Thanksgiving is the one holiday built on a core leadership behavior. Gratitude.
Gratitude slows you down. It forces perspective, and it reminds you that nothing meaningful is achieved alone. That is why Thanksgiving, easily my favorite holiday, is more than the food, a Bloody Mary, football, and family. All of that makes for a great day. But that is not why it matters.
It matters because gratitude changes how you feel without changing your circumstances. It is a leadership checkpoint. If you remember nothing else from this newsletter, remember this:
Gratitude is a leadership strategy that transforms pressure into perspective and people into partners.
Gratitude is not a feeling. It is an action.
Frank Blake, the former CEO of Home Depot, wrote handwritten thank-you notes every Sunday. Managers, hourly workers, warehouse staff, front-line employees. He wrote more than 25,000 notes. Not emails or Slack messages. Pen on paper. It is like he already knew the research. A Glassdoor study found that:
80 % of employees would work harder for an appreciative boss.
70% said they would feel better about themselves if their boss thanked them more often.
Leadership is a giant mirror. When you show appreciation, people reflect it back through effort, care, and ownership. When you ignore them, they reflect that too. If you want to be a leader people remember, not because you were in charge, but because you made their life better, gratitude is the path.
On this day before Thanksgiving, I am grateful for you and your willingness to invest your time, energy, and effort into your leadership development or the development of others.
Happy Thanksgiving,
John Eades
Founder of LearnLoft | The Sales Infrastructure
This Week’s Poll Question
I have a year-end surprise coming, and let’s just say it has a little Optimistic Outlook energy behind it. I will be giving away a meaningful leadership gift before Christmas. Anyone who answers this poll is entered to win!
Which group at work are you most grateful for in your leadership journey this year?
Last week’s results: What emotion do people MOST often get from you under pressure? (14,572 subscribers)
Calm (37%)
Confidence (30%)
Frustration (14%)
Uncertainty (6%)
Other (13%)
How Do You Lead With Gratitude Even When It’s Not Easy (Podcast)
Gratitude changes how you feel without changing your circumstances. In this episode, John explains why gratitude is a leadership advantage, not a soft skill.
John shares real examples from his own life, research on recognition and appreciation, the handwritten note habit of Frank Blake from Home Depot, and three areas where leaders often withhold gratitude even though it fuels growth. If you want to become a leader people remember for the right reasons, gratitude must be part of your daily practice. Listen and start today.
The Optimistic Outlook (Newsletter)
The Optimistic Outlook is a daily newsletter designed to remind you to focus on the bright side, one day at a time. Join 1200+ leaders who are already improving their Optimistic Outlook.
The Optimistic Outlook is now available wherever you listen to podcasts. Channel your inner John Eades and make your kids listen to it, then read it aloud to work on their minds and communication skills.
The Teamwork Advantage (Workshop)
If your team has an offsite, strategic planning session, or quarterly kickoff coming up, now is the moment to strengthen how they work together.
One hour introduces the formula for elite teamwork.
Two hours gives time to practice with real scenarios.
Four hours equips them with repeatable systems they will use every day.
Teams that wait hope the problems go away. Teams that act build trust, alignment, and shared ownership.
Schedule your session, choose the duration that fits your agenda, and start building a true advantage. Click below to secure a date.
Here Are Some Ways We Could Partner:
The Proven Approach to Help Employees Develop Leadership Skills: Bring the Accelerate Leadership Program or Catalyst for Growth Program in-house for a customized experience for your team members. Programs include virtual or in-person instructor-led training, a Leadership Growth Plan, and group coaching to ensure real-world mastery.
The Personalized Mindset and Skill Shift: Work 1-on-1 with me or one of our certified coaches to achieve your goals, strengthen critical skills, and address your most pressing challenges. This 6-month program focuses on mindset and execution for tangible, lasting outcomes. Show me more
The Engaged and Inspired Audience: There are two available dates left in 2025, and we are now booking into 2026. John’s new keynote, “The Teamwork Advantage,” has been a hit for organizations. Hit reply on this note, or check out some of our recent talks here.
