Stay Grateful

Stay Grateful

“Stay Grateful” is the personal mantra of Mike Campbell, Tom Petty’s bandmate and longtime friend.

I recently read Heartbreaker, the memoir of Campbell, who Rolling Stone named to its top 200 guitarists of all time. I’d read it out of curiosity about Petty (being a Gainesville, Florida native as well) and certainly learned a great deal about Petty, Campbell (from Jacksonville) and others from the area. (As an aside, his co-author, Ari Surdoval, did a marvelous job weaving the story together.)

Even more so, I got a reminder from Campbell on the importance of gratitude, over and over. From escaping modest means (first in Jacksonville, then scuffling along in a farmhouse outside of Gainesville and a series of apartments in Los Angeles) to finally hit it big. From playing covers of The Byrds and Bob Dylan to playing on tour with Roger McGuinn (founder of The Byrds) and Bob Dylan, saying to himself that if only that poor Jacksonville kid could see himself now on stage with them.

Grateful. Over and over. Despite—or because of—his own status and acclaim.

In fast-paced environments—bands, boardrooms, locker rooms, or classrooms—it’s easy to overlook gratitude. But practicing gratitude isn’t just a nice gesture; it’s a leadership strategy with deep impact.

Research shows that gratitude reduces stress, strengthens relationships, and even improves sleep and immune function. For leaders—whether you’re managing a team, coaching athletes, or guiding students—your emotional tone sets the standard. When you model gratitude, you’re not just boosting your own well-being, you’re creating a ripple effect that impacts everyone around you.

And so often, it rubs off. It’s inviting. It’s not unusual for students, our players, and our employees often find themselves adopting our most winsome and inviting aspects. Gratitude is one of those.

Plus, a leader who consistently expresses appreciation cultivates trust and loyalty. People feel seen. They feel valued. That’s true whether you’re thanking an employee for going the extra mile, a player for their discipline, or a student for their effort. The message is simple but powerful: What you do matters.

Gratitude also helps leaders stay grounded. In challenging seasons, it shifts focus from what’s broken to what’s working. That mindset shift fuels resilience. It’s not about ignoring problems—it’s about facing them with perspective and balance.

Gratitude isn’t soft. It’s strong. And it may be one of the most underutilized tools we have in leadership today.

And at the end of the day, it changes how we see the world.

Campbell stayed grateful even when his pay was cut in half. At one point during their time in the band, the finances were changed to give a larger share to Tom Petty than the other four – the Heartbreakers. When the Heartbreakers asked about the reason for the change from equal shares, the manager said, “He’s Tom Petty.”

The other three members understandably chafed, but Campbell helped hold the band together with his attitude: “He was right. He WAS Tom Petty. I was grateful to be part of it.”

Stay Grateful. Let’s not wait for Thanksgiving to practice it.

Or better yet, treat every day as Thanksgiving.

Have a great day and Stay Grateful!

~ Nathan