Here I am again with another story. I was reading about Admiral James Stockdale, highest ranking officer in the ?Hanoi Hilton? in Viet Nam as written by author Thomas Barnett. Stockdale spent eight years as a prisoner of war in Hanoi and was tortured numerous times by his captors. Four of his eight years were in solitary.
Mr. Barnett writes: ?Stockdale tells the story of the optimists who never survived their time in Hanoi simply because they clung far too much to their dreams of release and in doing so couldn't handle the brutal realities of what it took to survive the day to day.?
He goes on to explain how they tended to cling to the hope that they'd be home by the next holiday. When that day came and went their spirit sank to a new depth. Over time, they died because their courage had been done in by the reality of their present circumstances. Stockdale believed that while you must always believe that you will prevail in the end, it should not be confused with current reality, whatever that might be.
Suddenly, I paralleled Stockdale's theory with Internet entrepreneurs; the extreme optimist. We are prime targets for zealous salespeople who promise residual slam dunks to starry-eyed prospects. While the result won't be unspeakable torture in our quest for wealth, it's sad to realize that ninety-five percent of us will fail simply because we never anticipated the obstacles.
If we are what we think, then most of us walk into a competitive program with ?success? stamped on our forehead. We've already witnessed our sponsor turning his bank account into a ?cash machine? ? it can't be that hard, right? And when you think about it, today a million bucks seems more like a living wage than a small fortune. Millionaires are a dime a dozen: nearly 5 million households in America have a net worth of at least that much.
The most powerful drive in our country is the desire for more. It has become the DNA of democracy and therefore inherited by every American. Brainwashed in guru-jargon that claims nobody wants to be a nobody, we begin to believe the dream ?nothing can bring me down?. I'll run with the big dogs, join the new wave, use this ?can't-miss? strategy.
Consumed with ?positive thinking? the decision tree begins: I've done this before. This one pays more. I can do this. I can begin now. I will do this. Say it again and make it your own! I can. I will. Let's dance.
Fast forward a month or two, and Stockdale's theory materializes. No progress has been made in spite of the fact that this new kid on the block was well versed in Return On Investment (ROI), understood the importance of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and had written his own Articles on the hidden order of MLM du jour. Spirits drop. Attitudes go sour. He puzzles which comes first, getting it right, or getting it going?
Out of ideas, out of a plan and out of money, common sense now seems to get suspended. He falls into a Marketing Coma and the rest is history.
Winners are really losers who got mad. Get mad or stay employed.
? 2006 Esther Smith
The Power Of Positive Thinking Book
Anyone who is successful in any business knows that positive thinking is a huge part of their success. Home businesses are plagued by statistics that can drag them down. Owners know that the odds are stacked against them. The home businesses that are successful have all stumbled upon one little secret that can make all the difference.
The secret is the power of positive thinking. This power is the power that motivates people to do more, to be more than they ever thought possible. It changes perspectives and motivates personal growth. It changes you and you are the only thing that is holding back your success.
Positive thinking can work its way into every facet of your life to turn it around. Ever noticed how when you get up in the morning and stub your toe on the bed how things gradually decline from there. You immediately start a stream of negative thoughts that create negative energy and you end up with a bad day.
Just imagine if you stubbed your toe and instead of letting lode a stream of four letter words you let lose with a hearty “Oof” and a “Boy that hurts, but thankfully the fact that I can feel means I have a foot that works and I have two good legs to walk on.” These thought are creating positive energy, positive thinking that will attract more positive energy. You can change what could have been a disastrous morning into a bright success filled morning.
Now take that example apply it to your business ideas and multiply it by ten. Every potential stubbing of the toe is a learning opportunity. Thanks to this pitfall, we know what doesn't work and we can build from here. Your building blocks are now characterized by the positive things you see in them and this creates more positive energy and attracts success for you and your business.
This concept because it seems so simple is often written off as a small thing not deserving more than a few moments acknowledgement. But the truth is the people who grasp this concept and work to incorporate it into their lives and businesses and changed completely.
Successful business owners have grabbed this concept and applied it to their lives. They have realized that no matter what everyone else thinks or does, they can control their attitude and change the way they see things. An attitude of gratitude coupled with the power of being positive builds businesses into successful empires.
Both Esther Smith & Sara Bilden are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
