My friend Ali and I go a long way back and she is always someone I greatly admire and respect. That admiration was tested one day when she took me to lunch and told me what a hassle I was being. She actually used the word 'hassle.' I was devestated. Me? I thought I was being delightful and talented. A hassle, really? Yet when the tears, the tantrum and the blame game was put aside, I had a hard look at myself and found that in fact, everything Ali said was true. On the project we were both working on, I was actually quite frustrated that I wasn't getting further ahead. I played the antagonist in the group and yet I just thought that was a good thing... Iron sharpens iron, right? No... I was just being a pain. My attitude stunk. No wonder I wasn't moving forward.
Zig Ziglar once said "your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude." I love this quote because there have been so many times in my life where I can see that this is one hundred percent true.
How is your Nutrimetics business growing? What has been the highest place, the biggest dream achieved so far? Now ask yourself the tough questions... How much of your success has been defined by your attitude? How much has been defined by your skills and talent? I know that every time I have an attitude or am responding negatively to things in business, my whole business suffers. My business growth is stunted. BUT, if I choose to have the best attitude, regardless of circumstances, my business grows. How can a business, which can be surrounded by challenges and sometimes negative outcomes (e.g cancelled party dates) STILL manage to grow despite it all? ATTITUDE. So if you are looking for an attitude audit, here are my own top tips and lessons...
1. LET IT GO
No, I don't mean start singing the song from Frozen. Most of our negative attitude comes from not letting go of issues. Many of us just LOVE to hang onto those things. So you are going on a hike with a friend. It's going to be amazing but you will need to be very prepared and the hike will last for several days. You will need the essentials and the items that will make that hike a lot easier to manage. Inside your hiking pack you add your university course books, your favourite necklace, a beach ball and your ghd's. Like a backpack filled with items you will NEVER EVER need, there are things we need let go of when it comes to our business. Problems will always present themselves. But it shouldn't stop you in your tracks for long.
2. HAND IT OVER
If I could just manage every single little detail of my business, of my team and of my life, then surely things will grow, right? No! Believe it or not, your desire for control is one of the biggest reasons why your business does not grow. I'm not talking about having an organised diary, ticking off the to do list or vision planning... These are all good things. I'm talking about the micro managing of every single detail. When my business team was the size of about 70 people I truly loved that I knew most of them. Now, at 200, I've had to change my attitude. There will always be people I don't know. There will always be people who don't do what they say they are going to do. It's the same for you. As we grow, we need to rely on the systems already in place, rather than run around like a crazy person, making sure we know everything about everything and everyone in our business. If someone in your team does not do what they say they will do... Who's actually missing out here? Who's loss is it... Really? Not yours. Everyone has the same opportunities and its up to the individual to decide what opportunities they want to grab hold of.
3. BE ACCOUNTABLE
It's hard to like the word 'accountability' and I've had plenty of experience with it, believe me! But here is something you may not know about accountability. It's the engine of a growing business and a good working relationship. In Nutrimetics, everyone has an up line. If you are in the Southern Stars team, that up line is me. It is my job to resource, inspire and empower you to grow your business into the best it can be. That's my job. These are my sole objectives. As my down line and one who wants to grow their Nutrimetics hobby into a thriving business, it is your job to be resourced, inspired and empowered to grow your thriving business. That... Is your objective. Accountability is used to measure how well we are both succeeding in these jobs. Every time you take matters into your own hands, for whatever reason, you are denying me the opportunity to problem solve, to resource, to inspire and to empower you. It's like shooting yourself in the foot because you thought it was a good idea. It's never a good idea! You may not understand or even like the reasons why I do what I do sometimes, but there is always a little more method to my madness that perhaps you don't see or that I am protecting you from. From a pure financial standpoint, there is no one more dedicated to your growing business than me. I am always going to be your biggest fan and advocate. But you have to let me, by being accountable.
4. REINFORCE YOUR ATTITUDE
Ok, so you are being inspired, cared for, and being held accountable in business. Your attitude is in check and things are looking good! Here is where we can be complacent. Your attude doesn't just reach a destination and then... Well, that's it right? No. It's something you need to work on daily. Why? Because circumstances will always creep in and challenge that attitude. Sometimes that's a good thing... Attitude always needs tweaking. Sometimes, it's a bad thing... And we fall back on bad habits of not letting of go of things or we find ourselves once again feeling negative or perhaps micro managing our business. I absolutely believe that this reinforcing and tweaking of our attitude is the most essential thing you can do to grow your business. It means you are always available to change, that you stay humble and that you are always willing to learn. If you are willing to tweak that attitude on a daily basis, your business will always grow. Here are some daily tweaks you can watch out for...
... Watch how your communicate with others... Is what you are saying positive or negative?
... Whatch how you respond to negative circumstances. Sometimes there are glitches that happen and you must know how to deal with them... Dont get upset.. Work quickly to find a solution. Speak with your up line immediately. If customers are involved... Watch how you respond... Reward them for their patience.
... Be a thermostat, NOT the temperature... You set the temperature in your team. If you want things to be smoking hot (positive, exciting)... Then show that. Words like 'hard day'... 'Sorry, can't make it'... 'You'll need to remind me'... 'Sorry'.... Bring that temperature waaay down. Words like... 'Sooo looking forward to the new lip colour!'... 'Excited about the party!'... 'What an awesome team!'.... Will raise the temperature of your team. Raise the roof! You set the temperature! The hotter things get the more have on board with you... Positivity and excitement is contagious, habit forming and is essential for team bonding and building.
So... Audit over, how did you do? Are there things you need to tweak to get yourself on the right attitude track? Here is my final word on attitude... You CAN change your attitude. In fact, you can do anything you set out to do. Because YOU are amazing. Let's be amazing together.
Vicks.
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