This Community Voices column is written by Rachel DesRochers, a serial entrepreneur in the Greater Cincinnati Region who builds companies through the lens of spreading the message of gratitude & building community.
If there’s one thing the last decade of my life has taught me, it’s that entrepreneurship will stretch you in every direction. It will grow you, humble you, crack you open, and teach you who you really are. And through all of that, the tool that has steadied me the most—the one that I return to repeatedly —is gratitude.
In the beginning, gratitude was simply how I reminded myself to stay present. When you start something new—whether it’s a business, a project, or a dream—you’re constantly looking ahead. What’s next? What do I need to fix? How do I grow this? Gratitude helped me slow down long enough to notice what was already working. It helped me hold onto the tiny moments of joy and clarity that can be so easy to miss when your head is down and your heart is racing.
Over time, I realized that gratitude wasn’t just making me feel better. It was making me braver. When I could anchor myself in what I was thankful for—people who believed in me, lessons I was learning, opportunities I never expected—I was able to face uncertainty with more softness and a lot more courage.
I’ve had seasons where things were moving so quickly, I could barely keep up, and seasons where everything felt stuck. Gratitude didn’t magically solve those problems, but it did help me see differently. Instead of spiraling into fear or scarcity, gratitude helped me ask better questions: What is this teaching me? What support is already around me? What can I appreciate, even here? That shift—finding even the smallest point of light—carried me through more decisions than any strategy book ever has.
Gratitude strengthens community and business. When we acknowledge others—to say “thank you,” to recognize someone’s impact, to express appreciation for even the smallest help—we build relationships rooted in trust. And honestly, trust is the real foundation of entrepreneurship. Gratitude turns networks into communities, colleagues into partners, and challenges into shared growth.
Most importantly, gratitude is accessible. You don’t need money, time, or a perfect morning routine. You just need intention. If you’re looking to begin—or return to—your own gratitude practice, here are three simple ways to start:
1. Notice one thing a day.
Not ten. Just one. Something real. Something small. A conversation, a moment of encouragement, a solved problem, a deep breath. The practice isn’t about writing pages—it’s about intentionality.
2. End your day with reflection instead of reaction.
Before you fall into bed and mentally replay everything that went wrong, pause and ask: What worked today? What did I learn? Who supported me? This tiny shift creates space for peace, clarity, and resilience.
3. Say it out loud.
Tell someone you’re grateful for them. Send a text. Give a quick thank-you. Share a moment of appreciation with your team. When gratitude moves from thought to expression, it multiplies. It changes the energy of a room, a relationship, and often, the work itself.
Gratitude is about allowing yourself to see the whole picture—the struggle and the growth, the challenge and the possibility. When I look back at my own journey, gratitude is the thread that weaves it all together. It’s what reminds me why I became an entrepreneur.
And the beautiful thing is you can start right now. One moment. One breath. Gratitude meets you exactly where you are and from there, it can shift everything.
If you have an idea for a Community Voices column, email Meghan Goth at mgoth@linknky.com.
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