In the UK we are really the best at creating negative media, we rarely hear about good news stories, and we thrive on seeing the glass half empty instead of half full. Go on admit it to yourself, you are part of it as well and the more we focus on it, the more we will see doom and gloom all round us.
I visited Thornton chocolates yesterday and I knew they were having a hard time, because I had met one of their key managers at a Franchise show, recently. Anyway I asked the sales guy, how sales were for the store (Kidderminster) and his faced just dropped to the floor and his shoulders dropped in tandem and he said, 'it's just so awful'. So I said 'but with Christmas coming it will improve for you for sure?' His answer: 'Oh well, by now we should be selling big time for Christmas and there is just no sign of it and they will probably come in the last week before Christmas'. His attitude was just completely wrong, not his fault though, it's the negativity that we all thrive on and he was just being affected by the sea of bad news. It's time to start smiling, get a new perspective on things, be grateful for what you already have in your life and tell people that the only way things will improve in the country is to start with a new positive outlook (and buy someone a box of chocolates from Thornton's!). And, yes, even if you have been made redundant or you can't find a job. The media are suggesting it's the worst unemployment figures since 1996, but the big difference is that it's not 1996!! We are in 2011 and things are different, Social Media did not exist in those days, the Internet was not half as developed as it is now. Job boards did not exist. There was no YouTube. There are just so many more ways to get yourself in front of potential customers, potential employers. We need to become more creative and think outside of the box. Protesters around the world are doing it, look at what happened with the Arab spring, Robin Hood Tax, 38 Degrees and many more. They would not be able to get their message out if it wasn't for Social Media and the Internet. Start focussing on the positives in your life, how you know that things can only improve and look for positive stories, ask people to mention just one thing that has happened to them in the past week that is positive and thrive on that good news story. And let me share one with you that I saw just in the last 30 minutes. Virgin Money has bought Northern Rock for £747m. This means that tax payers have just been repaid a huge amount and it sounds like that it will eventually be £1 billion. What great news, Virgin is a great brand, who treat their customers fairly and ensure value for money. What's more they will really shake up the UK banking industry. They have done so with other industries, so there is no way to think they will do differently here. What a FANTASTIC STORY!! Now its over to you! Looking forward to hearing your 'positive news stories'!