Positive expectations lead to positive results. This is because confidence and energy increase when we believe in ourselves. Conversely, a negative outlook contributes to a lower chance of succeeding. Basically, with positivity, we are capable of whatever we believe we are capable of.
It makes sense, therefore, to create more opportunities to include positivity. This can manifest in many forms: attitude, environment, expectations, etc.
In recent years, it has become more difficult to maintain positive expectations as stress and uncertainty have skyrocketed as a result of the pandemic. Not surprisingly, there has been an increase in depression, suicide, drinking, and crime.
On one hand, we put up with and even enable negativity and bad behavior. For example, in recent weeks, a coached punched another coach, an actor hit another actor, and we allowed senators to act disgracefully while utterly disrespecting a Supreme Court nominee. While all of these occurrences should be intolerable, most of the reactions were minimal or people used it as material for humor. Bad behavior should not be tolerated the way it is.
Fortunately, to offset this, there have also been some recent examples that highlight how positive efforts can improve situations. One of the most incredible reactions to the challenges with Russia is the response of Poland and Ukraine. They have literally helped millions of refuges find food, shelter, clothing, and new lives in less than a month. Their efforts are proving we can be kind, caring, and positive in an environment that is sometimes completely chaotic.
So, how do we forge ahead with a positive outlook that encourages and fosters good behavior and successful results?
Be supportive. Watching parents and little kids is one of the best examples of executing positive expectations. Kids learning to talk, walk, or ride a bike are full of excitement and confidence. At the same time, parents are supportive, encouraging, and watching with glee. If we could support one another, both in and out of work, with this same enthusiasm, how much more successful could we all be?
Consider your perspective. A great (and often unused) tool for developing more positive solutions is to recognize parameters. The recent volatility in the stock market has been well documented. What is not clear is how to analyze and interpret it. For example, two publications reported results with different interpretations and perceptions. One reported that the S&P 500 increased 3.6% in March. The other reported that the S&P 500 declined 4.9 % in the quarter. Both are true, but the interpretation is different.
Weigh all the options. For example, going back to the office creates numerous positive opportunities while working from home has numerous cost, privacy, and lifestyle benefits. In particular, new technologies have made communication, sharing files, and interaction even better. However, being in the office encourages better culture and communication benefits. We must better understand situations, needs, and performance to develop the best solutions. Many decisions are based on tradition and opinions, but maximizing the alternatives can have great benefits. Which option produces the most positive results?
Get out of your comfort zone. Take risks, shake things up, and avoid getting stuck in a rut. This is how we continue to challenge ourselves and foster growth. Risk needs to managed rather than feared. Understanding the risk, the rewards, and the importance of each can help you improve outcomes. Don’t allow fear, uncertainty, or tradition to lower your potential and prevent you from trying something new. The positive: no matter the results, you have gained valuable tools that will help you to continue improving.
Take advantage of opportunities. We’ve had a lot of disruption lately and that can often feel like a challenge rather than an opportunity. But, in my own experience with corporate turnarounds, it’s much easier to motivate, innovate, and develop collaboration in troubled or changing organizations than within those whose culture is based on the closed-minded rule of “we’ve always done it this way.” It’s amazing how many individuals and organizations have incorporated new efforts like E-commerce, work-from-home, Zoom, etc. in order to adapt to the times and, consequently, have actually improved their results.
All of this isn’t to say that every situation should be met with a naive sense of positivity. There are, of course, situations that are very nuanced and require more than a “just look on the bright side” response. Negative emotions should be addressed and we should always try to respond to distress with empathy rather than false reassurances.
In the end, however, looking for the positive rather than focusing on the negative usually gets us further in the long run. I think we can all agree that we’re happier when there are good things happening. So, let’s not only look for the positive, but help put more positivity out there through our work, thoughts, words, and actions.
Please visit our website www.startupconection.net to book a Free Session in which we can help you develop an action plan that will evaluate potential and risk. We always discuss process, expected outcomes, and cost before you make any commitment.
Dr. Bert Shlensky, president of Startup Connection, prides himself on his ability to define what is unique about each and every business. He works closely with individuals to develop a personalized approach that targets specific areas of concern and offers solutions based on his 40+ years of experience. His expert team will address your particular needs while working to save you time and money.
How
do you view the world? Have you ever stepped back and asked yourself if your
outlook is correct? You might be wondering, “How can you measure that?” Well,
you can’t because we all have a particular way of viewing the world, which is
based off of genetics, personal experience, economic status,
political/religious preference, education, and a slew of other factors. But,
you can assess whether your perspective
is effectively contributing to achieving your goals.
We’ve
all been told that when one approach is repeatedly not working, it’s time to
try something else. The same goes for perspectives. Sometimes, problem solving
is as simple as looking at things in a different way. After countless attempts,
a goal may seem unachievable—and that is when it’s time to flip your outlook.
As
business owners, it’s been ingrained in our brains that planning, budgeting,
and expertise are key to success. However, a recent shift in perspective led me
to the conclusion that they actually aren’t that important as we were once
taught to believe. Let me give you an example:
Last
month, I received and invested in four new issues and profited from all four.
One even doubled in a day. They were from different industries, but all related
to technology in some way. The most interesting aspect was that they all lost
significant money, but the losses are mostly growing. This made me take note of
the fact that many new businesses seem more focused on sales growth and
potential rather than targeting profitability. Amazon is a perfect example of
this, as it was viewed for many years as the poster child for growth and losses.
Now, companies like Uber and Wayfair are trying to emulate that model.
This
trend clearly illustrates how traditional methods of planning and forecasting
businesses are dramatically changing in nature and diversity. We’re used to the
notion that traditional small businesses need to show profitability in order to
pay bills and find investors. But, the reality for many new businesses (such as
apps, sharing sites, and innovative technologies) is the requirement to prove
their concept’s worth through larger scale, bigger investments, and exponential
growth/losses over several years. Additionally, forecasts of these larger
entities are generally meaningless and inaccurate because of the risk and
uncertainty.
With
all of that in mind, it’s easy to see how, when it comes to setting goals,
venture capitalist firms strive for potential 100 million-plus entities while
the small entrepreneur is often pleased with a million-dollar entity that makes
10% profit. Each person’s perspective is informed by their circumstances,
needs, and perceived capabilities. Some entrepreneurs are just out of college,
living at home, and may have a somewhat unrealistic view of life. Others are seasoned
venture capitalists or investors (think Shark Tank judge) looking for the next
billion-dollar deal. And then there are business owners in their 30’s or 40’s
with extensive expertise and experience who need to make a living quickly. With
very distinct backgrounds and needs, each of these individuals will come up
with a unique plan of action to achieve their goals and a strategy for
assessing risk, competition, market size and growth, resources, experience, and
expertise.
Circumstance
informs goal setting and perspective makes or breaks whether those goals are
achieved. Consider the following:
The Kaufmann Foundation, a group that promotes business growth, estimates there are about 400,000 new startups every year and that 90% of them will fail before their fifth year.
There are an estimated 131 startup companies that have achieved over $1 billion of valuation in the last few years.
Thus,
in roughly five years, the odds are about 1 in 15,000 that a company will reach
$1 billion in valuation, and 1 in 10 (mostly small companies) will survive five
years. There are, of course, significant variations in these outcomes. For
example, small companies often get bought or sold and many large companies
succeed, but have less than $1 billion valuations.
Also
noteworthy is the fact that most of the billion-dollar companies achieved
exponential growth, but also lost money over several years. For example, Uber,
though a leader in startups, lost over $5 billion in the last quarter.
Compounding the issue is that early investors were paid $4 billion in that
quarter which further complicates the situation. Similarly, nearly every new
large startup shows a dramatic increase in sales, but even more dramatic losses.
The
takeaway, perhaps, is that, with this knowledge, goal setting might benefit from
a shift in perspective. Rather than implementing a strategy that targets outcome,
an approach that focuses on immediate results may be more beneficial. The point
is: the times are changing and what once worked won’t work forever.
Things
to keep in mind:
Know your goals, resources, and risk. In particular, really understand your market analysis, competition, and how and why your company is different. Why should customers care? If you can’t answer this question, shift your perspective and look at your company through the eyes of a customer or a competitor.
For small business owners, it’s crucial to consider proper planning, adequate research, business excellence, and well-executed programs. Ensuring profit is critical to being in the 10% that succeed. It’s also important to recognize when any of these areas are failing. For instance, if you’re having problems with planning, consider a different outlook. You may be looking at the issue with blinders on. As previously stated, problems are often solved by simply stepping outside of your traditional way of thinking and assessing the situation from a different perspective.
If you require exponential growth to ultimately succeed, you still need to understand metrics. No matter the size of your business, know the risk and uncertainty, develop the resources, assess the ultimate market, and ensure there is at least a potentially profitable metric down the road. Is cash flow relevant and when?
A plan of action for an unrealistic goal will look impossible while a plan of action for an achievable goal may seem daunting, but doable. Dr. Bert Shlensky, president of www.startupconnection.net, offers experience and skills and a team devoted to developing and executing winning strategies for businesses of all kinds. This combination has been the key to client success. His book, “Passion and Reality for Small Business Success,” is available at www.startupconnection.net.
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