Meeting the Challenge of Remaining Positive
November 24th, 2006 by Cristina Favreau
When asked what the secret to the success of her business was, Lucy Garrighan, president of Business Alternatives Inc., replied:
“I guess it is always remaining positive about what you are doing and working hard. If you believe you cannot fail, [then] most likely you won’t, and working hard goes along with this. I think it is so true that ‘the harder you work the luckier you are!’ We all get frustrated with difficulties, but I really believe that if you want to find the rainbow, [then] you have to put up with a little rain now and then.” Garrighan adds that she constantly reminds herself that “it could always be worse.” (Imprints of Success, by Amy Yard, September 2001 e-magnify.com)
Her answer inspired me to write about the value and importance of remaining positive while running your small business.
As entrepreneurs, it’s easy to get discouraged. The tricky thing about being positive is that it’s an attitude, not a feeling. It’s a state of mind that is self-induced. Yes, that’s right! YOU have control over whether you have a positive attitude or not. It has nothing to do with what happens to you (go to a cancer ward in your local hospital, and you’ll understand what I mean). How often do you hand that control over to someone — or something — else: Family, friends, clients, colleagues, or your bank account?
The truth is, you can allow yourself to let these external factors control you, usually causing a negative attitude, or you can CHOOSE to achieve and sustain a positive outlook. How? I believe it must be cultivated and learned. Here are 3 ways I’ve learned to keep a positive attitude:
- Surround yourself with positive things and positive people. Read a motivational book for 20 minutes each morning. Use positive affirmations. Write in a gratitude journal at the end of the day. Surround yourself with positive people that encourage you to be your best self. Set very strong boundaries with chronically negative people; protect yourself and send a message to them that you care enough about yourself to avoid negativity.
- Change your language. Instead of saying how you CAN’T do something, find ways you CAN. Speak of your less desirable personality traits in the past (“In the past, I have tended to be negative.”). This is a powerful tool, but in order for it to work, you can’t fake it. For a shift to occur, what you say must be authentic and true, just said in a positive way. This takes effort, but in time, you’ll find that you do this automatically.
- Turn a negative experience into a learning experience. There is always something good to be found in a negative situation. Search for and draw your attention to the positive. Instead of berating yourself after making a mistake, learn from the experience and move on. What did you learn about yourself or your business? What skills did you develop?
If you’re absolutely stuck in negativity and feel there’s no way out, ask a friend or hire a coach to help you gain the right perspective, get support and brainstorm together to find a resolution.
A positive attitude rubs off and clients will notice. The same is true if you’re negative, and no one likes being around someone negative. Positive people seek those who are positive, so ask yourself what sort of people do you want to attract (or repel)?
The effort is well worth it. You’ll enjoy higher productivity, better relationships, better health and you’ll be happier.
Copyright. Cristina Favreau. All rights reserved.
ABOUT CRISTINA
Cristina Favreau specializes in helping service professionals who love what they do, but struggle with marketing & self-promotion. If you want to create a super-charged, client-generating, customized 28-day action plan, she would love to help! Cristina’s Get Clients Now(TM) program is your chance to have her by your side for next 28 days, including 3 hours of one-on-one time and an endless supply of tools and strategies to keep you on track and get you unstuck throughout the month. Check out www.cristinafavreau.com/gcn.htm for details.
NOTE: You’re welcome to “reprint” this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered, including the “ABOUT CRISTINA” info above. Please send a copy of your reprint to web (at) cristinafavreau (dot) com.
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This is a great post. I also love the music idea. Everyone has a piece of music that uplifts them, you just need to keep it in your head and sing it real loud. Bring back the emotions and the event that it invokes. Feel that wonderful event inside and play the music loud.
Even better, if you have the tune, put it on, turn it up and shake the booty!
Works for me ;0)
Diane Corriette. Inspirational Guidance