GROW: Gratitude as a Leadership Practice

This week, let’s pause. The most outstanding leaders don't just achieve; they appreciate why gratitude is your most powerful tool.

Issue #111, November 25, 2025

Welcome back, G-Tribe.

If you're a new reader, welcome to G.R.O.W. (Guidance Redefines Our Way), the weekly newsletter from A Few Good MENtors.

If last week was about discipline, making that hard health appointment, this week is about reflection. As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s easy to focus on the food, the football, and the time off. But as leaders and mentors, we need to focus on the gratitude.

Gratitude isn't just a holiday feeling; it's a practice that defines great leadership. It shifts your focus from what you lack to what you have, which is critical for maintaining motivation and inspiring others.

This week, we're talking about how to use gratitude to build a better career, a stronger mentorship, and a more resilient mindset.

Real leaders don't just build successes. They appreciate the people, the opportunities, and the lessons that made those successes possible.

Growth Spotlight: Gratitude Grows Leaders: Giving Thanks & Giving Back

True leadership isn't just about giving orders; it's about seeing value. Gratitude is the mechanism for that.

It Builds Resilience: When you practice gratitude, you recognize that even during tough times (like managing health challenges or professional setbacks), you still have resources and supportive people.

It Boosts Performance: Studies show that grateful employees are generally more motivated, more engaged, and less susceptible to burnout. Giving thanks to your team costs nothing but multiplies loyalty and effort.

It Sharpens Mentorship: The best mentors aren't just teachers; they are thankful for the chance to lead. When you express gratitude to a mentee for letting you be a part of their journey, you validate their trust and strengthen the entire relationship.

🎯 Your Challenge This Week:

Write down three people you are professionally grateful for right now. Then, reach out to them specifically to tell them why. Don't send a generic "Happy Thanksgiving" text; send a specific email or text detailing one thing they did this year that helped you grow.

Professional Growth Gateway: Leading with a Spirit of Abundance

When you operate from a mindset of scarcity, you see every win as zero-sum—someone else has to lose for you to succeed. Leaders who practice gratitude lead with an abundance mindset.

Here's how to lead with a spirit of abundance in your career:

1. Share the Credit: The ultimate sign of a confident leader is sharing the spotlight. When a project succeeds, explicitly name the people who made it happen. This model of generosity for young professionals.

2. Mentor, Don't Gatekeep: An abundance mindset believes there is enough opportunity for everyone. Instead of hoarding knowledge to maintain power, share your expertise freely with young men. This is the core mission of A Few Good MENtors.

3. Appreciate the Process, Not Just the Win: Running a marathon (or a business) is hard. If you only celebrate the finish line, you miss thanking the people who supported you through the grueling training. Be grateful for the feedback, the late nights, and the challenges that forced you to get stronger.

Action Point

Audit your last three professional "wins." Did you celebrate them by sharing credit or taking credit? Next time, actively highlight a team member or mentee who contributed to your success.

Success Spotlight: Stories of Mentorship Rooted in Gratitude

These men use their influence to normalize vulnerability and help-seeking through thankfulness.

John Cena: Gratitude Through Giving Back

WWE superstar and actor John Cena demonstrates his gratitude to his fans and the world not just with words, but with unparalleled action. He holds the record for granting over 650 wishes for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Cena often states he will "drop everything" to grant a wish, showing that he views his platform as a gift to be shared, not just a source of wealth. This commitment is the ultimate expression of an abundance mindset and profound thankfulness.

Denzel Washington: Gratitude in the Fight

Iconic actor and mentor Denzel Washington consistently speaks about faith, humility, and the simple but profound power of saying "Thank You." His commencement speeches often focus on using your unique gift to serve others and acknowledging the mentors and divine grace that lifted you up. His message teaches young men that success means nothing unless you remain grounded in gratitude and commitment to service.

Action Point

These men didn't get better on their own. They showed gratitude for the people and opportunities that were there when they needed them most. Ask yourself: Who was your lifeline this year? Send thanks today.

Michael’s Hot Take: Airport Manners, Sweatpants, and the Real Thanksgiving Check-In

Alright, G-Tribe, let’s talk travel. Or more specifically, let’s talk about how your joggers and hoodie might now be considered a national threat to aviation civility. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s brand-new “The Golden Age of Travel Starts With You” campaign, the solution to unruly passenger behavior isn’t just more legroom or better flight service; it’s you dressing with “respect” when you go to the airport.

Let me get this straight: we’ve got rising flight cancellations, luggage fees that require a second mortgage, and Wi-Fi that barely loads an email, but the real crisis is... people not wearing hard-bottom shoes to board Southwest Flight 294 to Cleveland?

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for manners. I grew up in a household where “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me” were mandatory, and helping elders with their bags wasn’t a favor—it was a requirement. But it seems a little rich that in the middle of a season meant to highlight gratitude, community, and deeper connection, our national leadership is offering a fashion critique as the first-class ticket to civility.

Let’s be clear: dressing up won’t fix bad behavior any more than a tie turns a toxic boss into a good leader. The problem isn’t athleisure. The problem is attitude. We’ve built a culture that worships convenience but forgets compassion. We want priority boarding, express lanes, and digital shortcuts, but we struggle to make eye contact with the flight attendant handing us pretzels.

So here’s my hot take: this Thanksgiving, if you really want to honor the “golden age” of anything travel, family, or freedom, don’t just iron your slacks. Iron out your ego.

Before you correct someone else’s clothing, check your tone. Before you post that comment on social media, ask yourself if you’d say it in person at baggage claim. Before you argue with your cousin about politics over dinner, try leading with curiosity instead of arguing.

Because the truth is, the golden age of travel or of leadership, brotherhood, or community doesn’t start with a campaign or a slogan. It begins with each of us being a little more intentional, a little more patient, and yes, a little more respectful. Not just in what we wear, but in how we carry ourselves.

Thanksgiving is a time when we’re supposed to be grateful for the people around us, not judging them from 30,000 feet in the air. So whether you’re traveling across the country or across town, lead with gratitude, not attitude.

If you see me at the airport this holiday season, I might be in a hoodie and sneakers, but best believe, I’ll still be the one holding the door, helping with the overhead bin, and saying thank you like I was taught.

Because real respect? It’s not about what’s on your body, it’s about what’s in your heart.

Happy Thanksgiving, G-Tribe. Travel well, lead better, and wherever you land bring the grace with you.

Michael

Watch & Learn: Leadership Through Appreciation

This week, watch these powerful conversations about gratitude and resilience:

The Power of Choosing Gratitude: This TEDx Talk by Tye Dutcher explores how making a conscious choice to be grateful can profoundly alter your life, a crucial lesson for leadership during challenging times.

Denzel Washington: Say "Thank You": Hear Denzel Washington's powerful message on the importance of gratitude, faith, and humility as the foundation for a successful and meaningful life.

Action Point

Watch one of these videos. Then tell someone you know that you are grateful for them.

Upcoming Events

2025 NVBCC Annual Meeting & Holiday Gala

Celebrate Excellence | Elevate Connection | Embrace Community

When: December 12, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Where: Washington Dulles Airport Marriott
Who: Business leaders, veterans, and community builders in the DMV region

This is your chance to network with veteran business leaders, celebrate community excellence, and build connections that matter. If you're in the DC, Maryland, or Virginia area, mark your calendar.

Learn more and register: NVBCC.ORG

New Mentor Training Course (NMTC 26-01)

Start the year with purpose by stepping into mentorship. This is the first training of 2026 and a strong way to put service on your New Year’s list.

Date: January 17, 2026
Time: 10am to 2pm

This 4-hour interactive session is required for all mentors. You’ll cover
• A clear overview of A Few Good MENtors, Inc
• How to improve your listening skills
• What today’s youth are facing and how to connect with them
• Hands-on activities that strengthen your approach

You’ll leave equipped to mentor with clarity and confidence.

Register here:
https://afgmentoring.dm.networkforgood.com/forms/mentor-volunteer-form

Join A Few Good MENtors:

• Be a Mentee: Learn what leadership looks like from men who've served something bigger than themselves.

• Volunteer as a Mentor: If you're a veteran, your service isn't over. Young men need what you have to offer.

• Share G.R.O.W.: Forward this newsletter to a veteran in your life and ask them how they're continuing to serve.

Real men don't just serve once. They serve for life, one mentee at a time, one example at a time, one act of leadership at a time.