At this time of year there’s a lot of attention paid to how grateful we are for the memories we’ve made and shared through the last few months. Truth be told, we can have that same feeling for our own business, if we’re in the gratitude mindset zone.

When you finally achieve success in your business it feels AMAZING! Finally, all your hard work and dedication to your goal has started to pay off and you’re achieving those goals you spent the time to map out. You have arrived. It can often feel as if this success is owed you – weren’t you the one who put in all the hours to get here?

You know it’s normal, healthy, and expected to feel a sense of pride when you reach certain levels in your business, and you do have a lot to be proud of, after all! But a problem arises when, instead of feeling grateful for your success, you begin to expect it instead.

Many business owners find that without gratitude in their lives, their businesses fail to deliver – in many ways. Being self-absorbed to the point of believing success is owed to you is a slow poison to your business mindset, and in turn, your business itself.

Success in business – or in any area of our lives – is something that must be planned, focused on, worked towards, and above all, earned. Most of all, it must be appreciated, not taken for granted as something that is owed to us.

One of the best ways to create an attitude of gratitude is to share what has helped create your success with other business-owners – maybe those who haven’t yet reached your level of success. You can do this in many ways – business consulting at no charge, business mentoring – and your local Small Business Administration will be able to help you in finding up-and-coming business owners that truly need a helping hand up.

Your business knowledge, wisdom, experience and advice are worth sharing to help others achieve their own goals and dreams in business. In this way, you help “pay it forward”, while acting on your feelings of gratitude and thankfulness for getting where you are today.

Another way to express gratitude is to actively reach out to your own business mentors and thank them for sharing their knowledge and experience with you. Your mentors have helped you get to where you are now and letting them know that they are appreciated goes a long way towards creating that gratitude mindset that you need in business.

The success of your business may not rise or fall depending on your level of gratitude but having a mindset that is full of gratitude will help your business and will also help in all areas of your life!

Barbara Jemmott is the founder and business strategist at Your Entrepreneurial Spirit. Her 4-point YES to Customer Acquisition Program (C.A.P.) allows her to work her passion which is helping entrepreneurial women grow their audiences and income, online. She got here through her 20+ years of experience helping businesses understand and implement systems, strategies and procedures to increase productivity as well implement change and streamline operations. With experience and responsibilities to design, develop and deliver training for small to large technology training initiatives for Fortune 100 companies, she brings “Big Business” expertise to the small business space. Learn more about Your Entrepreneurial Spirit and the YES to Customer Acquisition Program at www.yourentrepreneurialspirit.com