Not long ago, a woman who was considering self-employment asked me if I’m happy being a business owner. I told her that I am, and that’s basically true.

But looking back there’s something else that I wish I’d shared with her. In my 14+ years as an entrepreneur I’ve experienced both highs and lows, yet through it all I’ve consciously tried to stay focused on my blessings. In fact, cultivating and demonstrating a sense of gratitude for having the chance to own a business and help other people has been the secret ingredient behind any lasting success I’ve experienced.

With gratitude comes concern for the well-being of each client and an all-in dedication to helping them achieve their goals. Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s that personal commitment to each client that moves relationships beyond just satisfactory business transactions to lasting partnerships.

Cultivating gratitude and letting that drive how you build client relationships sounds so simple. However, in my experience the reward for doing this can be huge — both in terms of personal fulfillment and profit.

Give yourself and your clients a rare and precious gift. Consciously cultivate and demonstrate your sense of gratitude. Make the effort to do this every day and you may become a far happier and more successful business owner than you ever imagined.