When you look back on your life and consider all of the opportunities that have come your way, you may feel a sense of regret at a chance passed by, or you may feel a deep sense of gratitude for being in the right place at the right time. We often hear that term, “right place, right time”, “he’s always lucky.” There are times that can be considered luck, but as with most things in life, it’s because you were prepared. 

Being prepared is a culmination of mindset and work ethic.  According to the Cambridge Dictionary, mindset is “a person’s way of thinking and their opinions” and work ethic is “the belief that work is valuable as an activity and is morally good.”   

As I’ve been on my journey, I’ve learned that opportunities are only visible when you’re looking for them and your success is dependent upon your level of maturity.  My journey has been based on my ability to put aside what others say I should do and think and realize that I have to be able to change.  Change that is for the betterment of myself, my family and the situation that I’m in and don’t like.  This is where the “mindset” comes into play.  I choose on a daily basis what my mindset and attitude will be, whether that is positive or negative.  I also choose every day to work on my mind and strengthen my skill set.  I do this through the books I read or listen to.  I strengthen my skill set by self-evaluation, correction and practice.    

Each opportunity that you’re presented with should be considered a building block of preparation for future opportunities.  Have an open mind to see what’s available to you that will help you stretch and grow into a better person, which bleeds over into all other aspects of your life and relationships.  

Work ethic, something I pride myself on, taught at an early age and no one can take away.  I’ve made my share of mistakes, missed on opportunities that I either wasn’t ready for or couldn’t see the long-term benefits, but it wasn’t because I was out worked.  There is truth to working smarter not harder, as far as understanding what and when to delegate.  But when it’s time for me to work, it’s time to work.  Understanding what your goal is, having a plan to get there is critical.  However, the only way to make it happen, is to work when it’s hard, when you’re tired and others have stopped.  No one can make your dreams and goals happen but you.  Do you have what it takes?  Numbers don’t lie and neither does your work ethic. 

I encourage you to keep your eyes open and your hands working.  I can promise you this, IT IS WORTH IT!  

The Power of Gratitude

Have you ever had the type of day when it seemed as if the world was conspiring against you? It is those kind of days when it feels like it is impossible for anything to go right, like you’re playing a real life game of whack-a-mole, popping your problems on the head as they spring up. The day starts with a cold shower because today was the day your water heater died, followed by a quick breakfast of nothing because the last thing left in the kitchen was a wilting banana. You were welcomed to work by a boss who can’t seem to find the value in your work no matter how you try…you see the trend, things can go from bad to worse minute by minute. There is a secret here my friends, you have a superpower to solve your problems and it is called gratitude.

This little miracle action, gratitude, holds the key to local untold treasures of mental health. I promise you as you sulk around your life holding your head low, there is someone out there in the world that would gladly change places with you in the blink of an eye.  Gratitude is the choice we make to see our world from a perspective of joy, and with this power of choice we have the ability to affect ourselves and those around us in a very commanding way. For every stroke of bad luck there is an opposing act of good luck. We have all heard the statement, “walk a mile in someone else’s shoes”, but have we ever really given it a second thought? I would encourage you to really ponder that statement, really think about the mother who has just lost her son, the son who has just lost their father, or the father who has just lost his job. Not to sound like Debbie downer, but for everything challenging in life, there is always something even more disconcerting.

I challenge you to use your power of gratitude and cast off those bewildering negative feelings that take you to a place that is of no value in your life. For every negative thought, find the opposite thought and experience those feelings of gratitude. I would encourage you to practice something I do each morning and journal the things you are grateful for, from small to big and everything in between. Some days the list might be endless, other days the list might be shorter, but I promise you if you practice focusing on what you are grateful for you will find ultimate joy. We take so much for granted that it is easy to forget to be grateful, remember even the small things…the air we breathe, the people we love, the freedom we have to make a choice. You will quickly see that a short-lived cold shower is nothing but a thing of the past that helped you realize everything you love about your life.

Jeremy Fouts CorVive Founder