#JTInTheRaw Show 11: Science of Gratitude & Anytime Fitness Conference

Check out this place! Lake Placid is in New York State and is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. It is a quaint township of 2500 people with incredible mountains and lakes. This is the location for the 1980 Winter Olympics and 2 days ago I was completing my workout running on the now concreted speed skating rink. It felt so surreal.

I have the great fortune to be here with over 2200 people I don’t know but they all have the common DNA of working with and for Anytime Fitness International.

#JTShoutout…

This week I want to shout out to my family, friends, colleagues, associates and anyone who has helped me get to where I am. I am very grateful for my opportunities that you have helped me achieve and continue to achieve, thank you.

I have found running around the lake, hiking along tracks and soaking in the history of this place, I have become quite self reflective this week. I have realised how lucky I am and thought I really need to be more grateful.

Did you know science tells us that an “attitude of gratitude” is a good health choice? Being more grateful more often makes us happier and more optimistic.

Gratitude attracts what we want. The universal law of attraction says that we will attract into our life the things we think about and focus on. When you are consciously aware of your blessings, and are grateful for them, you are focusing more clearly on what you do want in your life – and are attracting more of those things into your life.

Gratitude improves relationships. We learn the importance of saying “thank you” as little children. We are taught that habit because it is “good manners.” This childhood lesson is extremely powerful to carry with us forever.

Gratitude reduces negativity. It is hard to be negative about your situation when you are thinking about things for which you are grateful.

Gratitude improves problem solving skills. When we are grateful, we open our minds up to new possibilities and opportunities.

How can you be more grateful, more often? It’s really very easy and start today. After the show . . .

  1. Make a list of five things you are grateful for right now. These can be big things (like your family) or little things (like the fact that someone held the door open for you this morning).
  2. Reflect on your list and allow yourself to feel good about these things.
  3. If there is one person you can thank or show your appreciation to, do that now too (a quick call or email is a good start!).

In fact, I challenge you to put in the comments below right now . . one thing you are grateful for or the first name of someone you will call today to show appreciation to. Go on . . . I dare you!

Wow, that was deep! I think that’s the deepest I’ve got on #JTInTheRaw ever!!!

Time to lighten the show up . . .

Tomorrow is a massive day! There are 3 amazing things I get to do tomorrow:

  1. Gary Vaynerchuk, the current guru on marketing, social media and status quo challenger is speaking at the conference. Can’t wait to hear him speak. Then after his speech, I get to ‘escort’ him to another room for Q & A. I have met Gary Vee before and he is cool, so can’t wait to just chew the thin with this dude for a few minutes!
  2. I get to interview tomorrow 4 of the BEST multi-club operators for the Anytime Fitness brand. I cannot wait to hear how they run their businesses. This will be so cool!
  3. I’m hooking up with Michelle Segar tomorrow night. I’ve read her book No Sweat and loved it! We’ve emailed. We have interviewed her on the Fitness Business Podcast – twice! And tomorrow we finally meet in person and I cannot wait!

As for the rest of the week for me, well Saturday two more panels interviewing the best of the best. Then Sunday I head to LA for a workout packed Monday before heading home Monday night.

That means Wednesday morning I get home and I am picking Zoe up straight from school. We’ll be shooting hoops, drinking hot chocolate and she’ll be rummaging through my bag for any gifts I have bought her!

And that’s this week for me.

Thanks for tuning in this week and if you think anyone you know could benefit from insights around gratitude then just tag them in the comments below.

Quote of the Week . . .

“We can choose to be grateful. What are you grateful for today?” #Grateful.

Check out previous shows here:

#JTInTheRaw Show 10: Confessions Of A Small Business Owner
#JTInThe Raw Show 9: Customer Service & Bending The Rules For A Customer; and 6 Tips To Business Success
#JTInTheRaw Show 8: KPIs & Responsibilities; Hug Your Haters; Rick Mayo & Fitness Business