Sinek, the author of Start With Why, provides a deep look into what creates the most effective teams and more importantly, what keeps them working together, even during the most difficult of times.

This is one of those books that will take you a little bit longer to read because so many thoughts require you to take another look, just to make sure you understood the power behind them.  A phenomenal effort by Sinek, Leaders Eat Last not only looks at the dynamic of the team but of the individuals that make up that team.

What really sets this book apart is Sinek’s unique look at why some people make good leaders and others don’t and the “why” behind the results they get.  In this post, the second of four, I will attempt to capture the basic thoughts of the eight parts of the book.

PART 3: REALITY

THE COURAGE TO DO THE RIGHT THING – Sinek tells the story of an air traffic controller that broke the rules and as a result, saved over a hundred lives.  The point of the story is that sometimes it’s ok to break the rules, because it’s the right thing to do.

The bigger point of the story is that we have created a culture of non-thinking rule followers that use those very rules to justify making the wrong decision just because “that’s what they were told to do.”  Sinek goes on to discuss the idea of trust and offers this great thought: “We don’t just trust people to obey the rules, we also trust that they will know when to break them.”

SNOWMOBILE IN THE DESERT – Another great chapter!  We are the most advanced creature on the planet and yet, have the most difficult time working collaboratively towards common goals.  Sinek suggests that people are not the problem in most cases when discussing our cooperative efforts.

Our culture is so competitive that in most of the environments that we work in, we are judged on personal performance.  This creates a natural condition pushing us to do better than the next guy.  Sound like looking our for #1 to me.  Create an environment in which your people can thrive, and they will!  (Tweet This)

PART 4: HOW WE GOT HERE

THE BOOM BEFORE THE BUST – This is Sinek’s look at how the economic health of the nation has impacted leadership.  The roaring twenties were a time of prosperity and wealth never seen before.  Then the stock market crash hit in 1929 beginning a depression lasting until nearly 1942.  Going to war is widely accepted as the event that pulled us out of that depression.

The point he makes is that like in anything, there has to be balance.  He makes a great comparison between the good times and the bad – at least from a leadership perspective.  The generations that have produced great security and stability have focused on leadership and service, not excess and consumerism.  Hmm, isn’t that interesting!

THE BOOMERS ALL GROWN UP – Sinek takes a look at the three stock market crashes we have endured since the baby boomers took over running government and business.  There has clearly been a shift to the idea that people are as disposable as products.  We have moved away from a strong sense of community and now focus on protecting “what is ours.”

This may be one of the strongest thoughts in the book – “There are smart executives running companies and managing systems, but there seems to be a distinct  lack of strong leaders to lead the people.”  I wonder if the leaders still exist but there no longer exists a job description that includes them.  Just sayin’

Here is Sinek’s bottom line that I take away from this section of the book.  “It’s not how smart the people in the organization are; it’s how well they work together that is the true indicator of future success or the ability to manage through struggle.”  

Read that again and just think about it for a minute.  Does it apply to your current environment?

• Click here to read part 1

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Barry Smith  3/13/14   photo courtesy of amazon   © Building What Matters 2014

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Have you ever been really frustrated and were ready to tear the head off the next person that happens to come your way? Did you ever consider saying “thank you” to them in lieu of the first thing that comes into your mind?  I think I can safely answer those questions for you.  Yes and No.

I recently finished reading “The In-Between – Embracing the Tension Between Now and the Next Big Thing” by Jeff Goins. Goins does a great job of describing the benefits of what happens during the ‘in-between” times and how that part of the journey is often overlooked.  It takes focus to achieve this.

An added value that Goins has offered with the launch of his new book is what he calls the “Slow Down Challenge.”  If you have been following me for a while, you know I usually do a book review post on Wednesday.  I am going to throw a little twist into that for this and one more post.

This will be the final of five posts following Goins Slow Down Challenge.  Here is the lineup that will take us through this five post series:

• Day 1 – The Habit of Noticing (Click here to read)
• Day 2 – Savoring Every Moment (Click here to read)
• Day 3 – Focusing On What Really Matters (Click here to read)
• Day 4 – Interruptions (Click here to read)
• Day 5 – Gratitude

It’s so easy to react to the any situation after it happens.  Usually when we react, it is due to something going wrong and us using our human ability to act before we think. C’mon, you know you have done this!

Have you ever been upset and someone and out of the blue, they said or did something nice.  Kind of a humbling moment isn’t it?  We have a tendency to become so consumed in the moment.  But not what the moment could hold, but what we hold in the moment.

In an earlier post, I mentioned a place my wife and I go to about an hour away that releases us from the day to day interruptions that create stress.  One of the reasons I like to go up there is because of the view.

It doesn’t matter where we go or what we do when we are up there, all around us there are things to be thankful for.  Maybe it’s a way to refuel on gratitude.  Do you have a place you can go where you are easily reminded why you have so many reasons to be thankful?

The key to life is balance, right?  Well, sort of.  I would suggest that it is balancing not necessarily everything, but the right things.  The in-between times are good times to think about all you are thankful for, in fact, it’s probably the best time.

When was the last time you made a list of all the things you were grateful for?  Have you ever made that list?  Consider this your bonus challenge:  Make a list of 25 things you are grateful for and put it somewhere so that you can see it every day.  You might just be a little more grateful when you have a constant reminder of those things.

Here is the action plan from Day 5 of the Slow Down Challenge:

1. Today, try saying “thank you” for everything.
2. Say it to the server who took forever to bring out your meal.  Say it to the cashier who moves to slow.  Say it to your late lunch appointment or the call center operator who keeps putting you on hold.
3. Say it to God for every inconvenience that causes you to grow.
4. Say “thank you.”  Don’t just think it or tell it to yourself.  Actually speak the words – and mean them.

So my challenge for today; “Don’t wait for a reason to say thank you to someone. Intentionally go out of your way to say thank you, when it’s not even called for, to at least five people today.”  Do it because you want to and not because need to.

Oh, and by the way … “Thanks for reading this post and joining me in The Slow Down Challenge”

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Barry Smith    9/9/13   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2013

The post DAY 5 – Showing Gratitude Even When You Don’t Feel It appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

At the same time, the lack of competition may represent true teamwork.  OK, great, now what do I do?  Compete or lay down and roll over?  I never said give up.  There is a big difference between “not competing” and  “throwing in the towel.”

I am currently with about 600 of my John Maxwell Team colleagues who will be focused on learning better and smarter ways to add value to each other this weekend.  One of the most impressive things about this team is that there is relatively no competition within the team.

Almost 3,000 worldwide, this team works to support each other.  Not only on an individual basis, but in our business building as well.  Individual success stories are often shared, but they are shared with the intent to teaching others how to do the same.  There are no trophies awarded or recognition for being “more successful” than the other members of the team.  That’s what makes this team different.

I have never been involved with a team of so many givers and in almost every case there is no expectation of anything in return.  We support and encourage each other and help in every way possible to take our teammates to the next level of success.

I find it interesting in such a competitive world that there is relatively little focus on competition or why the “Maxwell Philosophy” may be a better choice for coaching, training and speaking business opportunities.  The mindset is not an “either or” but a “in addition to.”

We have access to the resources created under the brand of the top “leadership guru” in the world and bring the most current thoughts in leadership development to the market place.  An international team of mentors, all in the top of their respective fields pour into us on a daily basis with the push to be the best we can be in whatever we do.

The idea of competition suggests a winner and a loser.  The Maxwell philosophy is about everyone winning.  By Monday night, there will be over 400 newly certified team members to head back into the world to add value to everyone they serve.

So is competition the catalyst to success?  Maybe yes and maybe no.  I believe that it depends on how you are defining success.  If success is beating out your competitor and gaining a contract, I suppose it could be said that competition was the drive that got you there.

If on the other hand, success is achieving the opportunity to add value and serve your client to help them reach their potential, than it’s not really about what you get, but what you give.  This is the true definition of servant leadership.  Servant leadership is part of the Maxwell philosophy and serving does not require competition, it required dedication and commitment.

So I have a question that should make you think a little harder than most of my questions but I think it’s an important one.  I have written many times that the better the question asked, the better the answer received.  So I would like to challenge you to ask a better question.

Instead of thinking about who you are competing against, consider what you are competing for.  Vince Lombardi said “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.”  I believe competition is not about who wins and who loses, it’s about what is gained in the process.  So what are you competing for?

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Barry Smith    8/9/13   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2013

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My field experience had no doubt enabled be to connect on a higher level than anything I ever learned sitting in a chair in front of a computer screen or as an attendee at a training event but that “additional” training had taught me how to use what I have learned in the “real world” much more effectively.

How we think and how we process information is the key to maximizing what we know and applying it so it can benefit others.  What we learn in a specific job is usually confined to a somewhat consistent environment.  Over time, we get comfortable with that environment and make similar decisions consistently.

The problems begin when things don’t go as they always have (if this hasn’t happened to you yet, it will) and we are faced with making decisions we have not had to make before.

Training on communication, leadership and personal growth will enable you to make decisions that our greatest leaders make every day.  There is not a job out there that can’t benefit from these skills.  Great leaders are great communicators and challenge themselves to grow every day.

The picture in this post is of the husband of a very good friend of mine.  When she sent the picture to me, it immediately struck me that the military is a great example of why training is so important.

What do you think would happen if we left it up to on-the-job training for our armed forces?  Yes, they learn a tremendous amount from being on the front lines but what if they did not go through the extensive training that they all do.

The most important business related to the safety of our nation, and our allies, depends greatly on the training our soldiers have received.  No political statement here, but what if we did not put the effort into training these individuals that keep us safe?

Look around at the successful businesses that you deal with, maybe even your own. My bet is that they all provide some type of additional training beyond what is learned simply by showing up in the morning.

So is on-the-job training enough?  In some cases, absolutely not.  In other cases, it may not have such a significant impact as the military but this I know;  “When you train your people, you build your people.”   And your people are what will make or break you.

So what training are you providing to your employees?  If you are an employee, what training is your organization providing to you?  There are hundreds, even thousands of trainers out there that could potentially make a difference in your business and in the lives of your people.

I chose communication, personal growth and leadership in this post because those happen to be the values that I believe in the most and focus on in my business.  With almost every new potential client, I ask three questions:

1. What type of training have you done in the past?
2. What is the biggest challenge (personal or organizational wide) that you are facing right now?
3. What would be the desired outcome if we were to work together?

Just something for you to consider the next time you walk into the office and see a problem that just won’t go away.  Hope to hear from you soon!

Alright, I suppose that was a sales pitch but honestly, in your list of priorities, how important is the security of your job position or the longevity of your business?  What are you doing to protect it?

Your people are you biggest asset and your biggest liability.  So how much are you investing to protect your assets and limit your liabilities?

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Barry Smith    7/29/13   photo courtesy of Stefanee Darnielle   © Building What Matters 2013

The post Is On-The-Job Training Enough To Succeed? appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

Quy, who spent 24 years as an FBI agent, provided some of her insights on the topic of failure and how it is important to fail.  You can read her full article by clicking here, but here are her 5 reasons that may just change the way you look at failure:

1. Failure Develops Persistence
2. Failure Builds Mental Toughness
3. Failure Defines Willpower
4. Failure Makes You Smarter
5. Failure Raises Curiosity

In short, Quy describes two types of failure. One is the result of not doing something because it pushes us outside of our comfort zone and the other comes from actually doing something outside of our comfort zone.

My big takeaway from the hangout conversation was not from failure itself, but from how we deal with it.  Let me ask you a question … How would you explain the difference between an optimist and a positive thinker?

Before yesterday, I would have probably said they were basically the same thing.  Not! I didn’t take the time to actually see what Webster says about optimism or what “positive” thinking might actually mean because I don’t care.

What I do care about is that I now have a new way of thinking about how I look at failure.  We have all heard the old phrase, “It’s not whether win or lose, it’s how you play the game.”  I have a different spin on that timeless quote.

“It’s not whether you fail or succeed, it’s what you learn from the experience that will make a difference moving forward.”

We will all fail and even though some failures are catastrophic, most are simply an opportunity for a lesson learned.  Go back and look at Quy’s five – is this how you are using failure or are you letting those failures beat you down and hold you back?

“If you are not messing up every once and a while, you are not doing anything.”  –  Robert L. Woods

Woods, one of the wisest men I have ever known, made this statement to me about 30 years ago and I can honestly tell you that hardly a week goes by when I do not think of those words.  I would much rather fail from taking action, by stepping outside my comfort zone, than failing as a result of living a complacent life.

Back to the optimism vs. positive thinking issue.  Try this on for size … Optimists go through life believing that things will get better, that somehow things always work out. Positive thinkers actually do something to make things work out.  I believe there is a huge difference between these two types of people.

So the way I see it, we have three ways we can deal with failure:

• Let it beat us down and hold us back
• Accept that it is simply a way of life and move on, or
• Embrace the lessons learned within that failure and use them to accomplish some of the ideas that Quy has provided

I will put a little spin on what another colleague of mine, Dave Moore, said during the hangout.  An optimist will consider the glass half full, a pessimist will consider it half empty, but the positive thinker will drink it while the other two are discussing it.

So my question today, “When it comes to failure, are you a pessimist, optimist or a positive thinker?”  Your answer may just make failure your new friend.

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Barry Smith    5/31/13   photo by author   © Building What Matters 2013

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So a few simple questions … Who are you hanging around and what are you reading?

Let’s be honest – we are a product of our environment. There is really no way around it.  If you feel like there is more to life and you just can’t figure out what it is, it might be due to the fact that there is only so much visible in the environment you are currently in.

Now comes the hard part – you need to change your environment or you need to change your environment.  In other words, you can be an agent of change within the environment you are in or you can find another environment.

In either case, the choice is yours.  I just spent a week on the Island of Oahu and I saw all kinds of environments.  Most of the Island is very conducive to the growth of vegetation.  Lots of sun and lots of water.  The result; lots of greenery.

I also saw parts of the Island that were run down and it appeared that poverty was in full force.  No bad on the state of Hawaii – most communities have representation of all these types of conditions.  It’s just the way things are.  But it was very clear that some were thriving and some were simply surviving.

So like I said, it’s all about our choices.  Are you currently in an environment that provides INSPIRATION and SECURITY?  Do you live in FEAR because of the EXPECTATION that FAILURE is not an option?

Does your work CULTURE allow for BALANCE between your business and personal life? How would you rate employee ENGAGEMENT and MOTIVATION?  Is the concept of TEAMWORK helping to build MORALE?

Is COMPETITION so fierce within the organization that you have to RISK your QUALITY of work in search of SUCCESS and VICTORY?  Are you RESPECTED for THINKING that CHANGE means OPPORTUNITY?

On May 23rd, at 8:00 pm ET, I will be hosting a free call introducing “The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership” Coaching Program.

This will be a content filled call that will not only teach you about influential leadership but also about leading an intentional and successful life.  The words in capitals above are topics within Pillar #2 – Environment.

This is the second of five posts related to the 5 Pillars that will go out prior to the call on the 23rd.

For more information and to register for the free call CLICK HERE.

To see the first video on Pillar #1 – AWARENESS click here

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The post Are You Thriving Or Surviving In Your ENVIRONMENT? appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

There are varying philosophies on the idea of friendship at work.  Some feel that there is no place for it in a professional environment and others thinks that everyone should be friends.

What do I think?  I think it depends on what you intend on doing with the friendship.  I will admit, I have been the instigator of the March Madness bracket at the office.  It’s not my fault they play the Thursday and Friday games during work hours.

The last few years, I got a little smarter, I talked the owner into filling out his bracket. Now if I could figure out how to have him win … never mind!

Filling out basketball brackets together will certainly build some comradery between co-workers but there is something much larger at play here.  We simply need friends at work.

Most people spend more time at work then they do at home.  What often happens is that the pressures and stress of our job get to us during the day and then we unload at home.  Bad plan!

I think if we had better relationships with our co-workers, we would be much better managers of the stressful stuff.  How do most people define a friend?  Someone I can talk to that will listen.  Someone I can depend on when I need them.  Someone who will help me out when I am in a jam.  Do these descriptions sound like someone you could use at work every once and a while?

Think about something else.  If you have been at you current job very long, the people you work with know you pretty well.  Do you think that might come in handy?

Here is what I think is important.  Building relationships at work is good.  Building friendships is even better.  The key is to know when it’s appropriate to be a friend or when it should be strictly business.

My advice to owners and managers; encourage the idea friendships in the workplace. This is a support staff for your people.  That being said, make the guidelines clear on what is acceptable and what is not and allow the employees to police themselves unless you see a major issue with time management.  Remember, happy employees are productive employees.

My advice to employees; do not abuse the latitude you have been given.  Your friendship time, whatever that may look like, should have a desired outcome to benefit the company.  Even if that benefit is simply your attitude adjustment.

My advice to everyone; you need people in your corner to support and encourage you. You also need to be that person every once and a while.  Whatever relationships you have at work, make respect and trust a big part of them.  Develop relationships to add value, not to gossip or exclude others.

“Treasure your relationships, not your possessions.”  –  Anthony J.  D’Angelo

I think D’Angelo is right.  I don’t think we can truly enjoy what we do if we don’t enjoy those that we do it with.  You might have the greatest job in the world, but if you don’t get to enjoy with anyone, how satisfied will you be?

Have you ever heard of someone turning down more money to go elsewhere because they liked where they were at?  Sure you have.  I will bet you the reason they stayed was because of the people they were working with.

So as you begin the next work day, consider this question; “If I could work with any group of people, who would they be?”  Just something to think about.

Oh and by the way, if you like working with someone … when was the last time you told them that?  … Thought so!  Might want to add that to your to-do list.

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The post Friendship In The Workplace – It’s More Than Just Having Fun! appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

The 5 Pillars is a project that I have been working on for almost two years and am looking forward to officially launching “The 5 Pillars of Influential Leadership” Coaching program on May 16th.

Why the 5 Pillars?  I have spent more than 30 years in the business world and although it has been primarily in the Construction world, the 5 Pillars philosophy works across all industries.  In fact, while developing this program I realized that it can have a significant impact on your personal life as well.

I will break down each Pillar into three sections, personal, business and community. Any growth or improvement needs to start within, with the end goal of influencing the community you live in.  In this post we will take a look at BUSINESS AWARENESS.

We need to know where we are at, what we have done that brought us here and most importantly, where we want to be.

PURPOSE

You would be surprised by how many people think that their purpose is to be profitable.  Question … Do you select the people you want to do business with because you want them to make money?  Probably not.  The underlying purpose in business is what leads to success.

RELATIONSHIPS

There is not a business out their that does not depend on their relationships to survive.  Relationships are what lead to success and also what allow you to survive when things are tough.

SKILLS

Most people are hired because of their resume.  That is merely a way to get through the door.  You must be aware of what skills are needed for you to advance and how to go about developing them.

STRESS

Most people try and figure out ways to eliminate stress when the truth is that much of our stress is the result of things beyond our control.  Yes, you can eliminates some of the stress you create but focusing on how to manage “outside” stress makes a bigger difference.

CURIOSITY

Businesses that have the “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” mind-set will probably end up broken.  Today’s market is simply too competitive.  Being curious about what’s next will lead you there.

POTENTIAL

There are an unlimited number of factors that keep you from reaching your potential.  The awareness of these limiting factors or beliefs is the first step in overcoming them.

PASSION

If you don’t have a certain amount of passion for what you are doing, you will find it difficult to be fulfilled from your job.  This works for business as well.  Survival of any company will be connected to the passion they have for their business.

CLARITY

Clarity is one of the key elements in proper awareness.  A clear picture on what your current status is and a clear way forward are necessary for growth.  Lack of clarity leads to becoming stuck, or worse.

FRIENDSHIP

The human emotion is something that follows us wherever we go.  Creating friendships allows us to keep the personal element alive and working in the business environment.  We are not machines and can’t sustain if we act like them.

My coaching program will take each topic to a much deeper level.  We will explore open ended questions and how they are directly impacting your life and more specifically in this segment, will allow you to increase your level of awareness as it relates to your business environment.  Business awareness is the key to survival in a competitive world.

In the mean time, start asking the type of questions that will result in better answers. When you ask “How can I”  you get an answer that will move the needle.  “How can I be part of the solution in raising the level of awareness in my workplace”  Answer that question, act on it, and you will succeed.

RELATED:

• Click here to see Part 1 of The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership
• Click here to see Part 2 of The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership
• For more on The 5 Pillars of Influential Leadership and to view my video click here
• To view my guest post in the 2013 International Leadership Blogathon click here

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Barry Smith   www.buildingwhatmatters.com      4/18/13            photo by author

The post The 5 Pillars Of Influential Leadership – Part 3: Where Are We? appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

Paul Martinelli, the president of the John Maxwell Team, realized how important it is to have eyes and ears on the inside of his organization and selected 15 members of the team to provide feedback on the “state of the tribe.”

Putting into real life application some of the lessons we have been taught, we collaborated on:

• What do we need to start?
• What do we need to stop?
• What do we need to do more of?
• What do we need to do less of?

As I have reflected on that day, I realize how important it is for any leader to occasionally take “the pulse” of those he is leading.  The question I have is how many leaders are actually doing this, and doing it with the intent to really listed to what is being said.

The final tally is still to be heard but some changes have already been announced and are underway.  In Paul’s words, “The PAC has spoken and we have listened.”

Here are a few of my thoughts on why this example of leadership is so important:

VISION

For any business there is a vision.  It is the leaders responsibility to cast that vision in such a way that the tribe understands what the vision is and embraces it moving forward.  Sharing your vision as a leader is the only way that vision can be achieved effectively.

CHANGE

Within any organization, there will be change.  Leaders can only see this change from the chair they sit in.  Collaborating with your tribe allows for new perspective.  You will hear the things you can’t hear from where you are and see the things you can’t see.

ENTHUSIASM

It doesn’t matter what business you are in, eventually people become complacent and the attitude of “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” takes over.  A leader needs to keep his people thinking outside the box and the best way to process through new ideas and thinking is to collaborate with the team.  A leader needs feedback – both good and bad.

GROWTH

Most businesses target a certain level of growth.  In most cases, growth either falls short or exceeds what was anticipated.  A leader needs to make adjustments along the way and be able to navigate the course correction that is needed to continue to move forward in a positive direction.

STRATEGY

Today we have a strategy.  The events that happen tomorrow may require a modification to that strategy.  A leader needs to know and understand the condition of his team in order to make the correct adjustments to the strategy in order for it to work.  The only way to know how the team is doing is to ask them.

The bottom line is that for a leader to lead successfully, he must know what his team is thinking.  He must focus on the condition and capabilities of his team’s potential and navigate in a way to best utilize the resources available.

If you are a leader, the question becomes “Do you know what your tribe is thinking?” If you are part of the tribe, “Does your leader know what you are thinking?”

The question for everyone … If no one knows what you are thinking, does it really matter anyway?

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Barry Smith   www.buildingwhatmatters.com      3/4/13            photo by JMT Staff

The post The Eyes And Ears Of Your Tribe – How Well Are You Connected? appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.

John and myself, both with over thirty years in the business watched Lee (just four years into his career) grab his head and exclaim in frustration “nothing’s ever right.”  John and I, in unison, started laughing out loud.  “Now you know what my world is like every day” stated John once he could control the laughter.

The truth of the matter is that most of the time things go right, but often times they do go wrong.  The difference from that point forward is dependent upon whether we choose to respond or react.  I will put it this way … If I respond to something, it is an intentional act to provide a specific outcome.  If I react, it is more of a defensive act based on survival.  Responding almost always provides for a better outcome.

So what determines the direction we choose to proceed?  Attitude!  Look, you can either happen to life or it can happen to you.  Your choice!  Your attitude will probably determine which side of the fence you end up on.

Why does it matter?  Here are a few reasons:

STRESS

When you have a poor attitude, challenges and difficult situations are magnified.  A small deal seems like a big deal and the overwhelm of the moment has a tendency to prevent you from making a clear decision on how to proceed.  In many cases, this just makes the situation worse.  The result – Stress!  On the other hand, a positive attitude will allow you to tackle the problem in a positive manner that will at the very least, take much of the emotion out of the equation and reduce your stress level.

MORAL

Attitudes are contagious.  If you walk into a room with a poor attitude, you potentially have the power to set the tone.  More than once, I have seen the world blow up in front of my eyes because of one person bringing down the entire group.  I know you have seen this – one bad apple can spoil the entire box.  Bring a positive attitude and you have the same power.  Walk into a room with negativity with a positive attitude and there is a good chance that you can diffuse whatever is creating that negative environment.

 Napoleon Hill provides this thought …

No action takes place unless it is preceded by thought. If you’re unhappy with the circumstances in which you find yourself, you can improve your situation through the power of thought, just as surely as you can destroy a positive life with negative thinking. Success begins with an honest analysis of your present condition, acceptance of responsibility for your own life, and the development of a workable plan to achieve what you desire.

Even if it does feel like “nothing’s ever right”, the truth is that it is usually not as bad as you think it is.  The challenge I give you today is to bring a positive attitude into a difficult situation and really pay attention to how you can change the overall attitude of the group.

You only live today once, you might as well make it a good one!

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Barry Smith   www.buildingwhatmatters.com   2/8/13            photo by author

The post Attitude … What Happens When “Nothing’s Ever Right”? appeared first on BUILDING WHAT MATTERS.COM.