If great attitudes fuel great success; then what do you do when thy attitude sucketh?
Here are 10 ways to give that attitude an enema right quick!
1) Don’t get caught up in that whole “turn that frown upside down” thing! Get it out of your system, vent, talk about it. If you are angry, call it like you see it! If your attitude is a result of a person, clear the air, say what you need to say and then get on with your money activities. Obsessing over negative things makes you unproductive. So does sweeping things under the carpet that need to be dealt with!
2) Beware that misery loves company! This has two deadly sides to it. The first involves our natural tendency not to stop at one thing that pisses us off. We therefore search for other things about a person, a situation and our lives that can join the “Things That Piss Me Off” inventory. The other side of this is that we love to complain to others about how rotten things are. Once again, there is nothing wrong with venting to the right people in your life, just beware of it becoming a glorified pity party!
Remedy: When you find yourself taking a negative inventory, interrupt that pattern by taking a positive inventory of the good things you have! Can’t think of one? How about being above ground and vertical? When you find yourself an active participant in a pity party. simply disengage, end the conversation and “Run Forrest Run!”
3) Express your gratitude to someone who has helped you. Doing so reminds you of the good in this world and helps you step outside of the things that are bringing you down!
4) Give! Giving takes the focus off of you and creates an instant high!
5) Move! Motions creates emotion! Get up, move around. Take a walk and get some fresh air. Personally, I like to ride the banister down the stairs when I’m feeling down but lately they seem to be making them of poor quality because I’ve broken several. Eventually I will be allowed back to those businesses but meanwhile . . . I FEEL ALIVE!
6) Smile and Laugh! Its really hard to have a bad attitude when you are smiling and or peeing your pants laughing. Listen to comedy to interrupt your negative patterns. Set up a playlist of your favorite comedians on your I-POD and fire that bad boy up when you need a laugh!
7) Music! Create a playlist of all those “feel good” type tunes so whenever you hear them you (get this) feel GOOD!
8) Stay Away From The News! I don’t know who the genius was who assumed that the news has to be filled with murders, foreclosures, wars and the like but there is only so much this old jedi can take of it. Remember this my friend . . . negativity might sell the news, but negative news doesn’t help you sell . . . unless you sell negative news for a living to which I have no rebuttal!
And yes, I’m aware that I substituted the number 8 with a smiley face. Tomorrow I might substitute the number 4 with a likeness of Gumby . . . my blog, my rules!
9) Get Some Good Stuff In Your Head Every Day! Read about those who made it under impossible odds. You might just find that you aren’t alone!
10) Allow Yourself To Be Vulnerable And Ask For Help! This is very hard for us to do as sales professionals because our ego can get in the way! My advice . . . get over yourself and ask for help. The teacher appears when the student is ready . . . but not magically . . . You need to summon the dude!
That’s it for today . . . let’s all go sell something!
Need a “special guest” for your next sales meeting? Have Paul make a “call in” appearance with some content to recharge your team!
For more information call Paul (631) 455-2455 or email paul@yoursalesplaybook.com
One word for this. FANTASTIC! I think I’m going to print it and post it on my wall for a quick reminder when needed!
Thanks, Paul, for the feel-good tips… 😀 (See? They’re working already…)
Have yourself a stellar day!
Virtually Yours,
Anne-Marie
It’s all about mindset.
I go through, just did, a 10 minute exercise that I teach my clients before starting each day. It’s about feeding good things to our subconscious which in turn contributes to a successful day. If it sounds corny, woo woo, etc. OK. But it works.
As always good stuff Paul.
~ Steve
I don’t think it sounds corny at all and if it did but it still works, the money we make and the lives we touch as a result of a great attitude doesn’t count less!
Thanks for sharing that Steve . . . well done!
Excellent post sir, love it – thank you! The picture is priceless! How’d you find one of me in the morning?! 😉
I think #4 is vital; absolutely a point I live by, which makes all the difference. Keeping away from the news is also super-duper and something that really affects more people than we think.
So I’m hitching a ride on your wagon today … Ah, indeed …”let’s go sell something”!
Thank you so much! Have a fantabulous day!
Much kindness,
Elena
Elena,
You truly have a real passion for life and its reflected in the attitude you bring to everything you write and the videos on your site.
You can’t hitch a ride to my wagon . . . I’m already hitched to yours 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
Terrific article! I cringe when in an airport and someone starts complaining about their last delayed flight or whatever, because I know it will trigger a one-up-manship (or downmanship). Man up and move on. Find something good to say or smile about or don’t say anything. You aren’t dead yet.
Great point about the “one upmanship” Tom!
Not being dead yet rocks and at times is undervalued my friend 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
Great post. It is so hard to stay positive, when it seems everyone around you is complaining. This post will help all of us refocus our energies on more constructive ways of dealing with that negetivity, and get back to selling. Thanks Uncle Paulie!
Thank you for the kind words . . . I really appreciate it!
I can certainly focus on the negative from time to time but it never serves me and only pushes me further away from the impact I want to have on this world (or at least my small corner of it)
Thanks again!
Thanks Anne-Marie and here’s one right back atcha 🙂
Enjoy your day as well!
Also love the pic. I’ve recently been speaking with a woman whose studied their behaviors vs. chimps.
Chimps are just like people. They’ll like you one minute and turn on you the next. In her words, *they’re mean.*
Gorillas on the other hand are peaceful, forgiving, and fun loving. They want to be your friend. If you turn on them they’ll ignore you and simply say *that was a bad thing you did* and ignore you for a while. Then they’ll welcome you back with open arms hoping you’ve learned something.
I’d rather be a Gorilla. ;-p
Steve
I’m not only with you Steve but I think you and I should go “door knocking” one day soon dressed as Gorillas.
I think we’d make a lot of sales but lets wait until the weather gets cooler 🙂
Seriously, thank you for that insight. I wasn’t aware of that and always thought Gorillas would be more aggressive.
Paul,
I agree so completely. I have been reading substantive things like the Bible and other things instead of the News in the morning it makes a huge difference. I avoid it completely, my husband has learned to just call me to seesomething uplifting or amusing on the rare occasions it appears on the news. I once worked with a young woman who was so incredibly negative she did ok for a while then ended up doing some serious sabotage and was released from her position. I often thought about the Tom Hopkins method of waving your hands in her face and saying Bad Seeds Bad Seeds, I didn’t do it but I thought it. If I had done it at least once she would have thought I was crazy and left me alone! Also I have been studying the writings of James Allen and he has a wonderful take on anger. When you find yourself becoming angry realize there really is never a reason to be angry if you think about the person who offended you as just being in a different place. We can’t really know what that place is so we really can’t even relate to it, just knowing that I’ve also been in unreasonable places and remembering that I have also no doubt offended is helpful. Of course one would argue about righteous anger such as when people harm innocents, that is different but we can also feel grief at wherever their place is.
I might upgrade the Tom Hopkins method to gently placing my palm on the offending party’s head while chanting “Out Demon” but that might be an HR issue waiting to happen 🙂
Your point about not knowing where a person truly is when they offend you goes back to another point you made a few months ago from Stephen Covey with the kids on the train being loud etc. When someone asked the parent to keep the children quiet, they shared that their wife had just passed.
Sort of changes the lens . . . doesn’t it?
Now if I can only practice that one more consistently, I’d feel much better Elizabeth.
As always . . . I appreciate your contributions to both this community and our Linkedin community . . . Thank you so much!
another incredible article.
me myself always think that watching news can be depressing and useless, i always think i’m the only one who think that way in this world (until i read your article of course lol.)’cause most my friends thinks i’m odd for never pay attention to the ‘hot news’ on tv.
thanks Paul.. reminds me to stay positive.
I hate the news Elle. Its by far, the most negative thing we can put into our heads.
I take the news on my terms by checking the headlines each day and picking and choosing.
So far my life is much better now that I don’t know who was murdered today etc.
Thank you for the kind words and for taking the time to stop by Elle!
another incredible article.
i always think that watching news can be a real depressing, wasting time and pointless (unless you really really need the information and get benefit from it). funny i used to think i’m the only person in the world who think that way (LOL), since my friends keep looking me oddly ’cause i never pay attention or don’t aware on what they called ‘hot news’
i like point no.6 and no.7.. and.. oh well everything you put in there 😀
thanks Paul.. really inspiring, reminds me to stay positive.
sincerely,
Elle
Excellent Paul, sometimes we need a mental makeover… Thanks for this great list. I’d like to add, get out and do something fun, or whatever cheers you up, or maybe count your blessings.
So true Cheri . . . this old Jedi has participated in mucho mental makeovers.
I love your idea to get out and do something . . . I decided to take your advice and asked my wife out on a date for later today!
Thanks and hope all is well my friend!
You pointed out so many helpful tools, many that I need a reminder for and some that are new that I will be adding to my “down day” bog of tricks.
Thank you and believe me when I tell you that I’m right in there with ya in terms of needing those reminders from time to time!
Thanks Paul,
This is a very good topic in this economy and environment.
It’s easy to get to that “negative Nelly” mindset with the news, the economy, and people around us still getting laid off.
We need to make an effort to stay positive and focused on the good we have in our lives and keep doing the work everyday to reach our goals.
Thanks my friend
Very true and there’s lots of that good Peter!
Thanks for stopping by, you know I always appreciate it!
Spot on as usual. I might also add, surround yourself with good and positive people. Positive begets positive!
A perfect addition Marc . . . thanks buddy!
Hi Paul,
I enjoyed your article (and the pic!). I’ve found when I’m down or stressed, it’s helpful to take a break, whether going for a walk, getting a good night’s rest (always important!) or doing something I enjoy (go shopping, watch a movie, do something with my family, play with my black lab).
Have a great rest of the week!
~Heather
Paul, awesome list! I like your thought about being honest with yourself about the crap you’re dealing with. You can’t just brush stuff under the rug, you’ve go to address the issues. (If you confront the issues with yourself, you probably won’t be able to do so with your clients either).
I also like your suggestions of physical activity, humor, and music to get you out of a funk. Sometimes, all you need is a little pep in your step to get back on your game. Staying upbeat and active makes what would otherwise seem like huge problems seem like minor inconveniences.