Positive outlook helps successful among us thrive
I HAVE been observing business people closely lately; looking at what differentiates those who are currently struggling from those who are thriving.
Yes, thriving! Here are the patterns that I have noticed among those who are doing well:
ý They choose a positive outlook, focusing on the resources they do have and on the factors that they can influence. And beyond that, their words encourage others to do the same. Positive language shifts attention away from what cannot be done and shines the spotlight in possibility.
Consider these phrases: “If you can send us [whatever], we can complete the process for you”; “Might we suggest that you [suggestion]”; “One option open to you is [option]”; “We can help you to [whatever] if you can send us [whatever]”.
I am noticing a growing intolerance among successful people; they do not accept negativity as part of the natural order of things.
Instead, they disengage from the news, from the gossip-mongers and from the nay-sayers.
ý They constantly measure the effects of what they are doing.
Today, more than ever, we are able to track, measure and analyse data that comes from what we do every day. There are Apps on our phones, Google analytics, online surveys that automatically collate and present results . . . the tools are endless.
Being open to feedback seems to be a common trait in the successful people I have studied.
They know they are not perfect and they are comfortable with that.
ý They try hard and make mistakes but they learn from those mistakes.
My son knocked over a cup of tea recently and it spilt across the counter and under his father’s laptop.
He was very apologetic and, yet, his father’s reaction surprised him.
Rather than getting angry and yelling, he reassured our son that there was a bigger lesson to be learnt: never place an electronic device on the lowest point on a counter. Accidents happen. Better to learn how to mitigate potential downsides in the future.
ý They do more than work. The most successful people I know work hard but they play hard too.
They are fierce about doing things that they enjoy every day and they get frustrated if their work lives are not balanced with physical “me” time.
They run, they cycle, they swim, they meditate . . . exercise is the common denominator here.
We get 1 440 minutes every day. Finding an hour a day to exercise requires us to allocate less than 5% of our day to something that will leave us feeling more energised, more attractive and more relaxed. Makes sense and totally achievable when you look at it that way, right?
ý They are good at telling stories. Stories powerfully connect us to our listeners
When we share our own real-life stories or the stories of others, our audiences feel that they get to know us as authentic people – people who have lives outside the corporate setting, people who have struggled with problems and who have figured out how to overcome them.
The most successful people I know all recognise that human connections need to go before concepts and strategies: connect first with your prospects, your audiences – then get down to business.
This is especially relevant today, as social media leaves us feeling increasingly disconnected and insecure.
Success, it seems, is not a product of knowledge, leverage or connections only. It comes from mindful actions, a consciousness about what fuels us and a discipline that is tested daily.
I have seen tremendous value in looking below the surface to understand the attitudes and behaviours that are shared by successful people, and I encourage you to look more closely at both yourself and at others.
What does success stem from?