The Right and Left Brain Blog

“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

Abraham Lincoln

“The individual who knows the score about life sees difficulties as opportunities.”

Norman Vincent Peale

“The desire not to be anything is the desire not to be.”
Ayn Rand

We are in a rut that seems to be self-defeating. Everyone I talk to is frustrated, scared, pessimistic and more afraid than confident. Madoff, bank bonuses, housing defaults have replaced the excitement of people like Buffet, Gates and Jobs. My argument is that until our attitudes improve, the personal, corporate and financial malaise will not subside. While there is a whole circular argument going on, we need positive thinking at all levels. This does not mean to ignore realities but it does mean to find the opportunities where the glass may be half full. Here are some examples of the potential for success:

Positive thinking can become self-fulfilling. We need to believe that we can overcome anything. Positive thinking is also enhanced by support. Successful organizations seem to breed success with their energy, openness, and resources to succeed. One concern today is that in today’s difficult situations, many leaders are reverting to pressure, privacy, and indecision rather than sharing, support and problem solving. This involves a balance between recognizing the need for change such as downsizing and also focusing on the things that are working.

I posted a note on Facebook requesting people to describe good things that are happening. Within about 10 minutes, I got three responses from people who are planning weddings. It is as important to get positive thinking in our personal lives as well as organizational. One positive outcome of the current period is that people are replacing superficial efforts with meaningful activities. A recent report of consumers by COMSCORE describes how people are spending more time with families, socializing and exercising than before. They are spending dramatically less time buying jewelry, expensive purses, eating out and attending expensive events. Unfortunately, they are also smoking and drinking more.

One key unintended positive consequence of the economy may be a restructuring of several industries to become better and more efficient. Poor and excess products and structures need to disappear. Pontiac, Home Depot Express, Linens and Things, Bear Sterns, Circuit City, Domino Magazine and others have been struggling for years and their demise should make other companies stronger in the long run. For example, Pontiac sales have been declining for 20 years. More companies need to eliminate unproductive products and efforts.

Breaking rules, tolerating what can be considered almost deviant behavior, allowing minor responsibilities to fall through the cracks are characteristic of what is needed. I am working with the apparel division of a search firm named SRI Search. They have packaged a group of resumes of their top applicants who are willing to face the realities of the job market. They are then successfully marketing them at reduced compensation to companies who need short term highly skilled staff and new innovative solutions.

A marketing firm named Egg Marketing has developed unique PR and social marketing programs for small companies. They have signed up two new clients in the last few weeks and get 1000 clicks per month on their sites through social marketing.

A project I have been involved in has experienced a withdrawal of emotional and financial support from management. This week we received three new leads and launched what appears to be a successful new product that has been in the works for a year. Frankly, I just ignored them and went on my own. They are back on the bandwagon on at least one project.

In short, we need to stop blaming anyone and everyone. We also need to stop waiting for miracles, government or everything to go back to the way it was 2-4 years ago. Rather what we need as Emerson says is “to believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men.”

Please share your successes so others can get some ideas.

In the fast few days I have been besieged by bright, exciting people being really stressed out and somewhat paranoid about everything. They are worried about being laid off, money, the future, etc. Their bosses seem to be relentless critics and every comment is intercepted as a threat. They are in panic over adjusting their financial lifestyle. Cooperation with co-workers is at least perceived to being replaced by every man for himself. The most interesting common feeling is “I am extending myself for everyone and getting nothing in return.”

While many of these feelings may be real, they are simply not productive. We need a balance between reality, paranoia and action and positive thinking. Some suggestions for creating a better feeling are as follows:

• The easiest and most positive things we can do to create a positive culture is to say thank you, care about people and be supportive with praise and encouragement . Why do some of the same managers who are supportive with their kids and family go to work and just spend the whole day criticizing everything?

• We need to encourage open communication, realism, and problem solving. Assessing the situation, having discussions with bosses, having discussions with outside and inside colleagues can all be useful.

• Develop some small positive steps. This may require making a decision to fight for your current position or simply look for a new job. It definitely requires a new perspective and not doing anything.

In summary, we need to separate the reality from the paranoia. Many perceptions are simply a function of the times. One of the best lessons I learned about this was when I was 10 years old going to school with my father and Uncle Harry.

My mother would always complain to my father at breakfast that his tie was dirty or his shirt didn’t match or something. Every day, whatever my mother told my father, he would criticize my Uncle Harry while driving me to school. Uncle Harry would then be upset about what in fact was a random comment applied to him.

I found the same thing happens in our lives. Someone is having a bad day about work, their personal lives or home and it just filters down and across the organization for the whole day. How often do we say, “watch out for the boss, he is in a mean mood,” and then get personally upset when we are part of a more general attack. Try both understanding the comments and trying to be a little positive in this stressful period.