The Biggest Success Factor in Your Business -- and Your Life

Do you see the glass as half-full or half-empty? Your answer to this question has everything to do with how successful you'll become. More than that, your overall state of happiness depends on your answer.
Maybe you've read about the hypothetical scenario where two shoe salesmen are tasked with opening up a new sales territory -- in this case Kenya. One reports back to headquarters, "Sorry, no one wears shoes! There's no hope." The other enthusiastically responds, "Lucky us... no one wears any shoes yet. Big opportunity!"

At Blinds.com we're faced with a similar situation. The housing market is dismal and only about 6% of people buy blinds online. That first salesman above would probably be whining about the perceived lack of opportunity. We're taking the other tack and instead getting dramatically more aggressive with our ad spends, customer experience enhancements, training, capital expenditures, and R&D. While others are sleeping, we're growing.

It takes a culture, though, of thinking positively. In the new book, "The Happiness Advantage," by Shawn Achor, the author references numerous experiments proving that your positive perspective is not determined by happiness; your positive perspective causes your happiness.

If you own a business, it's up to you to establish in everyone's minds a culture that they CAN control their own fate, irrespective of external events. Do that by allowing people to make mistakes without admonishment, coach them to learn from their mistakes ( you need to actually ask them what they've learned), ask them what they appreciate and what they find gratifying, and let them know that they're expected to energize everyone around them. Impacting others and showing gratitude makes one think outside themselves and focus more objectively.

By the way, I think the glass is half full AND half empty. You must recognize the existence of deficiencies and hurdles without allowing them to thwart you from achieving your goals. Do you have people working with you who are constantly bemoaning their lives, jobs, or situations? Your choice is either to teach them optimism, or rid yourself of their negativity. Your organization's health and profitability depends on it.

Photo courtesy of Flickr.com, by Blaineattacks!
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