Today I want to share something that has made a huge impact on our team here at DaniJohnson.com/Destiny Global and helped us to grow as a team and a family. It’s something you can easily do in your own company or family. It cultivates gratitude and appreciation, while genuinely pulling the best out of each individual involved.

Twice a year – usually in June and December – we close the office for half a day and meet up with our entire team. Every single person who is employed by any of our companies comes together for a time to celebrate every person on the team.

We have done this since I first started in business. I’ve always been a big believer in showing appreciation for the people you work with, because that kind of encouragement goes further than you might ever imagine. People will work harder for appreciation than they will for anything else – more than a big bonus, more than an important title. Appreciation waters the soul. Not only that, but it makes you feel better!

This past weekend, we had our year-end celebration. My amazing friend and coworker, Jenn Rachford, and her husband Marty opened their home for the night, and we filled the house with more than 30 people – including every spouse.

As everyone began arriving, we had some time to just mingle with each other in a totally different environment. It’s very casual, and it’s a great time to give hugs, ask about the family and catch up on life outside of work. We started the evening with a traditional Shabbat celebration, complete with wine and homemade challah bread. And then we feasted! We had a beautiful salad, and I had spent the entire day making huge pans of my homemade lasagna and tiramisu. I’m telling you, we know how to party!

After that, we went into the next phase of the celebration. We all gathered together in the living room to just celebrate each other. Each person shared one or two accomplishments they are most proud of from this year, and followed by a time when we spoke encouragement over that individual. It was so powerful! We got to hear what people admire and appreciate about one another, and how each person impacted the lives of their friends and coworkers. There was so much gratitude in the room that night!

Every single person in the company walks away feeling so special, so important, so valued, as well as challenged with “What do I want my coworkers to say about me in the next 6 months?” Or maybe they heard someone say something about a person and they’ll think, “I want to be spoken about in that way. What do I have to do to up my game to be seen that way?”

It’s so important for your team to have fun together. Doing things like this just puts people into a different mindset, as they relate to each other in a new way, in a fresh environment. It’s not all about work… it’s about all of our families, our interests outside of work, our personal goals. We get to know each other on a much deeper level by doing things like this.

Everything we do at DaniJohnson.com/Destiny Global helps to change lives, communities, families and businesses. Our every action sets people up for financial independence, helps them to dream again, to live a fulfilled life, to get their spiritual life right and to groom their children for greatness. Everything our staff does is so dynamically important – every piece of paper that’s touched, every program that’s put together, every computer glitch that’s fixed, every single thing somebody on our team does, is so deeply important.

So this is something we have done for years and we know its benefits, not only to our team, but to us as individuals, as well. Hearing all the greatness inside of our team causes us to appreciate them even more. It’s a moment to pause and say, “Wow, look how far they have come!”

So I want to challenge you today. Before the year ends, make time to do this! Gather your team – whether that team is your employees, your family, the people you manage. And even if you work for a company who won’t do this, YOU can do this for your team!

Just modify it to make it fit the needs of your team! If you don’t want to cook an entire meal, then make it a potluck at your house. Have everyone over for drinks and desserts. It doesn’t have to be expensive. All that matters is creating an opportunity to recognize those around you at work.

And parents, you can do this with your kids! You can even set up a bonus system for the kids, recognizing their improvements and how far they have come. Kids need to experience this type of nurturing and uplifting encouragement, too.

You still have time to do this before the year is over. Go for it! Find a way to make it happen!

If you want to dynamically grow your influence, create loyalty and longevity in the workplace, massively increase productivity, boost company morale, and create a culture of gratitude within your workplace, this simple little thing will help you get there. You’ll be amazed how powerful this is!

So here’s to a great end of the year for you and your family! Have an awesome time making this kind of gathering happen for you and the people you love and work with every day! Please let me know if you’ve ever done something like this, or how you plan to begin a new tradition, in the comments below. I really want to hear – and share – your ideas!

Then, don’t forget to join me today for The Dani Johnson Show, when we discuss more of these insider tips and strategies for success! You can tune in on your TV and radio and please remember you can always stream today’s show right here on our website.

In great faith,

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