This is the time of year we naturally reflect on our lives. That’s what Thanksgiving is all about.

And while it’s easy to look back and point out the things you were thankful for because of the positive impact they had, I want you to consider something more for next year.

Be purposeful in what you choose to do, so this time next year you can honestly say, “Boy, I’m thankful that I chose to include THAT in my life.”  

You can use gratitude to guide your decisions if you realize that the choices you make matter.  A good example of this for me was starting my Shirt Lab business a few years ago.  Over breakfast at an industry event, my future business partner Tom Rauen and I agreed that most apparel decorators do a pretty good job of the decoration end of the stick.  Where they need help is in the sales and marketing aspect of running the company.

Fast forward to a few months later in 2018, and we held our first live workshop event in Columbus Ohio. In 2019, we had four live events in St. Louis, Washington DC, Portland, and Atlanta.  

This year we were scheduled to have two events, one in Dallas and another in Chicago.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we moved those to 2021.  However, we have held two virtual events, Shirt Lab Summit and Shirt Lab Forge, which have helped almost 3,000 businesses from 32 countries.  

Plus, in June of this year we founded an online mastermind group, Shirt Lab Tribe, that is growing stronger every day.

For me, the lesson is clear.  Make purposeful decisions that can help other people succeed.  Take a chance. Don’t wait for permission.

Back in 2018 if we hadn’t kept noodling around with the idea of how to help other people solve some sales and marketing problems Tom and I would have never launched Shirt Lab.  

Now, it is a viable business, we’re helping apparel decorators succeed all around the world, and we’re having fun doing it.  It’s started with us constantly asking “what if” and brainstorming on doing something different.  

I’m so incredibly thankful that we didn’t stop or succumb to the notion that “nobody wants that,” when building out our business plan and getting started.

Get involved more. Help more people. Share knowledge. Lend a hand. Be present.

Lastly, if you are not thankful for what you have, it's doubtful that you will be thankful for what you get.

It is up to you.