Succeeding Today

Terry Brock owns Achievement Systems in Orlando. If you have comments about this column, you can send them by email to tbrock@bizjournals.com or visit his web site.

How attitude can build your business

Relationship Marketing requires that we create a desire for others to be around us and do business with us. We have to maintain and emanate a positive attitude. Who wants to be around a sour puss? It only drags everyone down. In the name of "being realistic" too many people complain and moan about what is happening. These complainers like to tell themselves --- and others --- that they are only "being realistic" when they talk about the bad, how times are tough, etc. etc.

But this form of communication is only depressing to those who hear that message and to the one delivering it. Instead of bemoaning the bad, focus on how to create better. No, I'm not talking about being a Pollyanna or ignoring reality. Yes, we are aware of what is happening. But I'd say this to the "Negative Nellies" of the world --- be realistic. Yes, you can acknowledge what you perceive on the negative side of the ledger, but how come you don't acknowledge the enormous positives on the other side? You're not "being realistic."

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Think about it --- even in the midst of challenging situations, most of us are safe from disease, gunfire (literally), war, famine and many of the plagues that afflicted our ancestors. They would laugh --- heartily --- at us complaining that we had a "bad day" because we were delayed for 5 minutes in traffic. Ha! This is nothing! They didn't just lose a job (and then draw unemployment benefits) but they wondered if they were going to stay alive. Even the poor in America today would be considered very wealthy in most of history and in a lot of the world today.

Do a realistic assessment of what you really have going for you. Can you think? Is your health relatively good? Do you have loving, supportive relationships? You have lots available to you in America like roads, sidewalks, libraries and more --- all for the asking.

If you need to shore up some areas stop complaining about it and do what works. Take a pro-active stance to correct those areas which you can correct. If you can do something about it --- make it so (to borrow from Star Trek's John Luc Picard). If you can't do anything about it --- like politics, for instance, stop complaining and focus on those areas where you can make a difference.

It is human nature to complain and to attempt to garnish sympathy. No matter what happens, we can make it good or bad depending on our attitude. And that attitude permeates our lives financially and physically.

So, what can you do? Start by "being realistic" and take a serious look at the advantages you have. Sure, it is easy to see the negatives -- just catch the latest "This breaking news just in..." from the news-infested cable TV market.

However, step back from that frenetic spewing of negativity for a moment and be realistic about the advantages you have. Write them down (this is really important!). Then focus on what you can practically do to implement the change and make a difference by yourself.

Don't wait for someone else to do it for you --- particularly politicians. If you can't change something, don't worry about it. If you can make a positive difference, for crying out loud --- do it!

That attitude change can begin the process of serious positive change. Having an "attitude of gratitude" is important in business. Do that in your business and in your personal life and you'll feel better. Others around you will enjoy being with you more and who knows? You might have a boost in business opportunities as a result.