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Discipline and Attitude Essentials for Difficult Times

Written by: Bob Urichuck

Article Overview: Maintaining the right attitude during difficult times is definitely not the easiest of tasks, but it is probably the most essential ingredient required for overcoming challenging circumstances. Unfortunately, during difficult times, such as the current financial crisis, we often unconsciously become a product of our environments and reflect our negative surroundings through pessimism. Maintaining the right attitude requires discipline and it is this discipline that determines our success and satisfaction in life. It is important to remember that discipline, like

Discipline and Attitude Essentials for Difficult Times

Maintaining the right attitude during difficult times is definitely not the easiest of tasks, but it is probably the most essential ingredient required for overcoming challenging circumstances. Unfortunately, during difficult times, such as the current financial crisis, we often unconsciously become a product of our environments and reflect our negative surroundings through pessimism. Maintaining the right attitude requires discipline and it is this discipline that determines our success and satisfaction in life. It is important to remember that discipline, like attitude, is 100 per cent within our control. Maintaining a positive attitude and discipline requires us to truly believe in ourselves and our capabilities; it also strengthens our most important relationship - the one we have with ourselves. Believing in ourselves requires us to believe that we are each here for a reason. It means having the faith that every (seemingly) unfortunate event we encounter is occurring for a reason - whether building our characters, giving us a reality check or getting us back on the track where we belong. Believing in ourselves, moreover, means having the confidence that we can face our daily and most severe challenges, secure that we can eventually overcome them. Whether it be the loss of a loved one, bankruptcy or loneliness, maintaining a positive attitude and upholding our discipline at all times is crucial for survival and the realisation of our dreams and goals.

It's important to recognise the extent to which our thoughts have the ability to influence our actions and our future. If we think about losing our jobs, we may actually increase our chances of it happening because what we think about is often what we attract. As the economy erratically makes it way through a downward spiral, people's attitudes are following with the same downhill motion. Their pessimistic mindsets cause them to waste time thinking and talking about the things which are beyond their control, instead of investing their energy on things which are under their control.

What we think about, what we say to ourselves and the manners in which we act are all part of the law of attraction. To maintain a positive attitude, we need to become aware of these thoughts, dialogue and actions and how they affect our overall wellbeing. We need to catch ourselves during acts of self pity, self criticism, jealousy or anger and then eliminate them by replacing them with optimism.

As we become aware of potential obstacles during challenging times, it can be helpful to create contingency plans. The advantage of such planning is that should a potential obstacle become a reality, it won't instigate a sense of urgency because the contingency plan can be quickly implemented.

With the right attitude and discipline, realistic goals can be outlined, planned, implemented and accomplished. Being optimistic and consistently responsible can help us endure adversity, hardship, setbacks and ultimately to achieve success in every area of our lives. These qualities keep us in control in the midst of trouble and heartache by allowing us to see the ‘bigger picture' without losing sight of our goals and future. Having the right attitude and discipline means that when others criticise us - we listen, but refuse to allow their opinions to dictate our thoughts or direction; it means we accept full responsibility for all of our actions. It means we know who we are.

Difficult and challenging times offer the perfect opportunity to define what we want out of life. They encourage us to look in the mirror and, often, reconsider where we want to go, who we want to be and what we really want to do. They encourage us to regain control of our life and attitude, whilst refusing to allow ourselves to become victims of circumstances. Moreover, these testing times remind us to define our life goals and make them happen.

Above all, we have to remember that we alone are responsible for making a difference in our own lives. If that means a shift of attitude, acquiring some discipline and becoming self aware - isn't it worth adopting these positive habits in order live the life we crave?

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Article Tags: bottom line, discipline, Sales, sales management training, sales training



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: Info for would be franchisers... - [quote="Sebastien":1d29sdv1]Like Franchise Times, Franchise Update is a very practical magazine. There is no blah blah, just straight facts that anyone in the franchise community can relate to. I just want to mention that all these magazines are NOT franchisee oriented. I mean these magazines are for franchise professionals. If you're looking to buy a franchise, you won't find much information in there. To answer your question, getting published in Franchise Times was fairly easy. I don't want to brag too much but I think I am known in the franchise industry. I was the marketing guy at Franchise.com for a few years before joining my new company, the World Franchising Network. So people know me and I have a very good relationship with Nancy Weingartner, the Managing Editor at Franchise Times. I was talking with her at the last Franchise Expo South in Miami and she mentioned she'd like me to be profiled. I was like "ok, sure!". I like this franchise executive profile thing in Franchise Times as it is rarely BS. People are usually really natural in there.[/quote:1d29sdv1] Thanks for the follow up Sebastien! And I can't say that I'm surprised that networking with the right people and managing your relationships with them properly are the keys to being published. I guess the old adage holds true of "it's not who you know, but who knows you" that's important.
Does a New Company need a "Big" PR firm? - I've started work with a brand new company that is going to do loss mitigation. My boss intends to hire a "big" PR firm - ie one that costs a lot of money - because he wants press releases sent out to the New York Times, the LA Times - all the major papers around the country - and he think they'll be more likely to print them if they come from a "big" firm as opposed to a one-person PR firm. I think it doesn't matter where the press release comes from as long as its well written. What are the opinions here?
Re: Does a New Company need a "Big" PR firm? - [quote="OmnivoreInk":dmj1i0sv]I've started work with a brand new company that is going to do loss mitigation. My boss intends to hire a "big" PR firm - ie one that costs a lot of money - because he wants press releases sent out to the New York Times, the LA Times - all the major papers around the country - and he think they'll be more likely to print them if they come from a "big" firm as opposed to a one-person PR firm. I think it doesn't matter where the press release comes from as long as its well written. What are the opinions here?[/quote:dmj1i0sv] I think the most important factor is whether your press release will reach the most number of your target audience or not. It won't matter if the press release is well written if no one has the opportunity to read it. I also believe that credibility comes with having your press release in an established source like The New York Times, LA Times, etc... For instance, if you enjoyed playing tennis, who would you trust more? The advice from a recreational tennis player who has his own column in [i:dmj1i0sv]Tennis Magazine[/i:dmj1i0sv] [u:dmj1i0sv]or[/u:dmj1i0sv] the recreational tennis player who has his own blog? I don't know about you, but I'd listen to the guy on [i:dmj1i0sv]Tennis Magazine[/i:dmj1i0sv] over the blog owner at least 9 out of 10 times.
Re: Does a New Company need a "Big" PR firm? - I agree with Kevin [quote:3b8fyubd]I think the most important factor is whether your press release will reach the most number of your target audience or not.[/quote:3b8fyubd] You dont a big company that will charge mega bucks as Im sure they will even add a %age to the cost of the press release. Im sure if you approach New York Times, the LA Times with every thing presented professionally I think it will still stand the same chance. I would start advertising online, then locally thats when the NYT can see what there missing out on! And to test the water first!


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