On this American day of gratitude, what are you most grateful for?

I strive to wake up every day making a list of the things I'm grateful for. So I don't think this Thanksgiving day is the only to show gratitude.

I'm grateful that I've acquired the entrepreneurial ability, know-how and confidence to build my business.

I'm grateful to the opportunity of helping other individuals become internet entrepreneurs.

I'm grateful for the thousands of musicians that have entrusted the support and training from my organisation, Insider Music Business.

I'm grateful that my birth in human form allows me the opportunity for spiritual growth.

I'm grateful for my parents, my family, my friends and my loved ones.

I'm grateful to moments and experiences in my life that have made me who I am today.

I realise that when I'm most grateful, and when I'm hanging out with those who are grateful, I live a graceful life.

I've also learnt and understood that one of the most important skills you can have in your life is the "being grateful". If you haven't realised that, I invite you to a challenge of waking up the next 10 days and taking 5 minutes to feel, think and be grateful. You'll thank yourself for doing it.

What are you most grateful for?

Hello!

As we move towards the end of 2009, and you work hard to meet your goals, what is your biggest internet marketing challenge?

Please share...

Arvind Devalia has written a brand new manifesto called "Make It Happen"

 Giving them a moment of inspiration, joy, laughter, wisdom or insight is usually something that will impact them for the rest of their lives, and ultimately make them advocates of your brand and product line.

 A personalized business usually creates an unforgetable experience each and every time for their client.

 An assistant who deals with customers promptly, efficiently, joyfully and with love usually leaves a mark of warmth.

 An air hostess who attends to your needs in a flight, and goes the extra mile to check you are comfortable with a smile will leave a mark.

 So to will a cab driver who helps you find your destination, a bus driver who waits as he notices you run to the stand, a tour guide who waits as you slowly catch up, and the dentist who checks your teeth with care and love because he is passionate about his job.

 Create unforgetable experiences and you or your business won't be forgotten.

 Here's another example: The weekend just gone was the Young Jains convention, "Bridging The Gap". Over 150 people attended. Because of the love, compassion and culture from the entire team and audience, the weekend was awesome. That level of warm welcoming elevates the content and delivery to a deeper meaning. The end result: a transformative, unforgetable experience.

 Run a business or other operation? What unforgetable experience are you creating today? Do share...

At a discussion event about Jain business ethics led by Dr Atul K Shah of Diverse Ethics Ltd.

UPDATE (21/03) - It was an interesting event. We discussed the theory and practical elements of Jain dharma that are important in ethical business practices, primarily touching on the main vows of Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), Aparigraha (non-possessiveness) and Asteya (non-stealing), whilst touching briefly on the permanence of the soul and the impermanence of the body that drives the business. There was an interesting difference of opinion where some though that profit maximization is fine if profit is channelled in the right way, and others felt that business should just be there to make all that's needed. What do you think?

Apologies for any brevity. Sent from my iPhone.

 
I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon – if I can. I seek opportunity – not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.
 
I want to take the calculated risk, to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.
 
I refuse to barter incentive for a dole; I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence, the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of Utopia.
 
I will not trade my freedom for beneficence, nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master, not bend to any threat.
 
It is my heritage to stand erect, proud, and unafraid; to think and act for myself, to enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the
world boldly and say:

This, with my family and friends, I have done. All this is what it means to be an entrepreneur.
 
Author unknown, via Ben Casnocha, via Dave Asprey.

My thoughts from reading "How to make one hell of a profit and still get to heaven" by John Demartini.
 
* Payment is due when service is rendered.
 
* To think it is more honorable to give than to receive is to break a profound universal law, the Law of Equilibrium.
 
* Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.
 
* Donate (time and money) to causes that truly inspire you rather than just those where you feel the need to rescue.
 
* You grow the fastest and deserve the most when you can be exactly who and where you are. Your true power lies in the balanced truth.
 
* You have exactly the samey potential as any highly accomplished person; you just aren't believing and acknowledging it. But the instant you have it in your mind, you start enacting it in your body.
 
* When you can take the things you judge in yourself and appreciate them to the point where it wouldn't matter if people found out, you'll attain real self-love.
 
* Wealth grows or appreciates in value where and when it's appreciated and knowledge is a vital key to that growth.
 
* Whoever appreciates nothing, receives nothing.
 
* Wisdom means looking at your life and realizing that every single person and event was perfectly designed to help you on your life path.
 
* When you see and appreciate the divine perfection that surrounds you, you give off a radiant light and bring harmony to yourself.
 
* Those who path a value on themselves end up wealthy.
 
* The gurus of financial markets are those who have learned to master their own emotions. Most people lose money because they let their own emotions dictate their behaviour.
 
* When you love yourself, peoples opinions won't touch you. When you don't love yourself, people are mysteriously drawn to attack you because you're doing the same to yourself first. The world is a mirror that shows you how you feel about yourself, and with self-love mthere's little fear of such reflection.
 
* When you're willing to do the things that other people aren't, and when you trust and honor yourself that much, the world honors you right back.
 
* Emotionally charged relationships can dissipate your potential to amass heavenly fortunes. Your heart is your greatest asset.
 
* If you attempt to live in a fantasy, you'll become frustrated and disillusioned trying to match your fantasy and it's not going to happen.
 
* People who are present are more productive, and the only way to be present is to see things as they truly are, not as you imagine then to be.
 
* Relationships exist to expand you by pushing your buttons about the things you haven't yet loved.
 
* True trust in relationships is about trusting others to live their values, not yours.
 
* If you can speak from your heart, your partner will go into his or get heart and meet you in the center.
 
* When you stop trying to change that person, in that moment they'll transform.
 
* Caring and selling are identical; they basically mean knowing and meeting people's values.
 
* The point of a purpose is to give you such a big "why" for your life that you attract the resources, money and people to help you overcome any obstacle on the path to your dream.
 
* Those with great purpose have the courage and discipline to go beyond their fears, to act with inspiration, to go even beyond themselves and what they think is possible.
 
* To the degree that you remain unconscious of your purpose, someone else will partly determine your destiny.
 
* In your heart you know exactly what you'd love to do, but the fears and guilt in your head stop you from acknowledging it.