Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association
Some time ago, I was sitting on an airplane, and boarding was nearly complete. I was in the first row and the seat next to me was empty. I was excited because I would have the seat to hold my things while I worked. Just before it was time to close the doors, a large man entered the cabin. It was Travis Kelce, an All-Pro football player for the Kansas City Chiefs, who was recently quite notorious as Taylor Swift’s beau. He took the seat next to me. I had my arm on the armrest, and he placed his next to mine. I quickly moved my scrawny limb. I discreetly looked over at him with his sculpted physique and rugged good looks, and I thought to myself, “Wow! If only I looked like that!”
I recently read a report published in the Wall Street Journal titled “The Pay Raise People Say They Need to be Happy.” It reviewed a survey by Empower that involved 2,000 people from all walks of life, and income ranges—from very low to very high. The respondents, who had a median salary of $65,000 a year, said that a median of $95,000 would make them happy. The highest earners, with a median income of $250,000, gave a response of $350,000. A study published in the National Academy of Sciences last year found that people who randomly received $10,000 tended to get a happiness boost that lasted for six months. Finally, seven in 10 respondents in the Empower survey said that they strongly or somewhat agreed with the statement that “Having more money would solve most of my problems” and, of course, “Make me happier.”
How often do we find ourselves thinking, “I would be happier if only I had more money, was better looking, were taller or shorter, younger or older, smarter, could sing beautifully, or a great athlete.”? The list is endless and personal.
Now, I admit that I am the Jedi master of the “if only” quandary, and because of my mastery, I can tell you unabashedly—it is a “fool’s errand.”
In a presentation titled “Hallmarks of Happiness,” former Excell Trust CEO Gary B. Sabin made the following observation, “You will never be happier than you are grateful!”
He further stated, “Failure to appreciate what we have can result in a sense of dissatisfaction, which can rob us of joy and happiness that gratitude engenders.”
Sabin’s observation struck a chord with me as I considered my own experience. I believe I intuitively understood this about gratitude but had never deeply considered it. Upon closer examination, I came to realize the correctness of his observation and also that being grateful is a choice. This choice is only about me—not about my circumstance, not about my personal condition, and certainly not about others. I realize that many things are influenced by the stuff that happens around and to us, but feeling gratitude is completely under my control.
Expressing gratitude is also necessary for happiness and there are benefits both personally and professionally. At a personal level, practicing gratitude shifts our focus from what we are lacking to what we have. It promotes a more positive outlook on life. This enhances our overall quality of life and make us more resilient we are challenged.
On the professional side, acknowledging efforts in the workplace can lead to a more motivated and engaged team. Employees who feel appreciated are more productive and committed to their work.
A culture of gratitude can transform the work environment, making it more collaborative and supportive. This can lead to higher employee retention and satisfaction.
Showing gratitude to clients and partners can strengthen business relationships. It demonstrates professionalism and can lead to increased loyalty and referral. On the other hand, unexpressed gratitude accomplishes nothing.
Just think, if we want a happier life and more success professionally, it can start with the simple acts of feeling and expressing gratitude. A small investment that brings huge returns.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Russell B. Leavitt, CFPS, SET, is Executive Chairman & Board Member of Telgian Holdings, Inc. Russell Leavitt’s Telgian roots can be traced to the genesis of the company. In 1990, he co-founded Fire Design Group, which merged with Tomes, Van Rickley and Associates (TVA) in 1991. He subsequently served in numerous executive positions including TVA Fire and Life Safety President, Managing Member of Fire Materials Group, LLC, and CEO of Telgian. Today, Leavitt serves as the Executive Chairman for Telgian Holdings, Inc., as well as the Chairman of Telgian Fire Safety and Telgian Engineering & Consulting.
Leavitt is active in numerous trade and professional associations and holds several leadership positions. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors as Immediate Past Chair of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), he has served as the Chair of the NFPA 13 Technical Committee for Fire Sprinkler System Discharge Criteria and continues to serve as a Principal Member. He is also a Principal Member of the NFPA Technical Committee for Installation and a Principal Member of NFPA 3 and NFPA 4. Leavitt also represents NFPA 13 on the Technical Committee for NFPA 909 (Code for the Protection of Cultural Resource Properties) and 914 (Code for the Protection of Historic Structures).
Throughout his career, he has authored numerous articles and training guides, including the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) Beginning Inspector Training Program and the AFSA Online Hydraulics Training Program. In addition, he is a major contributor to several NFPA Handbooks and served as the subject matter expert for numerous NFPA live and online training programs.
Leavitt shares his more than 40 years of experience in the fire protection industry by conducting training presentations for many professional and industry organizations including the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), NFPA, and AFSA.
In 2013, he received the AFSA Henry S. Parmelee Award for dedication to the professional advancement of the fire sprinkler industry and improvement of fire safety through automatic sprinklers. He is also the recipient of the NFPA Standards Council Special Achievement Award in 2018 for his leadership of the task group which completely reorganized NFPA 13 for the 2019 edition.
Leavitt is a Level IV NICET certified technician and Certified Fire Protection Specialist who holds fire protection contracting licenses in multiple states. He is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
