How to Feel Better and Make More Money
Dave Lorenzo
Godfather of Growth | Business Strategy Consultant | Founder of a Community of B2B Business Leaders
We cannot control everything in life.? We plan.? We prepare.? We discuss. But ultimately, some things are out of our hands.
We can control how we react – in every situation.
I don’t just mean physical control.? I also mean emotional control.
It seems impossible but our reaction to our emotions is at the mercy of our mind not the other way around.?
You are driving down the road and someone cuts you off.? You immediately feel anger. You can act out based upon that feeling – speed up and try and cut off the guy who cut you off – or you can shift your focus to something else and forgo the need to avenge this insignificant perceived wrong.
In the big picture – the course of your day, your week, your month or your life – this is an aberration.?But the consequences of the emotion you feel in that moment could be life-altering.??
Recently I was in a car with a friend and we were on our way to an event.?We got to a traffic light and there was a long line of cars.? Another driver wanted to cut in in front of us and the person inched their car over.
My friend stopped, let the person in, and then something really amazing happened.?
The person who cut in front of my friend did not do the courtesy, “Hey, thanks” wave.
My friend got really upset.
There was a visceral reaction. His face changed, his demeanor changed.?
He said, “I can’t believe it!”?
“That son-of-a-gun didn’t even say, ‘Thank you’ for me, allowing him to cut in front of us on this long line of traffic.”?
My friend was really upset and he spent the next 10 minutes going on and on about how people didn’t appreciate things and how he couldn’t believe that he didn’t get a thank you for letting this person cut in front of him, in front of traffic.?
This minor slight changed his whole mood.
The lesson here is not about the guy who cut in front of our car. This was not about that person at all. This is about my friend and how he reacted to this situation.?
In this situation, my friend allowed a minor emotional issue to impact his outlook and behavior for the rest of the day.
This applies to all of us. We allow other people to impact on how we feel. How we feel impacts our behavior.
Here’s another example:
Imagine you work with 40 different clients over the course of a week. One of those clients is unhappy, but the other 39 clients with whom you’ve come into contact, and to whom you’ve provided enormous value, have expressed gratitude.???
But one person complained about something minor.
The weekend comes along. Who do you spend your time thinking about? You think about the person who complained and you don’t think about the 39 people who you served, who were impressed, happy, delighted. They were elated with the value you provided.?
This is a huge lesson for all of us.
Focus on the things that are going right and don’t allow other people to dictate how you feel.?
You control your emotions and you must build a positive foundation.
Here's an exercise for you:
Keep a small notebook on your bedside table.
Each night before you go to sleep, set a timer for 5 minutes and write down all the things you did correctly that day. Include personal and business tasks that you performed flawlessly.
Include things that were overwhelming successes and mundane matters you handled with aplomb.
Do this for two weeks.
You'll notice that your productivity has improved.
You'll notice that your relationships become more connected.
People will tell you that you somehow seem different.
Oh, yeah, you'll feel better too, about life, about the people around you and about yourself.
Have a great week!
Dave Lorenzo
The Godfather of Growth
Dave Lorenzo earned the nickname?The Godfather of Growth?because he helps people make offers their clients can't refuse. Also, he does favors. Most of the time, those favors result in more money in your pocket. Call now: (786) 436-1986
Founding Partner at Melo LLP ? Hockey Guy ? Strategic advisor to corporations, business owners and high net worth families
2 年Great point! Very much agree…I’m a live and learn type of guy and no sense focusing in on the negative. Turn the page, celebrate your victories and stay positive and optimistic!
Full Service Intellectual Property/Cyber/Privacy Lawyer; Help Businesses to Integrate Cyber and IP & Achieve Growth/Vistage Speaker
2 年Dave, this is a wonderful lesson for all of us. I am going to start this practice tonight and encourage my family to do the same. Thank you! Amy
Empowering Business, Community & Non-Profit Leaders for Exceptional Growth | Building Bridges Between High-Performing Executives | Vistage Chair | Executive/Leadership Coach | Transformational Strategist | Author/Speaker
2 年Dave Lorenzo, your newsletters are great and I look forward to reading them every week. This week's take-away is the bedtime routine of listing everything I did correctly during the day. I'll let you know in 2 weeks how I've changed.
Vistage Master Chair | Executive Coach | CEO Peer Advisory Board Facilitator | Helping CEOs become significantly more successful while working fewer hours so that they can enjoy their lives, businesses, and families.
2 年It always surprises to see how people react differently in negative situations and how much a tiny incident can instantly change someone's whole attitude and demeanor. Great idea on keeping the notebook. Getting everything off your mind before going to sleep makes for a better night's rest!
Human performance catalyst, trainer, coach, facilitator, conflict mediator
2 年Dave Lorenzo-TY the intro of the article reminded me that we can control our action, reaction, and attitude...the rest is all influence weak to strong. I use Maxout Planner, each a.m. I set my 3 absolute musts (who am I kidding it's never just 3) and at the end of day or first a.m. I reflect on the day and record the three amazing things that happened and how I could have made the day better.