I Believe in it!
By Will Nowell 4 MINUTE READ
I have always believed in the power of Optimism. I believe it helps to look on the bright side, hope for the best, and to be Optimistic about the future.
In 2007, my Optimism was put to the test, when I broke my neck in a swimming accident and was temporarily paralyzed from the neck down. That experience challenged everything I knew about having a positive attitude.
I have always believed in the power of smiling. I remember practicing my smile in a mirror while I was wearing a huge Halo to stabilize my neck. I was preparing for a three day sales training and I was hopeful my big smile would take the focus off my injury and weakened condition. Rather than have folks worry about me, I wanted to lift the energy and confidence of the sixty plus people in my class. The best part was that when I was smiling, no one knew what I was really thinking. Ha-ha!
The smiling must have worked because that one training led to all kinds of additional opportunities and turned what could have been a disastrous year into one of the best I ever had.
Even the best of us can be vulnerable to letting our guard down at times and allowing temporary circumstances to negatively influence our attitude. Staying Optimistic is always better. Believing in and working for, “a way through instead of a way back”, helps you find the energy and ideas to be more productive in your work and in your personal life.
If you could use an Optimism boost, check out these Optimism skill building ideas you can put to work to help you be more Optimistic.
Did you know that Optimists have a time advantage!
A recent Frost Bank Optimism study and challenge established that individuals who cultivate and protect an Optimistic perspective. can experience up 145 fewer days a year of energy sapping stress. These team members are engaged in adding up to 145 days of productive, worry free, time to their year. That could be huge, right?
A related survey of 2,000 adults found that optimists are:
Seven times more likely to experience high levels of well-being
Believe that their goals are more achievable than the average person and
Twice as likely to make positive personal and career changes
Armed with a more positive outlook, these optimistic people are significantly more likely to make positive choices, experience more success and feel a greater sense of satisfaction, gratitude, and happiness.
There is a link between Optimism and success.
For companies, Optimism can be a game changer.
Optimism is a valuable attribute for companies to cultivate. There are many studies that show a powerful connection between optimism and success. In my experience as a sales trainer and coach, I have been fortunate to work with executives from some of the most forward-thinking companies to help them foster an optimistic culture that drives business outcomes.
I have seen individual salespeople and even national companies, double and triple sales using the same number of opportunities by simply focusing on building a Value based culture where the salespeople are focused on service and listening instead of talk, talk, talking.
Optimism, is about doing the right things for the right reasons and setting the expectation of good things happening that benefit the others as well as yourself. The foundation for Optimism is our attitude and behavior. Optimism is the result of taking a realistic assessment of the present moment, putting one foot in front of the other and overcoming challenges in bite sized, achievable steps.
Replace nonproductive feelings with 3 Optimistic habits?
1. Always take a step forward: Optimists do not wait for the perfect, detailed plan. Instead, they try to accomplish their goals, even if their plan is a little rough. Optimists just take the next step forward and celebrate each small success while they progress towards meeting and exceeding their goals. A forward step is the smallest meaningful action you can take in the face of a challenge. It reminds the brain that your behavior matters as you experience a win from completing each small step or action.
2. Focus on the good: Our mind focuses on the things that we are stressed about unless we give it another more positive direction. Optimists remember and celebrate the more positive parts of our life that are fulfilling and energizing. This is the fuel that keeps us going.
Each day take just a few minutes to “Think about and Thank about”, at least three new, specific things you are grateful for. This simple practice can change how you see the rest of your day and reminds you how fortunate you are as your list continues to grow.
3. Expect the unexpected: Even optimists experience setbacks. Optimistic people recover and learn from their setbacks. Optimists say learning from their mistakes fuels their Optimism. So, make a list of three of the most stressful events of your life, how you persevered and overcame them. Write what you learned and how it made you feel. Your resilient past can help boost your Optimism about your ability to conquer your future.
My experience.
For 30+ years I have operated my own business, ValueMatch Plus. I love the freedom of being responsible for my success and accountable for my mistakes. Over the years I have experienced my share of challenges and success.
This year, when the seniors housing industry encountered challenges, I like most of you had to regroup, assess the situation, and make the needed changes to address the new environment. My motivation was simple, I wanted to help seniors and their family’s sort through the issues and make good decisions.
I was Optimistic in my efforts. I was confident, as I used what I learned in past experiences to create plan forward. I was grateful to provide a valuable service. I was determined to find a way through. So, like most of you, I pushed forward and found ways to be successful and thrive.
Armed with Optimism, I managed to help some companies and a bunch of seniors and their families get what they both needed.
Optimists believe in silver linings. This year has had some positive surprises. I have enjoyed more time at home as I learned to perform my sales training and coaching using technology and on-line tools. (Something I thought was a weakness and I had to learn to do).
I believe you like me can build your Optimism and have more success by, putting one foot in front of the other, resolving to learn and grow from our challenges and remember to recognize and be thankful for the positive surprises.
Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts on this important and valuable topic.
If I can be of help to you or your team, please reach out. I would be happy to learn about your situation and share what I have learned.
William J. Nowell
President and Author of ValueMatch Selling
ValueMatch Plus a PPMS company
602-284-0124
[email protected]
Some of the suggestions and research quoted were gleaned from my book, ValueMatch Selling, “Selling What Matters Most”, and from other resources including Michelle Gielan, a positive psychology researcher and the author of Broadcasting Happiness: The Science Of Igniting And Sustaining Positive Change.
