Gratitude Is A Difference Maker!

I recently read Focus On The Good Stuff: The Power Of Appreciation by Mike Robbins. I think it’s a gem. While a quick read, it contains many important ideas. I’ll share some of the ideas now and will write about others in subsequent posts. I certainly recommend that you read the book.

The book initially describes the negativity in our world today – media stories, news, tv, movies, the world of politics – and then the tendency that so many individuals have to think negative thoughts about ourselves, e.g. I cannot live up to that, I am not that good, I am not attractive enough, thin enough, successful enough.

The first approach to creating a life – business and personal – of appreciation, happiness, enjoyment and fulfillment is to change the way we look at ourselves, to stop beating ourselves up. Rather, we should be thinking of our gifts, our talents, the good within us and within those around us, and how fortunate we are.

If we can stop being negative about how we look at ourselves and our immediate world and instead turn to gratitude, our life will change – for the better!

As Robbins says in his book, feeling and being grateful is the way to transform our negativity, the way we look at our world, and how we relate to the people around us.

How does negative energy serve us? It doesn’t! But positive energy serves us very well, it’s the fuel that will lead us to success and happiness in business. Gratitude is a choice! All day long!

Again, Robbins says our attitude toward a problem is usually more important than the problem itself.

Think about situations that may cause you to react negatively, maybe hearing two of your associates speaking behind someone’s back, or a draft of an important proposal is not given to you by the target date you requested, or someone does not keep you informed as you requested. Sure, you can get mad, but how does that help you and the other person(s)? A different approach, coaching the people, involves explaining that gossiping about others only hurts themselves and the company, as does not meeting commitments and keeping one another informed, and that you encourage them to use their talents in positive ways, to ask for help if needed, and that you want them to succeed. Watch the enthusiasm and performance grow.

There is so much more very helpful advice in Focus. I will continue to write about what I personally gained from the book. For now though, I would like us to recognize that how we are feeling about ourselves, our co-workers and our team has a huge effect on our work and our leadership. The more gratitude we have, the more positive energy we will generate for ourselves and our co-workers, and the greater our success.

My call to action
There are people who look to us for leadership and their success. Help these people by radiating our positive attitude and energy.