I was with two colleagues yesterday discussing a communication breakdown that resulted in a work crew showing up on a job that was not ready. There was a late afternoon email yesterday that was not seen until after the crew had been dispatched this morning.
John and myself, both with over thirty years in the business watched Lee (just four years into his career) grab his head and exclaim in frustration “nothing’s ever right.” John and I, in unison, started laughing out loud. “Now you know what my world is like every day” stated John once he could control the laughter.
The truth of the matter is that most of the time things go right, but often times they do go wrong. The difference from that point forward is dependent upon whether we choose to respond or react. I will put it this way … If I respond to something, it is an intentional act to provide a specific outcome. If I react, it is more of a defensive act based on survival. Responding almost always provides for a better outcome.
So what determines the direction we choose to proceed? Attitude! Look, you can either happen to life or it can happen to you. Your choice! Your attitude will probably determine which side of the fence you end up on.
Why does it matter? Here are a few reasons:
STRESS
When you have a poor attitude, challenges and difficult situations are magnified. A small deal seems like a big deal and the overwhelm of the moment has a tendency to prevent you from making a clear decision on how to proceed. In many cases, this just makes the situation worse. The result – Stress! On the other hand, a positive attitude will allow you to tackle the problem in a positive manner that will at the very least, take much of the emotion out of the equation and reduce your stress level.
MORAL
Attitudes are contagious. If you walk into a room with a poor attitude, you potentially have the power to set the tone. More than once, I have seen the world blow up in front of my eyes because of one person bringing down the entire group. I know you have seen this – one bad apple can spoil the entire box. Bring a positive attitude and you have the same power. Walk into a room with negativity with a positive attitude and there is a good chance that you can diffuse whatever is creating that negative environment.
Napoleon Hill provides this thought …
No action takes place unless it is preceded by thought. If you’re unhappy with the circumstances in which you find yourself, you can improve your situation through the power of thought, just as surely as you can destroy a positive life with negative thinking. Success begins with an honest analysis of your present condition, acceptance of responsibility for your own life, and the development of a workable plan to achieve what you desire.
Even if it does feel like “nothing’s ever right”, the truth is that it is usually not as bad as you think it is. The challenge I give you today is to bring a positive attitude into a difficult situation and really pay attention to how you can change the overall attitude of the group.
You only live today once, you might as well make it a good one!
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Barry Smith www.buildingwhatmatters.com 2/8/13 photo by author
