The Problem With Negativity!

April 17, 2011

Hi Friends:

I recently posted on Facebook about the how the economy is gaining momentum and that we ARE pulling out of this economic downturn.  I pointed out that the stock market has steadily risen in the past 5 months, more jobs are being created and people are slowly starting to spend money again.  I was, mistakenly, dismayed by a number of comments that only reinforce the media’s negative perception of the economy along with the politics of fear that it encourages.  I say mistakenly because it seems the norm nowadays is to put a gloom and doom spin on everything from the economy to the latest celebrity scandal.

Ok, before you tell me to take off my rose-colored glasses, hear me out.  I know it doesn’t always help to “think positive and ignore the negative”.  But I DO know from experience that a positive attitude will ALWAYS get me farther than a negative attitude.  I choose to believe that the economy IS getting better simply because the way our economic system is set up is that it is self-correcting. I’m not an economist but I do know that all the indications at this point show that things ARE improving. If you listen to the media for any length of time you’ll soon realize that much of what they broadcast is negative and makes you fearful.  Why? One word: ratings!  Negativity and sensationalism sells! If you notice, most financial news shows are about 5 minutes of hard facts and 25 minutes of speculation—mostly negative.

I am not insensitive to people who have lost their jobs permanently or who have had their houses foreclosed on and are having a tough time of it financially right now. In the richest country in the world this is a tragedy.  My whole point is that we have been down this road before and we WILL survive it.  But let’s just try to start considering what’s going well and build on that, huh? Start thinking of the possibilities for your life.  Thoughts are things and you can still make your life a masterpiece! So ask yourself: “What do I want to do?  To have? To BE? Take one day and don’t watch any news and just focus on everything you DO want and see how you feel.  I’d love to know your thoughts on this…

Best,

Tim

Complacency—Your WORST Enemy!

October 18, 2010

Hi All:

     I know the above title is a bit unusual but it true to a major degree.  I know that in my business 2009 was considerably slower than usual due to the recession.  Many people don’t want to admit it but I must be honest,my business was like most—down by a double digit percentage due to the economic downturn.  Now what, you may be asking, has all this to do with the above title and reason for this post? Just this:  Due to not being as busy as I’m used to I found myself getting complacent and not trying as hard to get clients in my business.  Subconciously I was thinking, “What’s the use…”.  WRONG THINKING!

     When I got my bearings and realized what I was doing and how I was thinking, I got into action.  Action: the foundational key for all success!  Many business owners think that when the economy goes south they need to pull back on marketing (translated: spend less money on advertising), and just wait it out.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  You need to redouble your efforts and put MORE money and time into your marketing efforts and your business in general.  Case in point, one of my friends who is also an entertainer and speaker didn’t see his business taper off at all in ‘09.   His secret?  No secret at all according to him: he just did more of what he always did marketing-wise.

     Despite what the press and media in general are saying, things are slowly turning around.  Just don’t fall into the trap waiting for business conditions to become perfect.  Perfect never happens.  Stay the course and keep your marketing up and you’ll see a difference in your bottom line.

Until next time,

Tim Piccirillo

www.corporatespeakerforyou.com