The alarm went off.
I got a wake up call at a recent business networking event that I hadn’t attended in several months. In speaking with a colleague, when I asked how business was I got the reply “terrible.” In fact, she went on to explain, that she felt certain that 80% of her colleagues between the ages of 39 and 65 felt the same way and everyone disliked their business as much as she now did. Wow.
It’s all in your attitude.
As I stood listening, I couldn’t help but imagine how much of this was directly related to her attitude. Yes, the economy has been off, and yet I know many in her same industry that are doing fine. In fact I know several who actually had a banner year in 2010. What is the difference? They intended it. They planned it, they kept their doubt demons at bay and plunged forward with optimism, with gratitude, with the idea that it would all work out. It did. Sure they faced challenges, obstacles and road blocks along the way, we all do. And they chose to surmount those challenges, overcome the obstacles and blast through the road blocks.
No hype here.
Now, I know you may be thinking this is all Pollyanna and a bunch of hype but it’s not. I know from years of first hand experience the powerful impact of attitude governing altitude. Never under estimate that you attract who you are.When you are down in the mouth, grumbling about your clients, focusing on the lack of business, what shows up is exactly what you are focused on, bad fits, poor clients, and disappointing returns.
It’s your choice.
Make the choice to lead a charmed life. Stop making excuses, ditch the whining and complaining and just do it. It will be a choice you’ll have to make multiple times a day. There will be lots of opportunities for you to make the wrong choice and be directed by outside forces rather than by your internal will. It is the choices we each make in the moment that result in how our lives look overall.
How are you processing your life?
I spent years battling long term depression. I’d be up one week, then down for two. It had nothing to do with outside variables at all, it was all me. It is always all us, our lives and businesses reflect absolutely the choices we make in every moment in every day. Will bad things happen? Of course, it is in how we process that and move forward that makes the difference. I choose to consciously look for the silver lining in every dark cloud now. It isn’t always an easy choice, it is a necessary one and one that I’ve found makes my life truly charmed.
Lesson learned again.
Listening to that colleague reawakened in me the intention to live and lead by choice not by accident or by default. How will you lead and live your life? Will it be charmed or will it feel cursed? It’s all up to you. Your feelings are your choice, they are driven by your thoughts and actions. Take charge and choose a charmed life.
Please tell me about the choices you have made to move closer to the charmed life you want and deserve.
Hello Melissa,
I agree with you completely, no hype. I choose to be Happy, Healthy and Successful. That doesn’t mean everything is going to be my way and perfect all of the time, it just means I’m going to find a way to deal with that challenge and grow.
First, what is the problem?For example: Am I down because of lack of business? Well, what am I going to do about it? Take action, take training on new marketing techniques, get outside help for motivation. Do something and everything will improve, and improve, and improve. And oh what fun it is!
Do nothing…and…enough said.
Awesome Leslie!
You are right on track and have a winner’s attitude. Know you will keep it up always.
Hugs, Melissa
I agree too. It’s a choice, sink or swim hard. Take advantage of the slow economy, and use it to improve yourself and your business in every way possible . Slow economies are a time of transition, challenge and change. If you don’t use it to your advantage you will be left behind when it improves.
Lynn,
Very well said and glad to hear you “get it.” Many designers don’t and will find themselves still losing business even when things turn.
Hugs, Melissa
Melissa, aloha. You are so right on your attitude determining what happens. After all, we get what we think about.
Decades ago someone who was very successful made a statement that has stayed with me ever since.
He said things are going to happen that get you down. You can choose to stay down until some external factor lifts you up or you can choose to lift yourself up at any moment. Wise advice. Aloha. Janet
Hey Janet,
Thanks for sharing that story. “He” is right! I used to let a lot derail me, now little or nothing can!
Hugs, Melissa
Thank you so much for your post Melissa.
Lots of stuff happens in life that is totally out of our control (some that we like, some that we don’t). However we can ALWAYS choose how we respond – and as you write with such clarity – that is what makes the difference in our own state of mind.
Keep on choosing to see the blessings in life and your experience every day will reflect that.
Take care
Kate x
Hey Kate,
Right you are and thanks for the confirmation!!
Hugs, Melissa
I LOVE this post!! I am charmed (great word isn’t it!?). I feel blessed to have a positive and upbeat attitide. It really is a choice, I believe that. There are always many ways to see things so why not choose the angle with hope.
I think of all the things that try to slow me down or mess with my attitude as a ‘test’. Life wants to know how serious I am about being successful. I say what I want.. but am I willing to do whatever it takes, am I willing to do the hard stuff and I will to stay focused and will I maintain an above average attitude?
Like you talk about here.. our attitude is a choice, it is a chance to declare that we are truly committed to achieving everything we are capable of!
Thank you Melissa for reawakening this intention for me too! Great post!!
xoxo
@HelenRappy
Thanks Helen,
Always glad to reawaken a divine and delicious intention!
Love seeing you attitude taking you higher.
Hugs, Melissa
Melissa,
You’re so right – positive attitudes brings positive results. As a business owner and mom, life gets overwhelming busy at times. To keep things in perspective and keep a positive attitude, at the end of a very long day and a very long week, I like to reflect on all that I accomplished, not what I didn’t get done. That keeps me positive and feeling successful!
Thanks for the great post!
Hey Margaret,
That is an awesome practice and one I blogged about awhile ago, sounds like it would be a good post to reshare!
Hugs, Melissa
I agree completely Melissa! Although I’ve not succumbed to the doldrums like many have, I did find myself ‘just treading water’ and wondering why my business wasn’t moving forward like I thought it should. Once I realized what I was doing, I stopped treading and started swimming! My business has not only grown, but really blossomed — so much so that I’ve given my notice at my part-time office management job so I can focus on my business full-time! So glad that I realized that the reason my business wasn’t moving forward was because of ME, not the economy (or anything else)! Thanks!