What We Think About

In October 2001, I was attending a regional sales meeting.  It was a month after 9/11, and I was with a group of salespeople discussing the impact of the aftermath on our sales.  Most people were talking negative, very pessimistic and sharing expectations of a downward spiral in sales.  There was nothing they could do, as customers surely were not open to new ideas or working with new providers. Yes, we’re just going to have to hunker down for a while.

Well, that was not my attitude. I figured this was the time to keep connecting, keep being proactive and build upon positive expectations. When times get tough, leaders step up. They run toward the storm and push through.  I did that in 2001, and my book of business continued to grow.

That sounds a lot like what we’re experiencing now – April 3rd, 2020. Granted, this pandemic is unprecedented; we’re navigating waters we’ve never experienced before. But what are most people doing? They’re feeding the negative, pessimistic side of their imagination. None of us really knows how this will all eventually play out – the news is questionable, often contradictory and incredibly dynamic. The only thing that is in our control is how we think. And what we do with what we think.

Take action. Take precautions. Be smart. Be safe and be careful.

But don’t stop adding value. Adding value to clients by serving them any way you can. Adding value to your family by making the most of the increased time together. Adding value to yourself by listening to and getting around smart, positive and proactive thinkers. And by working on some of those big projects you’ve been wanting to get to. And by getting outside and exercising – fresh air, sun, and outdoors – what a great treatment for boredom and anxiety.

Some great mantras I’ve heard along the way may help you re-think what is happening and what we can do about it.

“We become what we think about most of the time.” – What are you thinking?

“Beliefs drive behaviors.” – If you believe you will lose, you will act in accordance with that belief and make it so.

“Action cures fear.” What actions can you take to proactively navigate success right now?

“We move in the direction of our most dominant thought.” What thoughts have been filling your mind and driving your actions?

Some of us will come out of this worse than we started, and some of us will come out better. What we have to understand is that it is a choice. What do you choose?