I have tons of blog post topics on my to-do list, and a lot on my overall to-do list as well. BUT I felt compelled to stop and write a quick (hopefully!) post on the despair and irritation I have on this ever-increasing tendency to focus on bad news.
I follow CNN on Twitter. It’s actually the one Twitter feed I have sent to my iPhone. I rarely have time to read the newspaper (sigh!), and I’ve given up on the evening news because the rare good news is so fleeting as to be nonexistent. With the CNN Twitter feed, I feel connected — like I’m reasonably up to date on what’s happening. And as I have time, I click off and read the details. BUT (there’s that BUT again), lately, the CNN feed is about as happy as the evening news! Today was actually a “good” day, with a sprinkling of good news (depending on your point of view):
- At least six people shot in Washington, D.C., police say
- Jaime Escalante, the math teacher portrayed in “Stand and Deliver,” has died
- Colombian soldier held 12 years is released by rebels, Red Cross says
- Serial killer, former “Dating Game” contestant Rodney Alcala sentenced to death
- A small private plane has crashed near Roanoke Regional Airport in Virginia
- Reports: 21 bodies discarded by Chinese hospital near river
- President Obama signs final health care bill
- Man pleads guilty in plot to go on “killing spree” against blacks
Yesterday’s 10+ posts were all negative, tragic, or violent-infused downers, as is the case most days.
What, you ask, does such a blog post have to do with consulting?
A lot.
What we focus on becomes our reality. I’m a firm believer in that. If we focus on the negative, it becomes all that we see, all that we experience. It consumes us. And the negativity snowballs with a life of its own, infecting those around us. Just watch the stock market when something bad happens for an example of what I mean.
As for consulting, which do you think will bring about the reality that we want? Concentrating on lost clients and dwindling projects or looking for new opportunities? Doing the former stresses us out, makes us grumpy, robs us of our creative energy — none of which is conducive to building business. In fact, it probably scares people away. 😉 The latter is future oriented, positive. It’s motivating rather than de-motivating.
What if we all focused on our lost clients and projects? Would you feel energized or would you feel scared to the point of immobility? After all, if it’s so bad, why bother? Why not pack it in and go back to the “dark side” 😉 of regular employment?
Now imagine if everyone put their energies into developing new ideas, generating new business and exciting opportunities? I bet our motivation would go off the charts.
So let’s say goodbye to this focus on bad news and create a frenzy of positive energy.
Think of something new you want to try for your business (or your personal life, if work/life balance is what’s driving you now). Share it with others. You’ll get input, and they’ll get ideas. And like the old shampoo commercial, they’ll two friends, and so on, and so on.
Come on, I dare ya (to coin another phrase by Robert Conrad in the Eveready commercials — yes, I know I’m dating myself!)!
The “secret” is to stop watching, listening to, and following so much “news.” You are what you “eat,” and you think & feel what you “absorb” into your psyche each day. All those “bad things” can happen (and will) whether you participate in feeding them to your brain, mourning them, being shocked, or scared. Choose your menu carefully.
Thanks Kathryne! That’s exactly why I stopped watching the evening news! And why I click off on very few of the CNN headlines. I “feel” all that bad news and have to tune it out to keep sane. That’s why I also choose to focus on positive energies in the consulting arena vs. the doom and gloom focus, such as “SV Jobs Vanishing” (the latest Webguild newsletter headline) or “Silicon Valley Has Rough Road to Recovery” (WSJ.com). Great advice on chooing our menu carefully!
Here’s another way to look at things: I believe we’re undergoing a very deep, fundamental shift culturally, socially and politically. Change can be frightening, true, and I think that’s what drving so much of the bad news. But look at the other side: change also means opportunity. We are undergoing stresses, challenges and changes we haven’t seen in a generation or more. We’re also being presented with unprecedented opportunities, chances to create new goods and services for our customers. We have the opportunity to be real thought leaders, to get out ahead of the curve and not just be another twit who retweets the last thing she read. Scary times, yes, but what a great time to be a consultant or running a business!
Another positive way of looking at the current landscape. Thanks MB!
I just received an email from a friend and colleague relating to Women in Consulting, so I Googled and found this blog post. This is so appropriate and right on. Business has been challenging for all of us and it is so easy to react with fear – to make our choices coming from a place of fear. All the while, even though the climate is scary and uncertain, I keep getting the message that this is really an opportunity for change and I find myself feeling really energized and excited about the possibilities. Thanks for the message!
My pleasure Dianna! I’m glad to hear that you’re feeling energized and excited about the possibilities! It’s also nice to know others are feeling the same way. Since you’re just finding out about WIC, let me know if you have any questions. I’m happy to answer them.