Who Should You Thank Today? Good. Now Go Do It.
The simple act of saying “Thank You” can have far reaching, life changing results. The funny thing is, we all know we SHOULD do it, but we often forget to ACTUALLY do it. I am not only referring to the common courtesy response to someone who provided you an every day service, like the grocery store or post office employee, but to those who really believe in us. We often take for granted and forget to thank those closest to us. Why is that? Is it perhaps subconsciously we believe it is their job? Is it because the great things they do for us can be overshadowed by the stuff they do that annoys us? I don’t really have the answer for that, but I do know that it happens.
What about thanking people who make your life difficult, because it makes you a stronger person; or the stranger who became your greatest supporter…..for no reason other than to simply support you?
In the spirit of UBUNTU (I am because we are), I realize that on this single mother, entrepreneurship, pro cheerleader, manager of volunteer and interns journey, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for a lot of different people in varying capacities.
So, I ask you. Who should you thank today?
Today, I thank my business coach (who happens to be my brother Tony) for helping me to focus. I thank Mahendra, the wonderful man I am dating who has performed miracles on my behalf. He has literally been MY biggest cheerleader. If you ever join me on a zoom call, the background you see? That is all him my friends.
Thank you to my 22 year old daughter who will sneak out of her room in the late hours of the night to leave a note by my desk that says “Have a good day mom” so I see it when I rise in the morning. Thank you to my mother who does my accounting for me because I hate it (there hasn’t been much to do in the past three years, but I have a feeling that is all about to change soon).
Thank you to Kedra and Jennifer M. for taking a chance on me and allowing me to contribute for The Life of a Single Mother providing an avenue to pour back into and encourage single moms like myself through my writing.
Thank you to Kristen O. for seeing something in me, taking a chance on and trusting me with her 2000 plus Tessitura audience to present before them. Thank you to John C. for thinking enough of me to nominate me to become a Board Member of the Arts and Business Council of Miami, an experience like no other; not to mention the support of Laura and Jean making me feel that my view on the voice of volunteers in the non-profit sector actually really matters.
Lastly, I would like to thank my newfound, rapidly growing and ridiculously supportive LinkedIn family. From Tracey in Australia and Faiza in Canada becoming fast and furious supporters of my inspirational note-taking journals, to Jerome T. helping me to successfully navigate diversity forums that I have quickly become involved in almost over night; from Corina in TX, instrumental in leading to the opportunity to present at Texas Volunteer Management Conference to Dana in California who showed me how to become a mentor for Alive and invited me to be a part of her Tuesday Tips and Priceless Advice with Leaders of Volunteers
Not one person mentioned in this article had to do an iota of what they have done to help me and I don’t take that for granted. Take a look around where you are today. Who supports you? Who challenges you? Who celebrates you? Who encourages you? Who inspires you?
So, I ask you again. Who should you thank today?
Do you have the names in mind? Good.
Now, go do it.
Nicole is a Panamanian-American, single mother, workforce development specialist, dancer, motivational speaker and published author of many inspirational note-taking journals including 101 Affirmations for Volunteer Administrators, Non-Profit Leaders and Professional Women, She attended Oral Roberts University on a Division I full-ride track scholarship. After graduating, she founded Step It Up! Inc., a non-profit dance organization. Her experience in sports and entertainment, radio, TV and the performing arts has spanned nearly 20 years covering the Chicago, Houston and Miami markets. She has prepared more than 500 interns to enter the workforce and has inspired crowds upwards of 2000. In 2019 she was listed as one of WLRN’s “Local Women Who Inspire You”, she was selected as one of Legacy Miami’s Most Prominent and Influential Black Women In Business and Industry of 2019 and became a contributing writer for The Life of a Single Mom. Her mission is based on Proverbs 13:19: A dream fulfilled is sweet to the soul. Her desire is to maximize and empower the potential of the invaluable workforce. Connect with her at www.nicolersmith.net and follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
