As we shift from BLAME to being an OWNER, it’s important we do a quick recap. Remember, BLAMErs struggle making personal and professional progress because they…
- BINGE Negativity
- LIVE in the Past
- ABANDON Hope
- MAKE Excuses
- EXPECT Others to Fix Stuff
I know we can do better. First up in exploring how to become an OWNER? Have an Optimistic Outlook.
The late Madeline Albright, former Secretary of State commented once when asked if she was an optimist or a pessimist. Albright replied that she “was an optimist that worried a lot.”
On the other hand, my father was a 100% dyed in the wool pessimist. His favorite saying when I was growing up was “expect the worst and you won’t be disappointed.”
My dad’s upbringing wasn’t pleasant. His father left when he was a young boy, leaving him with two black eyes as a parting gift. Raised without a father, he struggled his entire life to feel worthy even though he was a voracious reader and lifelong learner. Despite this, he still looked at life through the half-empty glass.
The challenge with pessimism is that you have no will to get better or improve. If you think you’ll fail, you will. Optimism on the other hand gives you hope.
Famous quotemaster and author Simon Sinek wrote a book entitled Find Your Why. How about challenging this title and find your WHY NOT? It’s a good reminder to update your narrative.
- They won’t choose me. WHY NOT? APPLY ANYWAY!
- People like me don’t succeed. WHY NOT? GET OUT THERE AND PROVE THEM WRONG!
- Nobody listens to my ideas or suggestions. WHY NOT? KEEP SUBMITTING THEM!!!
- I’ll never amount to anything. WHY NOT? WHO OR WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO ASSUME THAT?
If I listened to my dad’s narrative, I’d still be sucking spit as a dental assistant or crawling around in somebody’s attic running computer cables. Instead, I made the choice to create my own story. My own mindset. My own attitude. And my life has superseded all my dad’s low expectations for me.
I challenge you to do the same!