I’m sure many of you remember a self-help program from somewhere back in the late sixties called the “Power of Positive Thinking.” Well I’d like to paraphrase that and talk to you for a few minutes about the Power of Positive Speaking. The key word in that phrase is “Positive” and the danger word is “Speaking.”

We have all been guilty at one time or another of speaking, that is “saying,” something that we regretted afterward. Come on now, be honest, there must have been at least one time. Sure there was; and if you are anything like me, you could have kicked yourself when you realized what you had said. You see, it is a well-known axiom that, words, once spoken, cannot be unspoken. But I’d rather not dwell on the negative side, but rather on the positive. You see, I am proud to have been labeled a “Polly-Anna” by one of my co-workers many years ago. I firmly believe that if we look for the good, that’s what we’ll find; and if we look for the bad, THAT’S what we’ll find. Since, like most people, I like good and dislike bad, it just makes good common sense to go looking for the good in something or someone and leave the finding of the bad to somebody else.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that if I am trying to find a solution to a problem I don’t look for what is wrong (bad). It just means that given a choice, I always choose to see the good in something or someone. When I do see something wrong/bad, I generally try to fix it. That can and often does get us into a spot of trouble, but getting your hands dirty is just part of the fixing job. The real secret here is to remain and be perceived as still being positive while dealing with a negative. What does that mean? It sure sounds confusing. Simply put, it all boils down to attitude. In one of the LTD seminars (How To Have Fun At A Rally), we talk quite a bit about maintaining a positive attitude when attending a rally. When it rains, think about the fun you are having watching Wingers scramble to their bikes to cover them or to get their rain gear on. When the lines are long for food or to pay for a piece of Safety Chrome, make good use of the time to make a new friend. You are in a “bad” situation, but you still remain “good.”

What does all this have to do with speaking positively? Plenty, and let me tell you why. Whenever you are speaking to a small group, chances are better than even that someone, in that group or maybe within ear shot of that group, will be hearing you for the first time. And I know that I don’t have to tell any of you about how many chances we get to make a first impression. That’s right. If all that person hears from you are positive comments, they will brand you as a positive person, even if you are dealing with a negative issue. Think about that the next time you are trying to explain why something doesn’t work or why someone didn’t do what you wanted him or her to do. It really doesn’t take long to find yourself falling into that “negativity trap.” It takes a seriously conscientious effort to get out of that trap and constant work to stay out of it, but the payoff is well worth it. Nobody likes going to “Mr. (or Mrs.) Gloom and Doom” for anything, do they?

So, the next time you find yourself complaining about something not being done right or taking too long, or anything like that, stop “speaking” and start thinking of how to put a positive spin on it. Just remember that you too might be labeled a “Polly-Anna.” Then again, wouldn’t you prefer to be called Polly-Anna instead of Old Misery Mouth? The choice is all yours.

Until we meet (again):

Take Care and Stay Positive,

CJ Karcanes
LTD Director