Why do some very promising businesses fail while some unlikely ones prosper? One key factor is the owner’s attitude toward her work. Few people succeed at things they hate doing or don’t believe in.
Negative attitudes can take root in the best of us: “I can’t stand these petty chores; the economy is impossible; the whole master plan of life is rigged against me….” If you don’t want to end up sounding like that—or if you suspect you may be headed in that direction already—there are ways to help your attitude stay positive.
1. Make sure you’re in an industry that suits your talents and interests. The entrepreneur who enters a field primarily because “the best money’s there” is the first to wind up hating her work.
2. Be prepared for some “bad moments.” There’s no such thing as a business where all duties are fun and everything always goes right. You will have to deal with difficult people, tedious tasks, and one-disaster-after-another days. Feeling entitled to have everything perfect is a sure route to the bitter disappointment that negative attitudes thrive on.
3. Watch what you say to yourself! Talk about “challenges” instead of “problems”; eliminate “just my luck” and “it’ll never work” from your vocabulary. Don’t talk yourself into perpetual negativism.
4. Smile constantly—and not just when interviewing important prospects. Keep the corners of your mouth curved up even when alone in your office; your mood follows your expression.
5. Associate with positive thinkers. If your best buddies are grumblers, you’re bound to catch the habit from them. Hang out with people who believe in you, themselves, and the overall goodness of life. (And don’t spend too much time watching TV news!)
6. Surround yourself with inspirational quotes—hang them over your desk, put them on your screen saver, subscribe to an e-newsletter that provides a daily dose of sunshine.
7. Work smart. Get in the habit of asking yourself, before starting something, “How important is this to the success of my business?” If the answer is “not very,” reconsider doing it at all. Wasting time on things of little value is a major cause of discouragement and negativity.
8. Delegate! Even if a task is vital to your business, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to do it. Reduce your stress level by trusting staff with the basic duties; save your own time for things only you can do.
9. Treat yourself to something special every day. Have a gourmet chocolate with lunch; keep that favorite perfume at your office. Train your mind to associate work with positive experiences.
10. Finally, have long-term goals and a “big picture.” These not only help reduce stress and facilitate planning, but during times—they come to us all—when every happening seems to scream “life is hopeless,” they give you something to look at and remember, “this too shall pass.”
Work hard, and work happy!