Today I sent thank yous to my office receptionist, two friends who are also Realtors and always love and support me (personally and professionally), and then two women who worked on my business rebranding (which I have been launching last week and this week with incredible response). Love this challenge!

A few years ago, my friend, the late John Ruhlin taught me the concept of taking the extravagant and making it simple while taking the simple and making it extravagant. He would send sheets of steel as thank you cards to clients, which I promptly had to adopt into my own business. These things are legendary and blow my clients minds. Because they do cost $6-10 each we don’t send them to everyone, but for people you really want to make a strong impression on…these sure do the trick. This one goes out to a client who just booked me for a speech in April. It’s always good for people to see us practice what we preach.

My 2nd card is to my dad (Pops) and this one stings because he passed unexpectedly 22 years ago. A big kind man with an even bigger heart and a twinkle in his eye. I credit him for so many things that he taught me and truth be told, I didn't have a conventional upbringing (if there is such a thing). The majority of my childhood was spent with my grandmother as my mom didn't want me to be a "latchkey" kid. He was a truckdriver and on the road most of the time when I was young. The interesting thing though is that even though I spent way less time with him, my family and others that knew him and are still around say that I am my father's son. I could not imagine a better compliment. Thank you Pops!

One of the things I'm challenging myself with in this Gratitude challenge is to not have every thank you card planned. I'm enjoying the surprise and anticipation that comes throughout the day, knowing that I'll get to write a thank you, but don't know to who yet. I'm trying to find someone that brought me joy TODAY or showed up in a way that should be celebrated, rather than a past event. Today, I'm working in the office and brought my thank you card with me, and I'm excited to see where the day will take me. Thank you for starting the challenge @John Israel - not only is it allowing me to spread gratitude, but also to look for the MAGIC in each day :)

Going to write 10 cards - Making a list of everyone as the day goes and people pop into my head