Be Positive: The more we complain, the less we obtain!

Want to see and feel a great example of what it means to Be Positive? Don't miss Episode #12 (above) of the "Real People Getting Real Results!" series featuring Danielle Smythe , a recycler with the City of St. Peters, MO . Danielle is a highly engaged, extremely positive front line team member who loves to learn!

“People have just two choices when it comes to their emotions: they can master their emotions or be mastered by them.” ~ John C. Maxwell

Be Positive

Those who whine get left behind!

Your emotions matter.

They can make you or break you.

Multiple research studies have revealed our authentic influence comes from:

• 87% character (who we are)
• 13% competency (what we know)

You can easily validate this by reflecting on what you’ve likely witnessed in the work place because people tend to be hired for what they know: talent, abilities, skills, knowledge, etc.

However, they tend to be fired for who they are: their attitude, behavior, temper, etc.

When it comes to teamwork, emotions matter a lot because emotions are contagious. Negativity is the most contagious of all. It’s easy to catch and easy to spread.

The next time you go into a break room, lunch room, a meeting, or walk up to any group of people, simply listen for a few minutes and see if positivity or negativity has infected the group.

The majority of the time, it’ll be negativity because negativity is highly contagious.

Negativity infects nearly every team to some degree, some much more than others. When you encounter a group infected with negativity, be careful. You don’t want to become infected too.

BEWARE: Negativity will have a terrible impact on your career. It reduces your income, makes you less likely to be promoted, minimizes the opportunities that will come your way, and decreases your influence.

When you hear the negativity coming from one person, pay close attention and see if the other people join in (low impact players) or if they attempt to spread some positivity (high impact players). High impact players are easy to spot in a negative crowd. They’ll either be silent or “Be Positive.”

In many blue-collar break rooms, lunch rooms, and on the factory floors of many manufacturing facilities across the country, I’ve discovered over the years the negative voices are always the loudest.

If a high impact player tries to spread a little positivity, they’ll likely be bombarded with negativity from all the low impact players. Be prepared. You’re likely to be outnumbered. That’s just the way it is. High impact players are often in the minority.

“Controlling impulses like frustration and anger is a crucial aspect of character.” ~ Daniel Goleman

You can’t be frustrated, angry, and positive at the same time.

When you choose to be frustrated and angry, you are saying no to being positive.

When you choose to “Be Positive,” you are saying no to frustration and anger.

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