The Power of Staying Positive

As I have a chance to reflect back on the 2009 business year, I realized that it was definitely a turbulent one. I saw many companies succeed, but more go under. As I tried to put my finger on the reason for some companies’ great success and growth, and in the same economic conditions, other companies’ demise, I came to one conclusion.

The companies that succeeded knew they would from the beginning. They woke up every day in 2009, and said, “no matter what kind of economy, we are going to succeed, grow, thrive, be more profitable.” The companies that stayed stagnant or shrunk said, “we are preparing for this bad year, so we are cutting back, laying off, and trying to weather the storm.” Do you see the difference here?

I am in the residential painting business. M & E Painting, along with all the other painting companies go out to meet with the same potential customers who are in the same economic conditions. Why was our company one of the few throughout Colorado to grow this year? We think it every day! We all have such a positive mental energy, attitude, and will to succeed, that by us telling ourselves that we would succeed every day, week, month, and quarter, we achieved our set goals.

When you tell yourself, “ this year is going to be bad”, or, “we can’t do anything about this economy”, you will prove yourself correct . You are sealing the fate of your business right then and there, and you might as well go home and call it a day. I witnessed many companies do this in 2009, and their prediction came true. They even came back to me to remind me, “See, I told you this year would be awful!”

We do not have a crystal ball, but in terms of setting ourselves up to succeed, win, grow, and mature in business, we must get up every day and know we will win. If you have a winning mentality, and a strong, constant positive mental attitude, you will consistently be able to grow your company in a good or bad economy. If you don’t have this, you probably thought this was a bunch of garbage anyway and stopped reading it. READ THIS OUT LOUD AND BELIVE IT: “No matter what happens in 2010, this will be my best year in business ever. I will surround myself with success, and create success in everything I do!”

For more information about how I can help you grow your business, please contact me at matt@shoupconsulting.com