The late congressman Frank Clark once said "If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get."

I think we're all guilty at one point or another of the "if this, than that" toxic way of thinking. "If only I made more money, than I would be happier." "If I lost 20 lbs, than I would be able to get the girl/guy." And on and on at infinitum…

I've been down this road more often than I care to admit, and the harsh reality I had to learn was that no matter how many of those statements came to pass it did not change the way I felt – in fact it only compounded how many more if than statements I would come up with. Life was never beautiful, the grass always had to be greener on the other side.

In business we all learn that being satisfied leads to complacency, and "complacency is the disease of the human spirit". The concept of being satisfied with what we have could be considered the worst possible thing to happen to us in pursuit of our goals. But being grateful isn't about being satisfied. The dictionary definition of grateful is "warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; to be thankful" while satisfied is to be "content". Many of us get these two confused, or for some obscure reason consider them synonymous. They're not.

Those that practice gratitude tend to be happier and bring greater success into their lives. I think the reason for this is because they see the positives in everything they do, and as a result bring a unique level of excitement and passion into every endeavor they pursue. On the other side of the coin, people who lack gratitude tend to see the negative in everything, nothing is good enough, and live in a constant state of comparison to everyone around them. When we practice gratitude we can better identify all the gifts the universe has blessed and equipped us with to help guide us in the direction of our goals. Everything is an opportunity, everything is beautiful, because everything has a purpose as the guiding light. I am grateful that the work I do allows me to afford a car so I can drive to work every day and help people achieve their American Dream. I'm grateful to have to pay the utility bill for my home because it means I have a roof over my head for myself and my family. Because I am grateful for these things, the energy I put out into the universe and to those around me provide for an exceptional investment with infinite compound interest to the joy in my life and to everyone else I come into contact with. Hell, out of the thousands of people I send daily "shot" to I am grateful if only a handful actually listen. A business deal may even stem from it because just one of you may connect with me through the airwaves and lead your lives in a similar manner that would make such a partnership fruitful. Unfortunately for someone who doesn't practice gratitude, putting in the effort for producing these daily "shots" only bearing a handful of listeners would seem miniscule, and demeaning to their professionalism. No opportunity whatsoever can possibly present itself to that person.

Our first ever Heavy Hitters speaker series is coming up and we are excited to have Mark Rucco of the Mark Rucco Group joining us. Mark was ranked as the #1 Agent for Palm Beach County by Most Closed Transactions in 2016 closing over 330 transactions, and ranked in Wall Street Journal's Top 200 Realtors Nationwide. I know Mark's story well, and can assure you that at some point in his career you will find common ground, and more importantly, stories from this shared experience that can help us overcome whatever difficulty currently preventing you from your best self.

This event will no sell out quickly and in fact, we're well over 75% of capacity within 24 hours, as Mark is certainly the type of professional we all wish to learn from. So please reach out and RSVP your seat today by calling 561-864-2458, or emailing Brett Vidro at [email protected]. Our Heavy Hitters interview with Mark Rucco will be held at the Cinemark Theater in Boca Raton on October 26th from 9:30am – 12:00pm. While this is only the first of many in this series, it is surely one you will not want to miss.

The views of this blog, "Your Morning Shot" podcast, and on this site in general are solely those of the authors, Matt Weaver (NMLS-175651) and Zack Lewis, and do not express the views or opinions of Finance of America Mortgage.