Gratitude for the Opportunity: Why Appreciation Comes Before Achievement

You have to love what you do — that is what people say. But that is not necessarily true. What is true is that you have to love the opportunity. The opportunity to build life, future, health, success, and fortune.

A man once told me, "I am digging ditches. Should I love digging ditches?"

My answer? No, you do not have to love digging ditches. But if it is your first entry onto the ladder of success, you should be thinking: I am glad somebody gave me the opportunity to dig ditches, and I am going to do it so well, I will not be here long.

The Seed of Appreciation

Here is what I have learned. The person who cannot appreciate where they are will never get where they want to go. Not because the universe is keeping score, but because attitude determines altitude.

When you appreciate the job you have, you do better work. When you do better work, better opportunities find you. When better opportunities find you, you have more to be thankful for. It is a cycle, and it starts with gratitude — not with arrival.

I did not start with much. At age twenty-five, I was broke and embarrassed about it. But a man named Earl Shoaff believed in me before I believed in myself. He gave me an opportunity, and I learned to appreciate it — the person who brought me the good news, who found me.

Imperfect Circumstances

Some of you are in imperfect circumstances right now. The job is not ideal. The timing is not perfect. The resources are limited. I understand.

But let me share something with you. Every successful person I have ever studied started in imperfect circumstances. The difference was not their situation — it was their gratitude for the chance to be in the game at all.

Related: Begin With Gratitude and Watch the Miracles Flow Your Way

If you will embrace the disciplines associated with a new opportunity, you will soon find that your self-confidence starts to grow. You go from being a skeptic to being a believer. And soon, when you start talking to people, you will find it to be the most thrilling opportunity in the world.

Before You Give Up

So before you are tempted to give up or get discouraged, remember this: all success is based on long-term commitment, faith, discipline, attitude, and a few stepping stones along the way.

You might not love the stone you are standing on right now. But be grateful for it — because it is one of the stones that leads to great opportunities in the future.

Appreciate where you are. Work to get where you want to go. And be thankful for every step along the way.