Over the past two weeks we covered the contributing factors of complacency and lack of authenticity and the impact of both as we pursue our success. Today we will touch on the role and the power of gratitude and appreciation in relation to our success.

Consistent with the spirit of gratitude and appreciation, I would like to thank our community for all the emails that I received and our communications regarding the first two topics. Many of you used the complacency column as a trigger to take action, and many more were brave enough to share where you are on the authenticity scale, recognizing a need for change. Authentically genuine, and I sincerely appreciate hearing all your life stories as we exchange emails.

One of the topics I deal with when speaking with individuals and companies is time management. When this subject comes up, I usually start with a question, “What are you trying to make time for?” Typically, the response comes after a long pause, “Well, everything,” they say. After digging deeper and forcing them to become very specific relative to what they are trying to make time for, we almost always get to a point of self-awareness. They realize it’s not so much time management, it’s what they are willing to make room for in their life or in their business.

Where does gratitude and appreciation fit into this? Everywhere.

Most of us are willing to overcommit, double book ourselves and our time, and make room for things that are important to us, that benefit us in some way, and maybe even make room for things and activities that don’t involve those closest to us. And what happens here is that this pressure builds up as we are spread too thin, we try and meet too many demands, and we become our own worst enemies.

In a time-compressed world where we are overcommitted and double booked, and we are feeling pressure and stress, we can still make room for gratitude and appreciation. When it comes to time, let me ask you, how long does it take to say, “Thank you”? How many seconds does it take to tell someone, “You rock!” Does it take more than 30 seconds of time to write an email to someone or the team saying, “Great work, the team crushed it.” How long does it take to walk around to the other side of the car and open the car door for our spouse? How many clicks does it take to order and send a thank you gift online? How many seconds does it take to leave a note of hope and encouragement for a friend or family member? Can we send a text that says thank you, I love you, I appreciate you in less than 10 seconds?

It has been said that gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The challenge or problem is that we are running and gunning so hard as we pursue greatness or chase down our goals, our quotas, our objectives, our hobbies, and everything else that we have left our gratitude bucket empty. We have forgotten those who have lifted us up when we needed it. We have stopped appreciating the little things that people have done for us for many years. We begin to think that everything we have and everything we have accomplished, we achieved on our own.

So I ask you, what are you making room for in your life? What are you trying to make time for? If you will trust me on this, I can help you. Success, your success, can be built by replacing complacency with action, being the real authentic you, and by having a gratitude bucket that is overflowing.

Thank you all again for the emails and communications. I would love to hear your success story and how I can help at gotonorton@gmail.com. And when we focus on these building blocks of success, it really will be a better than good week.

Michael Norton is a resident of Highlands Ranch, the chief revenue officer at Eventus Solutions Group, a strategic consultant and a business and personal coach.