Saturday, February 14. 2009
Attitude... You alone control your attitude. Regardless of the negative news that dominates our newspapers, radio, and television, you choose how you will view that news, and how you will react to it. I read once, that your thoughts, (your attitude) actually cause your body to react as if those thoughts were real. If your are stressed, your body produces chemicals to react to that stress (real or manufactured) as if your were facing enminent danger! So, how you think, actually affects how your act… Conversely, when you take control of your attitude, and refuse to let your thinking be manipulated by the crisis du-jour, you begin to act, and react, differently to events in your business and your personal life.
I started several of my businesses in very difficult economic times. While most businesses were running for cover, I saw an opportunity in that economic environment to purchase equipment cheaply, hire some great talent who were available, and grab market share, as others were operating in fear. My attitude was always “if I can make it now, I can really make money, when ther market turns around!” I also believe that when there is chaos in the marketplace, there is opportunity” and it has always paid off for me. Maybe for you, it could be a customer complaint, or a product return. You can choose to look at that event as a problem, or as an opportunity to engage a customer, fix their problem, learn how to improve, and win back a customer who will be loyal to you for life…it’s your choice!
My attitude during these very confusing and difficult times is that there will be new and exciting opportunities created for those who can recognize and react quickly to those new opportunities. There have been more difficult times in our nation’s history, and in those times, many people actually made money and positioned themselves for tremendous growth when the recovery happened. I have personally faced some very difficult times as a small business owner, but in my most difficult times, I usually learned some valuable lessons that made my next venture more viable, and more profitable.
Some people might have chosen to call it quits during those times, but I chose to call it, “another learning experience, “my second MBA” … or “just keeping positive attitude.” So, as Zig Ziglar has been known to say, “ get rid of your stinkin thinking”, “do a check-up from the neck-up” and get yourself going! Whatever your experience, I can guarantee you that keeping a small business open in any climate is difficult, but keeping it open during a difficult time will require hard work, extreme focus, attention to the basics, …and a positive attitude.