Gratitude: A Big Deal in Bad Times

By Jay Bradley, President, Intelisys Telecom Services

I turned 48 years old in 2008, and I have never been more grateful in my life. I can’t quite explain why this year has brought me this overwhelming sense of gratitude. I wasn’t looking for it, but it sure found me.

It made me start to think about all the different ways we use ─ and don’t use ─ gratitude in our daily routines. And in these very uncertain times, the likes of which we have not seen in generations, the value of feeling and expressing genuine gratefulness is really powerful stuff.

Think about your family, colleagues, customers, suppliers and associates ─ the people who mean the most to you and the life you have built for yourself. Can you ever express too much gratitude to these folks? Can you remind them too often how much they mean to you? The answer is probably no. And the real beauty of gratitude is that the expressions are uplifting for everyone. Put me in a room full of grateful people, and I will tell you that my world just became a better place.

So as the holidays come into full swing, and as the nation’s economic challenges begin to fully reveal themselves, add an extra sprinkle of gratitude into your daily routine. It will soothe your soul on the long road ahead, and it will probably brighten the day of someone who means the most to you.

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” ~ Cicero

Jay Bradley is president of Intelisys Telecom Services, a master agency based in California. He also is a member of the 2008-09 PHONE+ Channel Partners Advisory Board.