Ten Things To Appreciate Today

 which they work; not all entrepreneurs own
Count Your Blessings - Here Are Somebusinesses themselves (though more and more
Thought-Startersare making the decision to be business owners in
 by Michael D. Hume, M.S.these times).
I've asserted that there are two types of adultsAppreciate your piece of the world. Go outside
in our society, especially in America: victims, andtoday, take a deep breath, and whisper some
entrepreneurs. Victims rely primarily on others;gratitude for the miracle of this planet. Even if the
entrepreneurs rely primarily on themselves, andweather's crappy out there! Speaking of which....
help others. Victims' attentions are consumed byAppreciate the weather. I remember many a
problems; entrepreneurs solve problems, buttime in the Army when it was cold, or rainy, and
focus more on opportunities. Victims are mostlyhow powerful it was to imagine it was early
critical; entrepreneurs are critical thinkers, but tendAugust and how refreshing I would find that rain if
to be more optimistic and therefore moreit were... or to imagine Christmas in the Rockies
appreciative.on a particularly steamy August day and think
A discouraged entrepreneur can slip intoabout how warming I would find that day if it
victimhood. True die-hard entrepreneurs arewere.
resilient, and can (and must) handle more than theAppreciate your home. Be it ever so humble,
average share of rejection and failure. We've allthere's no place like it. And if you're homeless at
heard the stories about how many times anthe moment, you have a great opportunity to
aspiring author submitted a manuscript beforegain a new appreciation for having a home - any
someone took a chance on her and published thehome. I've been homeless for brief periods, and it
blockbuster that many others had pronouncedserved as a spark for the entrepreneur within me
unpublishable; and we know many other storiesto see that condition as absolutely temporary, no
just like that one, from virtually all walks of life.matter how much the victim in there wanted to
But everyone has their breaking point. Too muchembrace my misery as a permanent condition.
failure can discourage an entrepreneur and moveAppreciate your friends. More need not be said.
her toward more of a victim mentality, and she'llAppreciate your family. Sure, they drive you nuts
go through rough emotional patches in her lifelike no one else can. But that's because you love
that'll make her more susceptible.them, and you should never take your ability to
I wonder if an encouraged victim can be nudgedlove others for granted. Embrace it... appreciate it!
toward a more entrepreneurial mindset. I think, inAnd they love you too, even if they don't show it
many cases, he can. A dedicated victim - oneat times.
who's chosen a lifestyle of complaint, negativity,Appreciate, especially, your Significant Other. Are
and outward blame - probably can't change noyou showing your appreciation? Take a minute
matter how much encouragement you give him.today to think about something you can do for
But I think there's a spark of an entrepreneurhim or her that shows your love and appreciation;
inside almost all of us - I'd say more than 98% ofdon't wait for it to be deserved or expected.
the population - and part of my inspirationalEven an ex-lover can be appreciated for the part
leadership mission is to find those sparks and tryof his or her life they shared with you, even if it's
to encourage them whenever and wherever Ieasier to focus on the reasons s/he's an "ex"
can.today.
Entrepreneurship is a form of inspirationalOne more bonus blessing: Appreciate your gripes!
leadership. Inspirational leadership requiresYes, whatever problems you have in life, be
encouragement. Encouragement requiresthankful they aren't worse. I distinctly remember
appreciation, both of oneself, of others, and ofbeing a young husband and father with far more
life's many blessings. So I encourage you to findbills and obligations than money and opportunities...
ten things to appreciate today. Here's a list of tenand I remember the struggle between my inner
"thought-starters," blessings for which I findentrepreneur and my inner victim starting to turn
myself thankful today, and I hope it helps SPARKthe victim's way. It helped me more than I can
some ideas in you.tell you to truly focus on the fact that everyone
Appreciate your health. No matter what it is, itin the family was healthy... and that something as
could be worse, or you wouldn't be able to readsilly as money was truly the only problem I had,
or understand this.and what a blessing it was that I didn't have to
Appreciate your age. If you're old, you know sostruggle through caring for someone in a
much more than you used to. If you're young,wheelchair or a bed. That one thought sometimes
appreciate your energy and develop yourgave my inner entrepreneur the upper hand. By
patience.the way, if you're caring for someone in a
Appreciate your money and your stuff. Nowheelchair or a bed, good for you. Appreciate the
matter how poor you are, you're rich... especiallyfact that you can, and that they are still with us.
in America, where the poorest families tend toI hope your appreciations outnumber your gripes
own things the rest of the world's poor onlytoday. And if they don't, I hope the struggle
dream of.between your inner entrepreneur and your inner
Appreciate your opportunities. If you have a job,victim starts to swing in the entrepreneur's
that's great! It's an opportunity, and manydirection. The more you find to appreciate, the
entrepreneurs practice their craft in the employmore likely that is to happen.
of others by helping them build the busines for