No matter the cards, it's gratitude that makes you a winner | C. Douglas Renick | TEDxMSU
Charles Douglas Renick brings a lifetime of reflection and leadership to the stage in a talk centered on the transformative power of gratitude. Drawing from personal experience, decades of executive leadership at Merrill Lynch, and 50 years of studying and teaching gratitude, Renick shares how a gratitude-centered perspective can unlock resilience, fulfillment, and lasting success.Beginning with a powerful story he often shared throughout his career, Renick illustrates how life has far exceeded anything he could have imagined as a young graduate. Now at 70, facing personal health challenges, he is more passionate than ever about sharing gratitude as a tool for navigating adversity and reconnecting with purpose.His talk will take the audience on a three-part journey: stories of lives changed through gratitude, research showing its measurable impact on relationships, health, and performance, and practical steps to help individuals cultivate gratitude in their own lives. With insight, humility, and hope, Renick invites us to reframe how we see the world—and ourselves—through the lens of gratitude. Renick brings more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry to both his coaching practice and speaking engagements. Over the course of his career, Renick has had the opportunity to speak at over 2,500 events, including speeches, seminars, and town halls. Through these presentations, he has inspired countless colleagues and clients with insights, practical advice, and exceptional leadership. His work has helped shape the careers of many in the industry. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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