I was asked to describe myself in one word and without hesitation I said, "GRATEFUL" Gratitude is the one thing that can put you in a state of peace just as fast as being ungrateful can put you in a state of personal turmoil. The amazing thing is, you control the two states of mind. Which one do you choose, be a victim or direct your well being? I'm sitting on the balcony in my hotel, on this sunny morning with a warm tropical breeze blowing; overlooking boats going by in the beautiful Florida Keys. It's easy to see how someone could be grateful. When I got here 2 days ago it was rainy, dismal and no one was out and about. I was as grateful, two days ago, on that rainy day as I am today. Why?

The weather had nothing to do with the state of gratitude that I felt in my heart!

I was grateful to be with my wife Debbie, down here in one of the most beautiful places on this earth. I was grateful to be able to spend some quality personal time with her. A few weeks ago my wife and my son were involved in two different auto accidents. I'm grateful they're both alive. I could be focused on the cars that need to be replaced or I can be grateful for having my son and my wife around to go shopping with me for new vehicles! You see, you might not be in control of the circumstances but you are in total control of how you react to them, and your state of gratitude has a lot to do with how you look at your situation. How do you acquire a grateful heart? Some of us need to work on it and overcome years of negative thinking (that included me also!). The glass is half full attitude. Constant engaging in negative self talk. I didn't know any other way, until a good friend of mine pointed out what I was doing to MYSELF! Yes, I was hurting myself more than anyone else or more than anything that was happening to me.

My friend said to start a Gratitude Notebook

“A gratitude notebook, what's that?” He explained that it was a journal that I wrote in every day and listed everything that I was grateful for that day. At first it was difficult. He started me off by pointing out that I was alive and lived in the country that I lived in. You see I just took those things for granted, but I quickly realized without those two simple things, it would be terrible!

As time went on it became easier to make entries in my Gratitude Notebook!

I developed a relationship with God and there was so much I was grateful for in that relationship. I loved my wife and children but now I was grateful to have them in my daily life. Friends, family, co-workers, I now looked at them all with a heart of gratitude. Even people who were not so nice to me, I had a different view and reacted in a way that would never have been me years ago.

I then became exposed to Network Marketing!

I had been in the traditional business world for years, working for others and owning dozens of businesses of my own. When I found network marketing I thought I died and went to heaven! I loved the industry and what it represented to those who pursued it, Hope & Freedom! This form of business has been an incredible blessing to me and my family. I am so grateful to a guy named Johnny, who I never meet, but was the first person that introduced network marketing to me over the phone many years ago. He'll never know how he changed my life and the lives of countless others.

I encourage anyone in Network Marketing to be grateful for the opportunity that they have their hands on!

If you are struggling, be grateful that this is an industry that prides itself in having the successful help the unsuccessful. If you're still seeking, be grateful there are so many resources out there dedicated to your success. It's out there! Get into the grateful state of mind and you will see what our industry has to offer you. And one last thing, I'm very grateful for you!