Thanksgiving is not just a holiday: It's a way of life.

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"Wear gratitude like a cloak, and it will feed every corner of your life."

- Rumi

As a newly minted Marine, I made the mistake of sharing the answer to a math question my senior leaders were having trouble with. Later that day, I was lectured on why it wasn't my place to speak up. I was at the bottom of the totem pole, and the fact that I was right didn't matter. My ability to actually add value was less important than knowing my place.

I fully admit that I had a lot to learn about tact and self-awareness at 18, but that moment has always stuck with me. It set me on a path to find teams where my contribution would matter and places where my voice would have an impact.

I wanted to be a knight, not a pawn. In chess, the ? defies the rules all other pieces must follow. Knights are the only pieces that can jump over others or "turn" direction. The queen is the most powerful piece on the board, but the knights catch everyone by surprise.

Now, I have the honor of being a professional advice-giver. I've influenced global projects at Microsoft and national security at the Pentagon, but there are two words that I try to use more than anyone else: Thank you. ??

One of the most-common ways I show appreciation is by saying, "Thank you for asking."

Always be the hardest-working most-grateful person in the room.

Someone asking for your opinion or your help is not a trivial matter. That request is an invitation to matter. It's a sign of respect and appreciation for your efforts and expertise. It's a ticket to have an impact on something bigger than yourself.

You could be wicked smart and have all the answers, but it doesn't matter if you don't get a ?? at the table.

The next time someone asks for your opinion, say thank you.

Are you grateful enough to honor the opportunities you have in front of you?

After we show appreciation for being asked for our input, it's time to execute. Rest assured that if you don't add value, then you probably won't be asked again.

I often talk to people who are distraught over how few opportunities they have while failing to take advantage of the ones they've been presented with. Of course, I'm guilty of this at times, too, and it's only natural for us to want bigger and better opportunities. However, we have no choice but to start where we are. I also try to remember that five years ago, I never would've complained about the opportunities I have now.

When Teddy Roosevelt was the Governor of New York, rapidly growing in popularity, someone remarked that he could one day become the President of the United States. Teddy snapped at the man, pointing out that he already had a job to do. Daydreaming about the future was not in Teddy's nature. He was 100% committed to the task at hand, whatever it was. When we have the gratitude and the appreciation for the importance of what we're doing right now, it naturally leads to bigger and better things. The trick is to not get ahead of ourselves.

The opportunities we have now are the result of our performance during all previous opportunities.

The opportunities we have tomorrow will depend upon the quality of how we execute on opportunities today.

The Thanksgiving Black Belt: Being Grateful for Hardship

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,?whenever you face trials of many kinds,?because you know that the testing of your faith?produces perseverance."

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? - James 1:2-4

While visiting Miami last week, I had two dinners with groups of complete strangers. We talked about the challenges we had faced over our lives, and some people shared some incredible hardships they had been through. One person had been found dead and cold to the touch but was miraculously revived. Whether they had destroyed their own lives or been wronged, each of them had every excuse to be incredibly bitter and jaded.

I asked each of them if they would trade their adversities for an easier life, and they all said no. Their challenges had made them more resilient and kind. That didn't mean that there wasn't still scar tissue there, but they were grateful for what they learned from what they had endured.

Gratefulness is a powerful antidote to the negative thought patterns that so easily take us down dark roads. This Thanksgiving, lets commit to gratitude as a way of life and cherish the people, opportunities, and lessons we've learned.

Did You Know?

George Washington proclaimed Thanksgiving an American holiday on October 3rd, 1789.

Read his full proclamation here.

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