The most widely read piece I’ve written for this newsletter was my Thanksgiving article from 2004. I’m reprinting it with a few changes--mostly new websites that have become indispensable. Also, although I maintained that the list was in no special order, in deference to my son Robert’s expression of dismay, I have ranked the support of my family above UPS this year.

Who isn’t thinking about gratitude this time of year? With Thanksgiving around the corner and no stuffing to prepare—our extended family celebrates at a nearby hotel—my thoughts turned to appreciation of my life as an entrepreneur. My list is randomly written, though you’ll notice three major threads: relationships, technology and lifestyle. Also, the really, truly, deeply things are in italics.

1. The freedom to own my own business
2. Support of my family (this is a big one)
3. UPS
4. Networking groups
5. My mastermind group
6. Home office I can work in at 5:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning
7. Being in charge of my destiny
8. Flexibility in my schedule
9. My computer (most of the time)
10. Email (most of the time)
11. The World Wide Web
12. Constant Contact
13. My web designer
14. My writers group
15. My customers/clients
16. My coach
17. Having a SEP account (Simplified Employee Pension)
18. Wireless mouse
19. Fax
20. Digital camera
21. PDF’s, JPEG’s, TIF’s and GIF’s
22. Radio Shack countdown timer –for when I need to get started on an onerous task and tell myself I can do it for just 5 minutes and time it
23. The telephone
24. Color printers
25. Kinko’s (occasionally)
26. Professional associations – NSA, ICF, ASID, EWN + more
27. Back-up systems
28. Wall calendars
29. Getting press
30. Amazon.com
31. Graphic Designers
32. The New York Times
33. My mentors – Doreen, Nancy, Betsy, Jessica and Noreen
34. Continuing Education
35. Teleclasses
36. Professional Organizers
37. The Container Store
38. Ergonomic chairs
39. Scanners
40. An identity kit I love – my logo, matching stationery, etc.
41. A press kit I’m delighted to send
42. The Treo (combination cell phone + PDA – one less thing to carry)
43. InFocus projector – only 2 pounds!
44. Filing systems
45. Quicken
46. ACT for contact management
47. PowerPoint
48. Word
49. Excel
50. My computer support team
51. My virtual assistant, Tonya
52. Photocopiers ( still call it Xerox, even though mine’s a Minolta)
53. Master notebook – call me; I’ll explain!
54. Tickler File
55. A well-designed office space
56. A 2100+ page dictionary on a stand
57. USPS Stamps by mail
58. Online Banking
59. Choosing my colleagues
60. Committing to annual, monthly and daily goals
61. A purpose
62. Self-stick stamps
63. Priority Mail
64. A postal scale, so I don’t have to stand in line at the Post Office
65. Caller ID
66. Rechargeable batteries
67. Deadlines
68. Extensions
69. Contracts
70. The delete key
71. Undo (Ctrl Z)
72. Keyboard shortcuts – not always having to use the mouse
73. Google
74. Google images
75. Bookmarks
76. Mapquest.com – even with its shortcomings
77. Business Conferences
78. Trade Shows
79. Word-of-mouth referrals (giving and receiving)
80. Testimonials
81. Receiving thank you notes
82. Office Supply Superstores
83. Refillable inkjet cartridges
84. CD/DVD burners
85. Switchboard.com for finding names and phone numbers
86. Those little gizmos that hold a gig of memory
87. Knowing what a gig is
88. Travel expenses
89. Book recommendations that help me grow (most recently Leadership and Self-Deception)
90. Checks in the mail
91. My clients’ successes – Malene’s new textile line, Ellen’s book deal
92. Working in my robe and slippers
93. Owning more sweat suits than business suits
94. Loving what I do
95. Looking forward to Monday mornings
96. No boss
97. Creating my own future
98. Living in a country where entrepreneurship is supported
99. SCORE
100. Writing off lunch (I know, I know—only ½ is deductible)
101. Contributing to this way of life through the taxes I pay

See if you can find a pocket of time to put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, this season. See how this exercise stimulates your mind and your heart. Send me your list. Let me know if I can help.