Want to know a component to success that isn’t talked about as much as things like goals, time management, and vision?
Before you go out into the world each day, expect that something good is going to happen.
Have the expectation that you are going to get into a conversation with somebody at the bank, the hair salon, or the grocery store. Expect to make a sale, find a great lead, or book an important meeting you've been trying to get on the calendar.
In life, if you want good things to happen, you need to expect good things to happen.
When you expect positive things to happen, you challenge yourself to be prepared. When you leave the house armed with this attitude, you are more likely to start conversations with people and get the ball rolling. You will feel more confident about your business and what you offer, and so will the people you meet.
Here are five ways to do this on a consistent basis.
Learn To Deal With No
One thing you need to learn quickly in any business is that people are going to tell you no. There are people who will not like, want, or need your product. They won’t want to schedule a meeting or continue a conversation with you. That’s okay.
When someone tells you no, remind yourself that they aren’t saying no to you because they don’t like you as a person; they are saying no to the experience or to the product, maybe even because they don’t understand it.
As with any business, there are going to be times when you feel uncomfortable and unsure, especially at the beginning. But as long as you remain positive about your business — even through the no’s — you will find yourself attracting people you want.
Find the Silver Lining in Everything
Learning to find the silver lining means learning to find the best in everything that happens. If you do your best and look for the good in every situation, then you will see more good things.
I remember when I was in the field, I booked an event with a woman who was over 90 years old and lived two hours away. I went all the way there, and no one showed up. I could tell she was upset, so I stayed with her for two hours looking at photos of past vacations and things her grandchildren had made for her. I could have gotten upset and written the evening off as a horrible night with money lost. Instead, I put my focus on her and making her feel good. I was hopeful that something good would come from the situation, and it did. She not only collected an abundance of outside orders, she helped me create the biggest booking chain of that summer.
Sometimes when we do something, we want an exchange of effort or a result right away. If you do good and help people, it comes back to you in other areas of your life. It might not come back to you at that exact moment, but eventually, you will see the fruits of your labor.
Be Solution Oriented
You will have something go wrong in your business at some point. Instead of focusing on what’s wrong, focus on what you can do to fix it. Every time you see a problem, immediately make it your goal to find a solution.
I remember once when I was traveling to Toronto, I was sitting beside a couple whose flight had just been cancelled. I heard them say things like, “What are we going to do now?” “I can’t believe our flight got cancelled. Now we are going to miss picking up Jacob.” Automatically, they looked at their situation with a negative attitude and started to list how this one thing was going to ruin everything else.
I have always been very solution-oriented, so I was already coming up with solutions for them. I interrupted them and apologized for overhearing and gave them some options. I let them know that the Windsor airport was only 45 minutes away and that maybe they could get a flight from there. I reminded them that Detroit to Toronto was only a four-hour drive, so they could possibly rent a car. After I mentioned these options to them, they calmed down, and their attitude changed.
The fact is, most people don’t think in a solution-oriented manner. Many people keep themselves from moving forward toward their goal. Instead, they give up at the first sign of trouble and let one small thing ruin their day.
Let Go of the Things You Can’t Change
Sometimes things aren’t meant to be, and there is nothing you can change, no matter how solution-oriented you are. You need to move forward and find the positive in that.
Don’t be upset about the things you can’t change. Something like an order being delayed in shipping is completely out of your control. But what do you have control over? You can connect with your customer and reassure them that their order is coming. Nine out of ten times your customer will completely understand. If they don’t, you can work with them to make them happy.
People spend so much time and energy on the things they have no control over. That’s why it’s important to find the silver lining and stay positive about everything.
Stay Positive on Social Media
People are watching what you do and say on social media. They are deciding what type of person you are, whether they like and trust you, and whether they want to do business with you.
Your social media platforms should not be places to air your dirty laundry, complain about your day, or in any other way be unprofessional. When you do any of these things, you come off as a negative person — and people don’t want to do business with negative people.
Even if you choose to use your social media pages only for personal use and not for business, never forget that there are still potential customers, co-workers, and bosses viewing you online. Someone who is interested in your product or your business will most often check out your social media pages to decide whether or not you are someone they want to do business with.
Always remember, a good attitude gets noticed and can help set you apart in a good way. People want to connect and do business with people who make them feel good. It’s important to be the kind of person you want to attract, and most people are attracted to positive people with a great outlook. All of that starts with walking out into the world each day expecting good things to happen.