Your Attitude Matters

Who we are, how we act, and what we do.

I know that it’s difficult at times to stay positive, especially given the state of things in the world today. But you must fight through the negative feelings if you want to turn things around. You see, attitude does matter.

I’ve known this for years, even though sometimes I find myself sporting a negative attitude. When I’m in a negative mood, nothing looks good, and I’m sure my attitude affects all of my actions with the result that I become a self-fulfilling prophecy. I’m the creator of the actual negative events that I struggle with.

Conversely, when I’m in a positive mood, I create positive events in my life. As marketers, we have the added responsibility of keeping the positive attitude up in our firms, even when some days we don’t feel like it.So the operative question is: How does one develop ways to stay positive even in the face of adversity?Start the morning with good stuff. Tim Sanders, in his book, “Today We Are Rich,” includes an entire chapter entitled, “Feed Your Mind Good Stuff.” He suggests to start your day with positives, prior to connecting with all of the negativity in the world. I’ve followed his advice and while I’m not sure exactly why it works, I can attest that it does. I’ve also used this technique prior to going to sleep, because I have a difficult time sleeping, especially in times of stress. I’ve found that, rather than watching the news or reading work email, reading a book or reflecting upon the positives of the day help me relax. Remember, your attitude is what you make it, and the results will follow.

Stop worrying about things that are out of your control. We cannot control how others will interact with us; we cannot control whether someone will like us; and, we cannot control whether that client we want will hire our firm. So why do we waste time worrying about these things? Nonetheless, I know that I do, and when I catch myself, I think about how much better my time could have been put to use working on something productive.What is within our control is who we are, how we act, and what we do. We just need to be true to ourselves, and put it out there into the world. Others must decide if they like what they see, how they will interact with us, and whether we will be considered for their business.Be thankful for what you have. We all have much for which to be thankful. Focus on these good things in your life and be grateful for what you have. This will help your attitude stay positive and in turn create more things in which to be thankful. It’s a great cycle. Stay thankful and the world will send you more reasons for which to be thankful.

Nothing makes you feel better than giving. Several years ago, after my mother had passed away, my mind was in a bad state. I couldn’t seem to shake the negative feelings that I had and these feelings were penetrating every aspect of my life. I’m sure I wasn’t very fun to be around, and I treated just about everyone I came into contact with terribly. A friend suggested that I needed to get out and give back to my community–that volunteering for something would help me deal with all I was going through. Boy, was he right. I volunteered serving meals at a local homeless shelter and not long after, my positive attitude returned.

I’ve remembered this, and I try to work volunteering into my life on a more regular basis. I’m pretty sure that my small acts help the world, but I absolutely know that I get more from the gift than the gift itself. And it helps me to be true to what I believe.

As we get ready for Thanksgiving and the holiday season, remember, attitude does matter! Developing a positive attitude and staying as positive as you can just might be the difference-maker in your life and business.

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SMPS President Craig Galati, AIA, FSMPS, CPSM, is principal of LGA, in Las Vegas, NV. He can be reached at 7/2.263.7111 or cgalati@lgainc.com.

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