A-Performers do their best when they are cheerful or enthusiastic! Lesson #2 gives you a terrific tool you can learn to use to be happier and more successful. As a result of you being happier, everyone around you will benefit.

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Review of Lesson #1 "Grit"

Before we begin Lesson #2, let’s review the results of your seven Action Steps to have more grit from Lesson #1. We would like to know which Action Steps you completed and the results!

However, if you would rather skip the review and go straight to Lesson #2, select the second option below and click "Next."

1. The first step to having more grit is to have passion and perseverance for long-term goals.

Grit is sticking with your goals, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for the years to come.

Your first Action Step was to do the following:
1. Write down one of your goals.
2. Using your imagination, write down what it will be like when you reach this goal.
3. Write down at least one Action Step that you will do today or this week that will take you one small step closer to this goal.

2. Your next Action Step in Lesson #1 is to have more physical ability. You can pick up heavy boxes, trim bushes, clean up garbage and so on.

What Action Steps did you take to have more physical ability?

Action Step examples:
1. Make a list of physical changes you need to make at work or home. Pick the easiest and get it done ASAP.
2. Exercise for at least five minutes today and every day this week.
3. Write down something you can do this week that will make you dirty or sweaty.

3. Your next Action Step is to live life like a marathon, not a sprint. You skip short-term pleasures to enjoy long-term success.

What Action Steps did you take to work on your long-term success?

Lesson #1 offered these suggestions:

1. Make a list of skills that if you mastered, would increase your income. Which one is easiest? What can you do this week to start mastering that skill?

2. Make a list of all the tasks you need to do. Which one will give you the longest-term benefit? What can you do this week to work on that task?

3. Make a list of your bad habits. Which one can you break right now? How will you do this?

4. The next way to have more grit is to face the hard, cold facts when necessary. You do not live in a cloud of theory and wishes.

Are you more able to look at things as they are, not as you wish they could be? Have you gotten better at facing the facts?

What Action Step(s) did you take to improve your ability to face the facts? Lesson #1 offered these suggestions:

1. Write down the name or initials of someone you wish would change or improve. Plan to look at him or her this week newly, not as you wish them to be, but as who they are.

2. Write down something that is not going right for you. Make a plan to not just hope it will improve on its own, but how you will look for the real reasons why it is not going well.

3. Write down an opinion you have that is not shared by others. Consider the possibility that you are wrong. What action can you do to examine the facts until you find out the truth about your opinion, right or wrong?

5. As you may remember, grit is courage. You face and handle disagreements, difficult people and threats. You protect everyone around you.

Everyone can be more courageous. Did you increase your courage?

What did you do to increase your courage? Lesson #1 offered these suggestions:

1. Write down one of your fears. Find a way to face it this week.

2. Write down a disagreement you need to resolve. Work out a plan to clear it up.

3. Is a difficult person interfering with your job or life? Write down a few steps you can take to handle them.

4. Are you bothered by a threat? If so, write down a step or two that you can take to lessen the threat this week

5. Is there anyone you need to protect? If so, write down what you should do to protect them.

6. The sixth way to have more grit is to be more understanding. You find out what others need and want. You help them on a daily basis.

How were you more understanding?

You may have used these suggestions from Lesson #1:

1. Write down the names or initials of 1-3 people you want a better relationship with.

2. Next to each name or initial, write what you will do to improve your understanding of them. For example, ask questions, resolve a disagreement or spend more time together.

3. Write what you will do to help each person on a regular basis.

7. The last way to have more grit is to make things go right. You do whatever it takes to improve, expand and succeed. No matter how large the obstacles, you never give up.

Thank you for your answers!

At this point you can move on to Lesson #2 or go back and work on Lesson #1 until you get more results. 

Click here to go back and redo the entire Lesson #1 “Grit.”

Click here to go back to Lesson #1 “Grit” Action Steps only (no video, tests or essays).

To go on to Lesson #2 “Gratitude” click "Next" below.

This course includes articles, essays and Action Steps to help you improve your performance by being happier

A-Performers do their best when they are cheerful or enthusiastic! Lesson #2 gives you a terrific tool you can use to be happier and more successful. As a result of you being happier, everyone around you will benefit.

Be Grateful

In a $5.6 million research project by the University of California, research scientists found that people who find ways to thank others, are healthier, feeling more positive emotions, have fewer feelings of loneliness and get better sleep.

When you are grateful, you feel or show your appreciation to another. You are thankful for something they do.

When you are grateful, you are not being weak. You are not being subservient to someone when you thank them. You are not flattering them. You are simply acknowledging them for something positive they have done for you.

“Practicing gratitude” means you constantly and habitually feel and show your appreciation for everything in your life. It's a positive skill you can learn. When mastered, you significantly improve your happiness and your job performance. An A-Performer practices gratitude every hour of every day.

In this lesson, you will learn this skill and put it to use. By taking the Action Steps at the end of this lesson, the improvements in your job and your life will become significant.



1. Gratitude puts situations into perspective.

Examples:

"I feel angry that I have to work all weekend . . . yet, I am grateful that my income is higher than ever before."

"I sure wish my son had better manners . . . but I really appreciate the fun we have playing card games."

"I hate driving on crowded roads . . . but I sure like having some time to listen to my music."

2. Gratitude helps you realize what you have which can reduce your need for more.

Examples:

"I sure want a new mountain bike . . . of course, I haven't spent much time using my gym membership or using my timeshare. I love using those! Forget the bike."

"We need to get me an assistant as I'm so busy . . . but I'm grateful for all the current staff and . . . oh, I can just use Chris for a few hours each week. No assistant needed."

"I really need a new iPad because mine is so old . . . well even though it's old, I appreciate how well it works with Netflix. Since I don't use it for anything else, why upgrade?"

3. When you are grateful for the gifts in your life, big and small, you also find more things to be grateful about.

Examples:

You practice gratitude with everyone in your office. Everyone becomes more supportive and kinder to you.

You show your appreciation to your patients more than ever before. Your referrals from patients jumps up 10%.

You express your appreciation to everyone who has helped you, or currently helps you, make money. Your income increases.

You could say that abundance flows into your life when gratitude flows out of your heart.

4. Gratitude strengthens relationships.

When you and another person thank each other, you cannot help but smile and like that person a bit more.

Examples:

Sam always thanks you for every small thing you do for him. You thank him for everything he does for you. Your friendship with Sam is constantly improving.

Jill brings in cookies for everyone to enjoy. You email a thank-you note to Jill. You both have a happier day.

5. Being grateful improves your view of the future.

If the future is not exciting to you, practicing gratitude can help.

Examples:

"What do I have now that will help me in the future? Oh! My new laptop. That will be very helpful. I'm glad I have it!"

"I sure like working with Pat. I'm going to tell her that I'm glad she'll be on my team for the future!"

"I love my neighborhood. I think I'll live here to the end. What a great life!"

6. Gratitude helps you deal with fear, stress, anger and other negative emotions.

Examples:

You feel panicked about a legal problem that is not going well. During your next call, you thank your lawyer from the bottom of your heart. You feel much better.

You are terrified whenever you have to give a speech. You start the speech thanking several people and you no longer feel afraid.

You are stressed out with too much work to do. The stress hurts your health and keeps you up at night. You start a gratitude journal and add things for which you are thankful at the end of each day. Within a week, your stress goes down and your efficiency improves to the point you get on top of your work load.

7. When you thank someone, they are motivated to do more of the same.

Examples:

You sincerely thank a patient for recommending your practice to a friend. Your patient loves your kindness and sends in another friend.

You thank your spouse for preparing an incredible meal by giving him or her a small gift. Your next meal is just as good, if not better.

Your mentor, consultant, coach, advisor or friend helps you through a difficult situation. You thank him or her from the bottom of your heart. He or she starts to help you in new creative ways that improves your success in life.

When you thank someone, give details and be sincere. If you rarely feel grateful, fake it until you make it. It will not take long for you to enjoy the benefits.

Do all five of these Action Steps starting today.

1. Create a gratitude journal. Write or type everything you are grateful for. Add new reasons to be grateful every day. Start it and write down at least five things right after you complete this course.

2. Find 5-10 new ways to thank the people you work with on a daily basis. Use them and note the results.

3. Thank your spouse, parents, children and friends every day. Do this until it is a good habit.

4. Find more ways to thank your patients, clients or customers each day. Write down the results.

5. Whenever you feel angry, depressed, unhappy, stressed or afraid, find something to be grateful about. Write down the results.

In Lesson #3, we will ask you about your results with the above five Action Steps.

Summary

You now have five things you need to go and do. By doing these Action Steps you will have more gratitude. As a result, you will be happier, more productive, more popular and more able to succeed. You will be more of an A-Peformer!

By DOING these seven steps this week you will make a small improvement in how you operate in life. It will also make a small improvement in what you get back from life. Small improvements lead to bigger improvements, right?

Do it!

Thank You!

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