How do we keep doing our best while finding ways to do even better?

This question has been on my mind a lot lately. It’s a question every entrepreneur regularly confronts.

Right now, our office is still soaring over our recent recognition as one of the Top 50 producing teams in the country. It’s especially remarkable considering the relatively small size of the Treasure Coast marketplace, particularly when compared to other real-estate markets in the nation.

My team deserves so much credit for making it possible. I’m very blessed to work with them. Each one dedicates their unique talents to their individualized specialty within the Patrick Stracuzzi Real Estate Team system—which was carefully crafted to ensure the most enjoyable process and best outcome for our clients. And our recent ranking testifies to the functionality of our approach.

But how do we keep doing our best while finding ways to do even better?

This is where I must look in the mirror. I’m a natural optimist and can’t imagine any other outlook. I realize that I’ve been blessed beyond measure. Just to have the love of my wife, Susan, and our four children and four grandchildren, is enough to maintain my sunny perspective. And I’m extremely grateful for my health.

As I’ve shared before, when you survive an accident with a Mack truck—and the long recuperation it entails—to stand here today, just to be able to stand—gives me a sense of gratitude that all the words in the world can’t convey.

That gratitude is the energy I harness to inspire my team. But to inspire, I have a responsibility to myself to remain inspired. But even as upbeat as I am, there are times when I get down. That’s when I go to my phone and bring up a video of Nick Vujicic. This amazing young man from Melbourne, Australia, was born without arms or legs—with no medical explanation as to why.

Although he struggled with his disability, loneliness, and depression, he’s become one of the world’s most sought-after speakers. He’s a devout Christian, leads a ministry called Life Without Limbs, speaks annually to thousands of people, and shares a powerful message of hope and encouragement. Although he feared going through life alone, he’s married the woman of his dreams and now has a family.

At a point during his talks, he lies on this stomach.

“I’m done here, face down, and I have no arms and no legs,” he says. “It should be impossible for me to get back up. But it’s not. I will try 100 times to get up and if I fail 100 times, if I fail and I give up, do you think that I’m ever going to get up? No. But if I fail, I try again and again. For as long as try, there is always that chance of me getting back up.”

With that, maneuvering his body and even using with forehead for leverage, he gets up.

Some of you may have seen Nick speak last Friday at Christ Fellowship Church in Port St. Lucie. I had the great privilege of meeting him in person at a John Maxwell speaking event—and the privilege of “hugging” Nick, which he accomplishes with a sincere lean. But the overwhelming warmth is there, and so is his profound sense of gratitude.

Getting better at gratitude—at showing it and at giving it away—is how, I believe, we bring out the best in others, and along the way get better at doing our very best.