Hi Everyone,
My colleagues, Chip Bell and Marshall Goldsmith, have written a great new book, Managers as Mentors (see below). Chip Bell has provided our guest blog and it ties in well with Father’s Day.
Warning…proud papa ahead! The really good-looking guy above is my son, Bilijack Bell. He was last December named the 2012 Atlanta realtor of the year by the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors. He obviously takes after his mother! The Atlanta Business Chronicle did a feature article about him. In a quote in the article, he made a profound (did I mention I was proud?) statement: “I always choose optimism; it’s just easier and allows me to be open to good things in life.”
Let’s dissect his wisdom. “I always choose optimism.” He reminds us that an optimist attitude is not an innate condition. You cannot go to your doctor and get an attitude transplant or have the doc prescribe an optimism pill for you. You decide if your approach to the world is going to be an outlook of optimism or pessimism. In a powerful YouTube video (http://bit.ly/UHDAlh), Towson State Matthew Jeffers says, “The only disability in life is a bad attitude.” Winston Churchill wrote, “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” It is the emotional mantle of winners. General Colin Powell called optimism a “force multiplier.”
“…It’s just easier.” People with an assertively hopeful attitude seem to get more positive things happening to them. This self-fulfilling prophesy is the byproduct of a progressive and expansive mindset. Gandhi wrote: “Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.” Bottom line…it’s just easier!
“…And (it) allows me to be open to good things in life.” Optimists have an expectancy of greatness; a belief in happy endings. Charlie Chaplin said, “You will never find a rainbow if you are looking down.” Their propensity to see the bright side enables them to attract frontrunners and winners. As carriers of enthusiasm they lift others up and transform effort into excellence; dreams into dreams come true. Choose the power of optimism; as the Dalai Lama said, “It feels better.” And, don’t be surprised if you find your pathway easier and countless friends eager to travel it with you. MAM3 Final Cover
Chip R. Bell is the author of several best-selling books. His newest book (with Marshall Goldsmith) is Managers as Mentors. (http://amzn.to/Zci5LE) He can be reached at www.chipbell.com.