Tweet

Attitude

Written by: Donald F. Pooley

Article Overview: Several months ago I was coaching a client and he remarked how disappointed his marketing person was at the results of a networking effort. She'd been in a room of over 100 people, and only two seemed interested in the opportunity she talked to them about. She'd hoped, because she believed in what she offered, that more like 20 or 30 would be interested. But 98 people said NO!

Attitude

Several months ago I was coaching a client and he remarked how disappointed his marketing person was at the results of a networking effort. She'd been in a room of over 100 people, and only two seemed interested in the opportunity she talked to them about. She'd hoped, because she believed in what she offered, that more like 20 or 30 would be interested. But 98 people said NO!
I offered a different perspective. I asked him if he'd be happy uncovering two prospects every day? He said he'd be thrilled! And with that, I pointed out the importance of counting the "Yeses" instead of the "No's". With a good attitude, his marketing person would have been excited about finding two new prospects - and would look for opportunities to network daily.
Attitude definitely affects one's perspective.
In some ways what I've just talked about is like "Mom and apple pie". Who would disagree with the ideas I just wrote about? Yet, there are many people who either stuck in their rut of a poor attitude or would like to make a change, but don't believe in the role attitude plays.
Changing the way we see things is often influenced by what we're continually exposed to. Some people come from very supportive family environments; others from less than ideal situations. We form opinions about the world and ourselves from all the sources of input surrounding us (TV, friends, family, teachers, radio, newspapers ...). The most effective way to change our attitude then, is to replace the input others give us, with input that we choose for ourselves.
Read self development books (leaders are readers). Listen to tapes on personal growth and positive attitude. Associate with positive, success-minded people. The people you choose to associate with and the books you read determine where you will be five years from now.
Stop feeding yourself with negatives. Cut out most TV. Don't bother with the negativity of the newspaper. Avoid people who bring you down - either with direct attacks or with their pervasive negative attitude. Take charge of your attitude!
Start by eliminating the everyday news - TV and newspapers. We all know that most of it is negative. Even the comics can be negative and sarcastic, with a despondent view of the world.
Decide to find books and tapes on success principles and/or motivation. Commit to reading for ten minutes a day.
Instead of listening to the radio while you commute, or go to meetings, turn off the radio and listen to something that will help ensure your future!
Copyright 2005 Exceptional Leadership, Inc.
Michael J. Beck, "The Insurance Coach", helps the insurance professional succeed faster and easier. He can be reached at mbeck@TheInsuranceCoach.com or 877-977-8956. Subscribe to his newsletter, purchase audio programs, or learn about executive coaching at his website: http://www.TheInsuranceCoach.com

Related Articles
  LEADERSHIP IS NOT MARKETING FEELINGS BUT DEMONSTRATING ATTITUDE
  Do you have Attitude?
  Thought dedication. You decide what to think, and how to react.
  Positive Attitude is Power for Leadership
  Jump start your Day, the Attitude of Discipline Way!

Article Tags:



Related Forum Posts
Re: THE SECRET TO SUCCESS IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD...RIGHT NOW!!! - Yes, you are right Mal. Attitude plays a big role in it. Robert
Re: What to do at the first roadblock? - Upon first discouragement, dig in and see if things are as they seem. Sometimes, even though there are several products out there that appear comparable, they are no match. Maybe they do don't a good job of what they are intended for, or maybe there are several glitches in their system, or perhaps their customer service just plain stinks. Decide how you can "one up" all of these things and decide that you are going to create a better product that more people would want. Attitude is 95% of the battle. If you feel defeated before you've done any research on any of the other products, you're doing yourself a huge disservice. Give yourself a chance and see if you can be the BEST in every way. This will get you far no matter what the venture.
Re: Who hates cold calling? - About 15 years ago I worked for this sales company that used to sell anything from Kitchen Knives to Dry Cell Torches. The owner was a very motivating guy and he would ask us to get to the office by 7.00AM and we could sing and dance for an hour before we went to sell the products in the streets, stopping anyone and telling them our products were on discount. We used to sell snow to Eskimos, why were we able to do that? because of PMA (Positive Mental Attitude). The key to cold calling is like beauty, in eyes of the beholder. If you have no PMA, you cannot sell. Remember the law of average that states that if you went to a dance and every girl or guy you approached for a dance decline your proposal. What do you do? Do you stop? If you have a PMA, you continue until you get one person who agree to dance with you despite how ugly you look, that is is PMA and that is the power of cold calling.
My reading log - Hi OmnivoreInk, Before starting my business, I read the following books as research: -"The Art of the Start" by Guy Kawasaki -"The AdSense Code" by Joel Comm -"Don't Think Pink" and "Mind Your X's and Y's" by Lisa Johnson And since then I've continued my "research" by reading (in this order): -"Technical Tennis" by Rod Cross -"For One More Day" by Mitch Albom -"The Twits" by Roald Dahl -"Little Black Book of Connections" by Jeffrey Gitomer -"The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne -"The Profitable Retailer" by Doug Fleener -"Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell -"Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude" by Jeffrey Gitomer -"The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" by C.S. Lewis -"Little Green Book of Getting Your Way" by Jeffrey Gitomer -"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling And I'm currently reading and am in the process of finishing the following: -"There's No Such Thing as Public Speaking" by Jeanette and Roy Henderson -"The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell -"The Book of Tells" by Peter Collett -"Little Red Book of Sales Answers" by Jeffrey Gitomer -"Chocolates on the Pillow Aren't Enough: Reinventing The Customer Experience" by Jonathan M. Tisch -"The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity" by Julia Cameron -"The Inner Game of Tennis" by Timothy Gallwey


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Gas bills go up by 18% can we take any more

African Technology Development

Emotional Energy is Our Engine

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.