Little business people who have worked their butts off, invested all of the time, effort and resources into a business that they believe in. Their once hopeful and positive demeanor replaced with fear, frazzled nerves and heavy hearts.
This economy - this changing economic climate we live in is affecting these people and their ability to earn a living. You, the consumer are not spending much money with the little guy. Big Box stores that can offer incredible prices are winning and the little guy is struggling as a result. If you listen to some, there is no hope.....
And yet there are some small businesses that are doing very well - their businesses are flourishing and they are defying what others view as the odds.
So what is the difference between the successful small business and the one that is struggling and faultering?
There are so many contributing factors for a business to fail...
Being under financed, buying the wrong stock or paying too high a price, having people bad mouth you or not pay you...Being unprepared, uneducated in the ways of business, being ill prepared for dealing with human nature, not having a plan B & a C or an awful location.
In this economic climate any one of the above mentioned perils can put you in a bad spot.
There are some fundamental differences between the business person that is succeeding right now and the ones that are faltering...the biggest one, probably the most important one is attitude.
I deal with a lot of business people every day. 7 out of ten are so sad, sound so defeated I can't wait to get off the phone - their sadness is so over powering. The other three - I could be on the phone with for hours - they are positive, grateful and up beat.
Hands down the single biggest difference I have found - the one defining characteristic that all those who are truly successful seem to have...An Attitude of Gratitude.
They are grateful for the things they have and it is reflected in the way they talk, carry themselves and conduct their lives. The more grateful they are, the more they seem to have to be grateful about.
Every great spiritual teacher of recorded time has said it - being grateful is the key to everything that you deem success to be.
“When you are grateful fear disappears and abundance appears” Anthony Robbins
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” John Fitzgerald Kennedy
“If one's life is simple, contentment has to come. Simplicity is extremely important for happiness. Having few desires, feeling satisfied with what you have, is very vital: satisfaction with just enough food, clothing, and shelter to protect yourself from the elements. And finally, there is an intense delight in abandoning faulty states of mind and in cultivating helpful ones in meditation.” Dalai Lama
A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues. Cicero
There are literally hundreds of quotes from people who are respected teachers and philosophers that all say the exact same things... BE GRATEFUL
The law of attraction says that we become what we think of...
If you want to change the course of your business and your life you must become a grateful human being and while it is a daunting task at times - it is one of the most rewarding things we can do - not just for ourselves but for everyone around us. The more grateful and positive, the more things you will attract to you that make you feel grateful and happy.
It is in business as it is in any other aspect of your life...focusing on the good, being grateful for what you have ...that is the way to true success.
Over the course of the last several years I have suffered some horrendous losses - financially, personally. I have experienced betrayal and treachery - every time those things have happened - come in to my life - it's been at a time when I am feeling sorry for myself, where I have allowed a negative aura to settle on me. When I am focused on the things I am grateful for, my life becomes so rich and rewarding.
Learning to be grateful - adopting that as a way of life - it can be a challenge - but I guarantee you that the more grateful I am, the more thankful I am, the more I have to give thanks for. You are no different.
If you are looking for a way to change the circumstances in your life, start reading books like the Secret or the Power by Rhonda Byrne - anything written by Tony Robbins...read - enlighten your mind - invest 10 minutes a day in feeling grateful...
Like any day - I welcome your thoughts and feed back on this topic. You can join us for the discussion on Face Book on my personal page, The Belt Drive Betty & The Busted Knuckle Fan Page, in our forums or right here!
In the news:
Dispelling the myths of running an older bike
American long distance rider and rights advocate Bruce Arnold talks about riding your motorcycle as opposed to flying - some interesting points the man makes....
A riders funeral in Australia causes some controversy
The US Hall of Fame held their induction ceremony
A fitness instructor loves her new Harley
There's a lot more...but those are the biggest highlights so far today!
Have a great day and please take your time out there. Weather check - here in Grande Prairie at the time of writing it was -34
Belt Drive Betty
Editor/Rider
Thanks Rene, I fully agree with your position. The ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE is the key to happiness and disciplne of the mind to be grateful despite any external circumstances is where the power to be in control of my own life is.
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