To me it has to be as simple as trying to remember to smile at all you meet (from those you know to someone who may simply serve you at the check out) to trying really hard not to be a complainer.
Accepting what you can’t change in life and doing something about the things you can is probably a good start. Even change in ourselves is possible~after all apart from your height and sex everything else you may be able to easily do something about!
Language is a good start. My colleagues laugh (but have adopted !) my own Julie euphanisms. I don’t like the word fail ... ‘deferred success’ is much preferred (it brings a smile if nothing else!) .’Challenge’ or ‘issue’ are better words than the word ‘problem'. To say ‘let me sort that for you, it’s my pleasure' is better than saying ‘that could be difficult but I’ll give it a go'. Saying ‘it won’t be a problem' simply infers that it already is!
I try to be extra careful writing emails, avoiding as many negative words as possible. Words like ‘disappointing' and ‘complaint’ are just a no no. There are always better and more positive ways of getting your message across.
Is there a point to all this? Well I think so for sure. Working alongside a like minded team makes for such a better and more productive day. We even have a better word for a ... let’s say ~ tricky client...we call them ‘platinum customers'. We all know a platinum customer just needs a little extra tlc.
Indeed to talk disparagingly about a client is a dismissible offence in our contract ~ afterall clients do pay our wages and so let’s keep that respect ...!
Moaning about competitors is pointless. They (have we’ve touched on this before )are simply on a different chapter in their book. And anyway ~ we can’t see their outtakes and blooper reel! They’re bound to have one but it would be very rare that you would get to glimpse it.
Complaining about your competition is like moaning about others on the road ~ it’s just a sheer waste of energy. Moaning about someone else’s driving is like drinking poison and expecting them to die from it!
So there we are. A little insight into the Julie world of creative & positive thinking!
If nothing else I hope it’s brought you a smile for your new year. Remember ...
if you smile and go the extra mile it’s a quiet road ~ there aren’t that many people out there on it.