Why Gratitude, Not Hustle, Built My Most Successful Creative Years
How Gratitude Became My Most Profitable Strategy
For years, Thanksgiving felt complicated for me.
The history. The truth behind it. The discomfort of celebrating something built on harm and silence.
This year, something shifted.
Not in the holiday, but in the way I hold space for gratitude.
Not performative gratitude.
Not the social media kind.
But the grounded kind that keeps you steady when life is heavy or uncertain.
Here is what that looks like for a creative entrepreneur.
1. Gratitude is not fluffy. It is strategy.
Thirteen years ago, my entire life fit into a backpack and a paid off 4Runner.
I did not have momentum.
I did not have a team.
But I had willingness.
The willingness to keep showing up became the foundation for everything I built after.
2. The lesson that changed how I plan
Five years ago, Todd Herman shared one simple habit.
Every Sunday he maps out his entire week: meetings, training, commitments, everything.
That structure changed the way I moved.
It created intentionality instead of chaos.
It gave me clarity before the week even started.
3. Gratitude and planning work together
Gratitude created discipline.
Planning created speed.
Together they built:
A thriving creative business
A million dollar home
A company that eventually sold
A building with 50 percent ROI
None of that came from hustling harder.
It came from steady, grounded consistency.
4. If you want a year that feels aligned and profitable
On December 4, we are gathering live to map out your 2026 with intention.
You do not need to wait for a fresh start.
You can choose it now.
If you want in, reply with “I am in” and I will save your spot.
More soon,
Ashley
