“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.
2 comments on this topic
23. February - 7:38 am
While we have been hit by this economy, we are also seeing a huge influx of opportunity. Companies are rethinking everything, and if you are correctly-aggressive, there is a whole universe of potential out there. I think those in trouble are “premium” providers that don’t provide value - but even “premium” providers should have opportunity as companies are cutting back and if you can create value in some way (providing outsourcing value, providing cost-effective solutions that don’t erode your margins, etc.), the world is your oyster.
We have received over 10 RFP’s in the last month, two of which we have landed (this is good as we just had two existing clients pull out of projects altogether). However, seeing potential here and am exited…
23. February - 11:48 am
I think it is great that we are going back to the basics of enjoying our family and friends and spending more time with them. It seems as though everyone got caught up in the idea of buying things to feel better and to also feel happier. We are now finding out that is not the answer. The answer to happiness lies within. Is it harder to stay positive? Of course!
One of my New Year’s resolutions was to get up and be thankful every day. As soon as I get out of bed I simply say out loud that I am thankful for the day ahead of me. I am thankful for my boys, that we are healthy and have a roof over our heads. I have also made a decision in the last few weeks to start sending more cards. Not emails or e-cards, but physical cards to friends and family. It’s nice to see something in the mail box besides bills and credit card offers.
The U.S. will be stronger as some companies are weeded out and we get back to more of the basics.
23. February - 6:48 pm
I am not a writer, though have spent some 50 years writing excerpts; one young day called them
“The Protean Paisley”. An art teacher in Denver, who saw me daily in his class expresed that I was a protean dresser. One day my hair in braids, next, a lost waif, next an executive…all visible.
My formal nudes were stolen from my first exhibit there as they were at the Lab School in Chicago. This is a prelude to say what a great Psychiatrist friend once told me, “Never stop doing your art”. All I need to do is go to the spot in my place, get out my tools and paint! Now that I am
alone again in my place, that reminder, and the world of possibilities will be kindled as soon as I let them. Love, and thanks for you doing what I feel and might not write so well as, in my other avenues where my emotional being, lets me use a different color.
3. March - 7:34 am
I received an email of your blog from an industry colleague. It’s great, definitely spot on and very timely. I am tired of sub quality lackluster products being pushed onto store shelves at low prices with the expectation that consumers will continue to buy poorly made ill designed products because of the frenzy to acquire more. It’s time to make better goods, think about what we are adding to our environment and offer quality and innovation for a better future for our children. I have been creating better product on a freelance basis and it’s a surprising change , but very welcome. I feel better about what I am creating and contributing and looking forward to a ‘correction’ in our Marketplace. Opportunities can open up from these retail failures and we can build better and move forward with a social conscience if we choose to turn this downturn up in the years to come.
30. March - 11:54 am
[...] that revenue managers (and sales reps, for that matter) have to apply a little old-fashioned “power of positive thinking” to maintain morale and sales numbers. We have been so bombarded lately by the headlines [...]
30. March - 11:56 am
[...] that revenue managers (and sales reps, for that matter) need to apply a little old-fashioned “power of positive thinking” to maintain morale and sales numbers. We have been so bombarded lately by the headlines [...]
30. March - 11:56 am
[...] it is that sales managers (and sales reps, for that matter) got to apply a little old-fashioned “power of positive thinking” to maintain morale and revenue numbers. We have been so bombarded lately by the headlines [...]