Are you part of the problem or part of the solution
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We've all
heard the numbers: Consumer confidence is down, retail sales are down.
And for many of us, the markets we serve are down, as well. There is an
important relationship to note here. Confidence - an attitude - is
down, so sales are down. When confidence is up, sales follow. The
principle at work here is this: Our actions follow our
attitudes. The relationship between actions and attitudes is
so close, that the two go hand-in-hand, and our actions can be seen as
outward expressions of our attitudes.
Ok, so what
does that have to do with you? Here's what: If the markets you serve
are down, that action (lack of buying) is a result of an attitude (lack
of confidence). And you can influence that attitude, and be part of the
solution, or be influenced by it, and thus contribute to the problem.
Attitudes are
contagious. You know that if you spend a lot of time with negative
people, you begin to see what�s wrong with everything and everyone.
Hang around a lot with depressed people, and you become depressed. On
the other hand, if you are with energetic and optimistic people, it
rubs off on you as well.
Here's one
more piece of this puzzle. You can choose your attitudes. You can
choose to be happy, you can choose to be sad, you can choose to be
confident, and you can choose to be cautious. Don't believe it? Take
this little test. Tomorrow, as you are eating breakfast, tell yourself
these things over and over. "It�s going to be a rotten day. Everybody's
afraid to buy. Most people probably won't even see me. I'll probably be
laid off soon anyway." Now, having repeated that litany of dreariness
to yourself, pay attention to what kind of attitude you exhibit during
the course of the day. You are probably not going to be effervescent
and overwhelmingly positive. Instead, you'll be depressed and
discouraged, and you'll spread it to the people around you like the
plague.
You could, on
the other hand, dramatically change your attitude for the day if you
were to get up in the morning, and repeat this kind of dialogue with
yourself: "It's going to be a good day. I can't wait to see what good
things are going to happen. I know there�s some good things I can do
for my customers. I'm going to make a difference in their businesses
and their lives." The result of that kind of train of thought is
confidence and positive energy. And you�ll spread that, also.
Here's the
point. You can choose to be part of the problem, or part of the
solution. You can choose to be influenced by the negativity around you.
You can reflect that cautiousness and lack of confidence. You can
contribute to that downward spiral in attitude. In that case, you have
chosen to be part of the problem.
On the other
hand, you can choose to be part of the solution. You can choose an
attitude of confidence and optimism. By so doing, you influence those
around you and you do your small part to contribute to the solution. Of
course you are not single-handedly going to change world attitudes. But
you can positively influence those in your spheres of contact.
You are a
professional. You contact more individuals in the course of the day
than most people do. Your customers, prospects, colleagues; your
friends and family; the people you work with and supervise; even your
managers - all of them can be influenced via your attitude. Because of
your position of great potential influence, you have a greater
responsibility to be proactive, and to lead others.
It's time for
you to step up to the plate and to become a positive leader for those
around you.
Here
are a couple guidelines to help you:
1.��Start with yourself. Make sure you are nurturing
your own personal attitude. Now is the time to revisit and revitalize
your faith in God. Hang around positive people. Make a point to read
uplifting books and articles. Get some additional training, expose
yourself to positive audiotapes. Create a set of strong affirmations,
and read them to yourself at the start of every day.
2.��Assume that you are the leader that people around
you are looking for. Be sensitive to opportunities that come up in the
course of the day to influence the attitudes of those around you. If
you are a manager, doing something positive for your people. Invest in
them someway. Enlist their input and involvement in some new
initiative. Don't just talk the talk, show your attitude by your
actions. Walk the walk.
In the
aftermath of the terrorist attacks, I have become convinced that the
terrorists consciously chose a symbol of American business to attack.
It is the combination of applied energy, knowledge and wisdom of
American businesspeople that has brought freedom of choice, dignity and
financial opportunity to our own people, and has been a model for
billions of people around the world.
American
business people need to step up and accept our leadership
opportunities. It's time for each of us to contribute to the solution,
not to be part of the problem.
About the Author
Dave Kahle is one of the world�s leading sales authorities. He�s written ten books, presented in 47 states and eight countries, and has helped enrich tens of thousands of sales people and transform hundreds of sales organizations.� Sign up for his free weekly Ezine.� Check out our Sales Resource Center for 455 sales training programs for every sales person at every level.
You may contact Dave at The DaCo Corporation,
PO Box 523, Comstock Park, MI�49321, or [email protected]
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Article Published/Sorted/Amended on Scopulus 2013-05-15 12:12:29 in Marketing Articles
