#NoNegativity

At my office, I have a no negativity allowed policy. Negativity isn’t just complaining about the weather or how you didn’t enjoy your lunch. Negative comments can come in many different forms. You’ll want to avoid these 4 common negative sayings:

1. “That is Impossible”—Translated means “I quit before I even try to consider a solution to how this might get done”. This person hangs up all possibilities. Meanwhile, a competitor is thinking about how it is possible. This is how inventions happen. This is how industries change—airplanes, electric cars, and iPhones all came from the desire to get things done.

A few years ago I told a guy that I wanted all my social media to be on the first page if I searched my name. He replied, “That’s impossible”. Well, go search "Grant Cardone" and you'll see for yourself. There’s nothing impossible unless you think it is. Even if it is, people will admire you for trying to make it possible.

Don’t be a little crab, only doing little things, grabbing small things with your small arms and letting the ocean come and grab you off the beach and go along with the tide.

2. “That’s not my job”—This isn’t communism, what do you mean “I don’t do that—I’m a follower, not a leader, I’m a cog in the wheel—I won’t get the car anywhere, I’m not a team leader, I’m not a problem solver, I’m a problem”. Everything is your job. If you want to be more valuable to your company, community, and planet then everything is your job—and your responsibility.

Telling people that it’s 'not your job' is saying you don’t want to participate in the solution.

You're saying you don’t know what’s happening, and that you can’t make a difference. Just handle it, give more, and if you don’t know what you’re doing say you’ll figure it out. Most people don’t know what they are doing anyway. Nobody is as creative as you, talented as you are, or smart as you. If you’re not the person to get it done, who is?

3. “We can’t do that”—This is the policy a company uses when service isn’t convenient. It’s the card pulled out to say we aren’t taking care of you. Can you imagine advertising, “We can’t do that”? The solution is "We’ll do it" or, "Let me show what we can do."

The “we can’t do that” drives me crazy because most often it is something that can be done. Even if it’s not, at least offer an alternative.

Whenever policies come before people it’s a no-win situation.

4. “Thank God It’s Friday”—The same people who never mention the name of God, don’t go to church, don’t know how to even spell “God”, are now thanking him. The whole world shifts on Friday morning as if a holiday is coming. People are saying TGIF at 8 AM, before they even start the day. They’ve wasted the entire week waiting on this morning, now they are going to waste the entire day waiting for tomorrow.

Thank God I’m Free.

How many Fridays do you think you have? Fast forward 50 years, what will you say on your last Friday? I can’t wait to get this day over is basically what you are saying. You’re wasting days waiting on the weekend. Stop waiting on a weekend. While “TGIF” seems like a positive statement, it’s actually a negative one. It’s saying that your whole week sucks and you only live for the weekend.

Stop saying all these negative comments and you will promote a more positive workplace. Make a no negativity allowed policy. If you need a reminder, get some wristbands for yourself and your team.

Be great,

GC