How To Become Successful -- It's Simple, Be Positive
This is the very first entry for the new MarketingSecrets.com Blog. Check back often for new entries and expect to read all kinds of random marketing thoughts that come spilling out of my wacky brain. :-)
The first entry I want to make is a very important one. It's about something that I think is the most critical element of success. It's not only about a frame of mind, it's about the people you continue to surround yourself with.
It's a fact... You can have anything you want in life, and you can accomplish anything you desire for your business. All it takes is a positive mental attitude and the willingness to work to make it happen. But it also takes positioning yourself around other elements of positivity.
I really started to see my own success and my own business ventures really prosper and grow when I finally got something through my thick skull...
In life, there are two types of people that surround us: positive ones and negative ones. The most powerful thing in the universe is our ability to choose which people we continue to surround ourselves with. That's right. YOU have a choice.
We have all encountered friends, family members, and business associates that have expressed negativity, put doubts in our minds about what we feel driven to accomplish and do, and have done nothing but put us down rather than lift us up in our quest of chasing the dream we have for our own business.
It's a new year, 2004. There's no better time to make some profound changes in your life, and in your business, than in a new year. Heck, it's a great excuse for change. I would like to challenge you to consciously reduce some of the negativity that surrounds you. If you have people in your life that don't support what you are trying to do with your business, then STOP SHARING IT WITH THEM. Stop asking them what they think. Stop telling them about the progress. Stop bouncing new ideas off them. Kill the communication. Enough is enough.
The only way you are going to really succeed and continue on a positive path of revenue growth, increased profits, and greater success, is if you rid as much negativity as possible from that path -- and usually the easy way to do that is to make a conscious choice to cut negative influences out of the equation. So don't wait. Do it immediately. Stop letting others influence you in anyway unless it's POSITIVE.
And while you're making these changes for the better to improve your business, improve your own attitude as well. Treat your prospects and customers better. Treat your potential partners better. Stop putting others down (if you do) and make a real effort to be more POSITIVE in your thinking, communication with others, and in everything you do.
My father taught me something at a very early age and I try to follow his advice in everything I do...
ALWAYS DO MORE THAN IS EXPECTED OF YOU.
Too many people do the bare minimum. Too many people want to just barely do what they "have" to. Here's a little secret for you...
The people that make the most money in ANY market are the ones willing to do just a little bit more work than the rest of the competition.
So be positive. Stay positive. And encourage others around you to be positive. It will only have a positive influence on your business, your success, and your life.
Comments
First!
Congrats on the Blog, looking forward to many of your insights from your wacky mind.
Posted by: Dr. Mike | January 8, 2004 08:48 PM
2nd! Blast!
Nice to see a blog from someone that actually has something to say... now I have 4 to read, yours, Paul's, Jason's and Seth.
Scott
Posted by: Scott Stratten | January 8, 2004 08:56 PM
John,
Good to hear more from you - and VERY true about the positive/negative people. It made a world of difference for me when I changed associations and got away from the negative people! (Although I'll still hang out with you every now and then...don't worry) ;)
See you soon...
Chris :)
Posted by: Chris Z | January 8, 2004 08:58 PM
John...
One question: Are you positive about that?
Paul
Posted by: Paul Myers | January 8, 2004 08:59 PM
John,
I *love* the blog but I need you to make it an RSS feed so my NewsGator tells me the moment you post a new entry. I know just the person who can make this happen.
Posted by: Tim Carter | January 8, 2004 09:06 PM
I agree
Posted by: Robert | January 8, 2004 09:09 PM
Hey All!
Thanks for the feedback.
Surething, Tim. I, personally, don't know a thing about RSS. But I will be glad to set it up for the blog -- just have someone that knows how email me. :-)
~John
Posted by: John Reese | January 8, 2004 09:11 PM
So true. And not just for marketing.
Posted by: Will | January 8, 2004 09:18 PM
Hi John,
I must say I love to read your newsletter, and now I look forward to read your Blog whenever you post something new ;-)
Now, about your recent post, I have a few comments to make...
Five years ago I was reading a book on "Emotional Intelligence", and there was one part of the book that said, more less, this...
"People who think positively will always have 60% MORE chances to succeed, than those who think negatively!"
Well, guest what?
Since that same day I have never taken an attitude to think negatively again... even when things were going really down in my life or in my business!
And the truth is that, nowadays, even my friends complain of my too positive attitude towards life or challenges!
So I have to totally agree with you that people should always think positive... not because it sounds good to say it... not because it has proven to work with me...
- but because it has been scientifically proven that that is the way it works with everybody!
And I also agree with that part where you say:
"If you have people in your life that don't support what you are trying to do with your business, then STOP SHARING IT WITH THEM. "
...because the truth is some people will always try to turn us down. And I know plenty of people around me (especially my parents, for instance) with whom I couldn't speak about internet marketing.
But, when I stopped sharing internet business ideas with them, no longer did I get the kind of rejection I was receiving before to my ideas ;-)
So, in a few words... Great Post John!
And thanks for sharing it with us on the web ;-)
Frederico Vila Verde
Posted by: Frederico Vila Verde | January 8, 2004 09:32 PM
I agree 1000%.
In addition to avoiding negative people, may I suggest stoppping negative thoughts ?
Timely posting, John - I just happened to blog about this today. See http://www.escalan.com/blog/
Posted by: Derek Scruggs | January 8, 2004 09:36 PM
Frederico -- excellent observations and thank you for the kind words. Glad to hear that you improved your own positivity and it has improved the quality of your life!
Derek -- Great minds think alike. :-) I agree about stopping the negative thoughts. It's not easy (as it is only human nature) but the more CONFIDENT we can be about what we are doing and want to do, the better off we will be.
Posted by: John Reese | January 8, 2004 09:43 PM
John,
So true. A positive attitude leads to believing to acting on what you want.
Dave
Posted by: Dave Wooding | January 8, 2004 09:50 PM
Hi John,
I've never seen a blog before. Pretty neat way to communicate.
Thanks for letting me know about it.
Larry T.
Posted by: Larry | January 8, 2004 10:13 PM
Hi John,
You are one of the few guys worth tuning in to. I truly love everything you've ever written!
Anyways, to quote Dan Pena (The 445 million dollar man) "NEVER SHARE DOUBTS!" Doubts is just the negative programming coming out of your mouth.
I would even go beyond that and say "KILL ALL DOUBTS!" Never, ever doubt that you are going to achieve what you want to achieve. There is no value in the doubt. And when you share it with others, you are opening a pathway for it to happen.
Sincerely,
Matt G.
Posted by: Matt Gallant | January 8, 2004 10:48 PM
Looks like this will be a great blog indeed! Being positive is what counts, I have made it a habit to smile when looking at others.
So at times people ask me "Why do you smile all the time" and I respond "To spread positive energy" :)
It's funny how much hate, anger, depression and sadness lives within most people. I wish someday we can all learn to trust one another and live truly happy like we should!
Keep up the good work with the blog John!
Posted by: Mehmet Aksoy | January 9, 2004 12:55 AM
PS. John you should make the links open in a new window :)
Posted by: Mehmet Aksoy | January 9, 2004 12:56 AM
Awesome insight! There's a great book out there called "Toxic People: 10 Ways of Dealing With People Who Make Your Life Miserable" by Lillian Glass that really helped me on this issue. It helped me identify who the toxic people in my life were and how to deal with them. If any of you have similar issues, I HIGHLY recommend this book... you can get it used on Amazon Marketplace for about $5.00.
Here's to this positive blog!
Thanks John!
Kelli :)
Posted by: Kelli Smith | January 9, 2004 01:47 AM
Hi John,
Great start to your blogging career.
I totally agree about the importance of being positive, I would also add the importance of momentum, it is so easy to be distracted and to allow a small set back to make a dent in our enthusiasm.
I use my daily blog entry (http://www.Quogger.com) as a way of getting myself into the right frame of mind and setting myself a daily challenge or question.
I look forward to many more of your insights.
Take care
John
Posted by: John Taylor | January 9, 2004 02:22 AM
Very true indeed. I work in an organisation that have lots of negative people around. Luckily, the few people who matters most, including my immediate boss are proactive and positive people. Without them, the company would be dead. Positive people do make a difference.
Posted by: melvin | January 9, 2004 09:41 AM
John -
I must now hesitate to say all the cliches about a rotten apple spoiling the whole barrel or a little yeast ruining the whole ...
Well, never mind ...
I will say that out of what's in a person's heart, their mouth speaks. I also believe that the persons with the most to hide usually speak the loudest. The 'popular' IM Forum bullies and buffoons are perfect examples.
Someone famous also said, "We become who we hang around with."
Ouch ...
That's why, whether people like it or not, one reason I sign off most emails with "Happiness" or "Blessings" or "Best to you" ... because I truly mean it, and want to speak that over people.
Great blog, dude -
See you next week,
Chip Tarver
<><
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
Posted by: Chip Tarver | January 9, 2004 12:05 PM
John,
Thanks for starting the great Blog! I'm glad to see your comments about: The Single Most Important Thing For You To Make Money Is To Make Sure You "Do Something You Are Already Interested In Or Know About!"
This is a pet peeve of mine and I'm glad to see your take on it.
Keep the thoughts coming!
Best wishes,
Bruce Arnold
Posted by: Bruce Arnold | January 9, 2004 12:31 PM
You know John I couldent agree more, Its like I was saying to myself as I was going like, uh 150 miles an hour down a road in the keys with a truly dimented pal in his german sportscar on steriods I said "self, yes its true we could be dead at any second, but what a way to go wooo-hooo".
Seriously, attitude, and being aware of what emotions you use and ALLOW others to use on you, will have a direct link to your happiness and bank account size (among other things)
Rock on John meister
Tom
Posted by: Tom Bell | January 9, 2004 02:40 PM
John,
This great article is one more proof why you are one of the *very few* people I currently read.
I could not agree more with everything you say on your article, and to cut a long story, if some years ago I heard what my Microsoft course colleagues, some friends, brothers and my parents were telling me, I would never be here writing this to you - they were always very negative about the idea I had to start my own Internet business once I finished the course. Now, I see that the best thing I did at that time was to stop sharing my ideas with the "negative" people, and start working on and for them.
I use this to myself in all situations: Be always positive, even if things don't work as expected... sooner or later they will.
I'm sure your blog will have the same or more success as your newsletter, and I'm looking forward to read it.
All the best!
Carlos
Posted by: Carlos Martinho | January 11, 2004 06:20 AM
Hey, slots casinos are great fun.
Posted by: slots | December 13, 2004 08:04 AM
Great ideas, especially the one about doing more than expected. In today's competitive markets, you cannot get away with doing the minimum, especially if you want to survice in the long-run. Short run you may get away with it, but once others catch on your toast!
Posted by: Sy | June 18, 2005 09:13 AM
Hello and thank you. I am new to the "blogworld" and have been reading blogs for what seems like hours today. I was getting discouraged by all the gloom and doom in most blogs..... that is until I read yours. It is refreshing and inspiring to read such a positive message. Keep them coming and please, do share anyone else's blog that understands the power of positive thinking.
Namaste'
Posted by: Shelly | November 24, 2005 08:28 PM
Thanks John,
Great advice :)
Kind regards,
Tony Bhachu
http://www.DummiesGuideToFinancialFreedom.com
Posted by: Tony Bhachu | February 22, 2006 06:21 PM