“Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.”
William Faulkner, American writer (1897 – 1962)
When it comes to gratitude, it’s not just the thought that counts. Engaging, encouraging, thanking, and connecting with people depends upon acting on your gratitude. Unexpressed gratitude produces nothing and influences nothing, but when it is transmitted in the world, it has tremendous and transformative power.
The question, then, is this: Do you have the infrastructure to transmit your gratitude? You may be a potent generator of appreciation for the kindness of others, but without the means to distribute it to others, what do you do?
Do you know how to really connect? Are you prepared with the words and deeds to express your feelings? Do you have a means to easily and clearly connect with people so that you’re sure they receive your gratitude?
If any of these components are missing, your best intentions can go unfulfilled. Gratitude which could have been used to energize new referrals and improve the lives of others simply dissipates.
If you honestly rate your capacity as a “gratitude generator,” how would you rank these days? Could you power a city with the appreciation you show your clients, or are you barely lighting a bulb?
Even if you’ve been a little remiss on distributing your power, don’t worry– you can always improve, beginning today. Just 10 minutes a day writing a nice note or making a call can add up to more than 60 hours a year of building real rapport with your clients and prospects.
(Photo credit: ronalmog)
