Leaders: Think Positive or Be Positive?
Wednesday June 12, 2013
“Saying that positive thinking doesn’t work is such heresy that I may be unceremoniously drummed out of the personal development field. And, it is mostly true.”
from “Living an Extraordinary Life” by Robert White
For those of you just waiting to see how long it took until I slipped in a not-so-subtle promotion for my book ….. here’s the answer: not long!
I’ve been saying the above in my public speaking appearances for many years. I’ve found it to be provocative – it engages the audience – and a good introduction to the distinction between “positive thinking” and “positive being.”
There’s an old joke about the positive thinking guy who jumps from a building’s 38th floor. As he passes by an open window on the 19th floor is heard to shout “so far, so goooooood.”
I figure a lot of damage has been done by teaching people to “think positive” when many of life’s challenges call for a wholly different way of thinking.
“Being positive,” on the other hand, suggests that we could be appropriately expressing grief over the death of a loved one while simultaneously maintaining a positive internal context for all of life. This would be the result of developing an internal state of “life is good as long as I’m vertical” while allowing for stuff to happen that doesn’t feel good.
Join me in my campaign! Print your signs and banners! Get the bumper strip!
“No positive thinking. Be positive!”
With love and respect,
P. S. If you'd like more provocation -- and accelerated personal and professional growth, go to this link for my best-selling book "Living an Extraordinary Life." It also makes a great Father's Day gift!
Robert White
Robert White is a Speaker, Author, Leadership Trainer and Executive Mentor who teaches the art and science of mastering executive challenges. He specializes in integrating a heart centered, result-oriented and transformational leadership approach to being effective. His experience includes founding and leading companies doing high-impact experiential learning events with over one million graduates.
Robert’s culture change work has been praised by corporations like JPMorganChase, Progressive Insurance, Duke Energy and The American Cancer Society.
Additionally top business experts and authors Ken Blanchard, Jimmy Calano, Kathy Gardarian, and Robert Wright, plus thousands of training and mentoring clients, have endorsed his professional knowledge and skills.
Robert authored the best-seller “Living an Extraordinary Life” available in English and Mandarin. He is a contributing author to “Being Fuller” a compilation from students of Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller and “One World, One People,” a photo journal of mankind’s journey to oneness.
Today you’ll find him speaking at conferences, hosting masterminds, mentoring today’s emerging business leaders and teaching everything he knows about fostering entrepreneurial success and building an entrepreneurial mindset in established, growth-oriented companies.
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