Focus on the positives

Flick through your newspaper, switch on your tv, put your earbuds in and listen to the radio, and it seems like all we ever hear are negative news stories. And we all know how draining that can be, it can affect our mood and our outlook on life in general. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. Look and listen harder and there will always be a positive news item, however small, to provide at least some perspective and balance. It’s the same in business, there will always be difficult days and challenges to overcome, it’s part of the journey, and it can often be overwhelming at times to see through those to more positive times ahead. But take the opportunity to find the positives in each day - it could be a new business win, or a compliment paid by a satisfied customer, or an employee who goes the extra mile to get the job done - and focus on those instead of reliving the negatives over and over again. There is a great quote by the first US Olympic Gold Medallist Gymnast, Mary Lou Retton, who said: “Optimism is a happiness magnet, if you stay positive good things and good people will be drawn to you.”