Promoting Action
A writer of business books remembers how disappointed she was when her first book proposal was rejected by what she thought were eleven publishers, only to find out later that her agent hadn't shared an additional sixteen rejections with her! Every time she received a rejection letter she read a small excerpt from the book Rotten Rejections. She remembers one in particular. It said, “Won't sell—doesn't have enough impact.” The book they were rejecting was The Diary of Anne Frank, which has since sold over twenty-five million copies. She shut the book, put a smile on her face, and conjured up a positive mindset.
Giving up stops you from looking for options. When you stop looking for options you are guaranteed not to find any solutions. If, on the other hand, you don't give up, you keep looking for new ways to solve problems. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you think you can't, you won't, and if you think you can, you will persist.
A biomedical firm started with two partners and two salespeople. All the players were working from their home offices. They had an idea, they had the medical research, they had credible scientists, and they had two twentysomethings cold-calling from a list to find investors to kick-start this new company. They did not have an office or a company brochure even though they were asking for thousands and thousands of dollars from prospective investors. But they did have a strong, positive, move-forward mindset to make the business a go. Within two years they raised nearly $1 million and had patented one of their measurement tools, and had several other patents pending.
Traits that are by-products of the positive mind:
You're not affected by what others think of you.
Your self-esteem is high and based on realistic perceptions of yourself.
You keep an open mind and create options.
You understand the Laws of Expectancy and know that what you expect affects the outcome.
You are a positive role model for others in your industry and all those who know you.
You attract the type of prospect and customer you like working with.
A positive mind drives persistence. You attract people and clients to you and you're able to accept constructive criticism more freely. You're filled with a generous spirit and your attitude is filled with gratitude. You expect the best in yourself and in others, refusing to settle for mediocrity.
