Your Best Investment

Your best investment isn't a 401(k) or an IRA. It's not even a 529 plan, though if you're an American who has children reading this, I'd urge you to check that out.

Your best investment isn't stocks, or bonds, or mutual funds. And as much as I love entrepreneurship, (great book here by Dorie Clark on becoming more entrepreneurial), your best investment may not even be starting your own business.

No, your best investment is something that I've previously called the best drug on the planet.

It's virtually free to invest, takes just a few minutes of your time, and the payout is HUGE.

So, what is your best investment, you ask?

GRATITUDE.

Most people have things backwards: They think if they work super hard, then one day, they'll be successful. And THEN they can be happy. And then, after they're successful and happy, they can take a step back and be grateful for everything they have.

In reality, the opposite is true: When we experience gratitude, we actually become happier. And of course, that happiness is contagious, and people want to be around us, inspired by us, listen to us. Then we become successful - and yes, even wealthy!

It's amazing but true: When we are grateful, we put ourselves in a better mood, and through mirror neurons, our moods are contagious to the employees, prospects, and people around us!

I've written about several gratitude practices which make you happier and in turn help you to become more successful:

Writing gratitude lists

Writing hand-written thank you cards

Random acts of kindness

Prayer

My friend Chester Elton's new book, Leading with Gratitude: Eight Leadership Practices for Extraordinary Business Results, documents precisely how leaders can better embrace gratitude for real results.

Here, at Hubspot's Inbound conference, I spoke about the return-on-investment in a few minutes a day of practicing gratitude:

So today, as we approach Thanksgiving in the United States, I'd like to share a few people I'm especially grateful for, with you.

I'm grateful for:

1) Hugh Morgenbesser and our team at Likeable Local, who everyday help agencies and small businesses better reach customers using social media.

2) Rob Berk and our team at my newest venture, Apprentice, who everyday help connect the best entrepreneurs with the smartest college students on the planet.

3) Our au pair Nath Marques and the entire team at Au Pair in America, who everyday help parents like me navigate their careers while raising kids.

4) My wife, business partner, and best friend Carrie, who everyday leads an amazing team at Likeable in helping big companies better use social media and content, and become, well, more likeable.

5) YOU - my reader, my follower, my friend, who everyday fights the good fight to make the world a better place for your family and for strangers. You have taught me so much, and I am deeply grateful for you.

I know there are a lot of cynics out there, who will ignore this (maybe even mock it!), and move on. Maybe they were hoping I would tell you about the next Bitcoin or some other silly investment that might help you make a few bucks quickly.

But wouldn't you rather investment in your own long-term happiness and success?

Who and what are you grateful for?

Dave Kerpen is a serial entrepreneur, NY Times bestselling author of 3 books, and global keynote speaker. Grateful for this article? Please consider sharing it with YOUR network.