is a two way street. It goes both ways. For every positive there is negative, for every negative, a positive. Anyone who has trouble or difficulties accepting thanks should try to do a few very simple tasks through out the day…just smile and say, ‘hello’ to someone, complement someone else’s effort on a project, praise you child for having a smile on their face. Afterall isn’t a smile just body language for saying thank you for being YOU? ! ! !
And THAT’S worth thinking about!
~Kathleen.
@Kathleen…I thoroughly enjoyed reading this response, and guess what…IT BROUGHT A SMILE TO MY FACE! I think that it is wonderful that you have recognized that the reason you do, what you do, is not only to receive smiles, but also because it makes you feel good. I am congruent with the way you think and act because I personally do not believe that there is anything more rewarding than doing something for someone and shifting their outlook/perspective on the day. This happens to be one of my blog posts (which I know you have already commented on as well…THANK YOU) entitled The Compounding Effects of Giving because you never know how far a good deed will travel. So on this Thanksgiving, I would like to THANK YOU for BEING YOU and I want you to remember to take a few minutes to look in the mirror and be PROUD of the person who looks back…Thank you again for your contributions!
I have recently had to cover for a business partner who is ill. He is a person who is always pleasant to everyone he meets and always thanks people for their cooperation. I found that his customers (all of them ) asked me where he was. when I told them of his illness they were genuinely upset and sent their regards ( some contacted him personally) I was really in awe of the power of being friendly. I am smiling and thanking everyone I interact with now and it is really contagious.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your story and it brought an incredible sense of happiness to my life because it reminded my of my grandfather. He passed away about three months ago, but literally worked until the day he died (at Home Depot). Upon his passing, people came to the store looking for the little man in the orange apron and were wrecked once they heard he passed away. People have no idea how far their good deeds could travel and how simply expressing the way you feel about the people in your world (this includes acquaintances) could have a profound impact on the way they live their lives. With my BE Partnering Clients and at my BRANDENTITY BOOTCAMPS, I always talk about how people come into your life for a reason, season, or lifetime. Your business partner is someone who has ingrained himself/herself in the lives of each person he/she touches and will be a lifetime contributor. I admire your ability to recognize this power and I know it will positively impact your life as you progress. My hopes are prayers are with your business partner as he should acknowledge himself for all of the lives he has touched….
Thank you again for your contributions and WELCOME to BRANDENTITY!