Harvey Mackay Academy's Blog

Mackay Maxim: Prepare to win. Then prepare to dazzle.

Many people believe that if you expect the worst, the best will seem twice as good. However, this is not the attitude to adopt in professional settings – if you go into a situation expecting to fail, it will show.

That’s why it’s so important to go in with a positive mindset. If you enter a professional situation ready to win and expecting to nail it, you won’t worry about something going wrong as much as you would otherwise. You won’t worry too much about how you’re coming across – instead, you can focus on the important material at hand.

Here are just a few of the benefits of a positive attitude… 

#1: You get a natural confidence boost

One of the best things about entering a room prepared to win is the natural glow it gives you. If you’re worried, anxious, scared, nervous, or experiencing a myriad of negative emotions, people can tell; people can pick up on that energy.

The same goes for confidence and positivity. You come in ready to take on the day, and the effects are infectious. Because people respond positively to you, you feel a natural surge of confidence through your body. Even if you’re just pretending to be positive, the simple act of doing so will make you feel naturally more at ease and sure of yourself.

#2: You present yourself better in professional settings

Like I said before, positivity gives you a natural confidence and glow that other people will notice. Actively practicing confidence and positivity in professional settings will help you come across as friendlier, more knowledgeable, and more credible than if you’re visibly nervous or pessimistic. Entering a situation with a positive mindset helps you feel and look better in these situations.

#3: You drive your negotiations in a positive, winning direction

If you’re in a position where you conduct negotiations often, you know how important your attitude is in these situations. If the person you are negotiating with feels as if you’re nervous or unsure of yourself, they will use it against you to reach an outcome that is favorable to them.

Confidence and positivity are key to seeking an outcome that is beneficial to you or mutually beneficial to both parties involved in negotiations. Since adopting a positive mindset before reaching the negotiating table gives you a natural boost in confidence, you’ll reap the benefits in these situations.

#4: You develop relationships easily

When you’re meeting new people on the job, at a trade show, or during business meetings, confidence and positivity are key. You want to be someone that another person would want to know and develop a professional relationship with. If you seem like a negative person, it will be more difficult to develop these connections. Adopting a positive mindset will help you meet people and create connections in a seamless manner.

No one likes negativity in the workplace. Adopting a positive attitude and mindset can help you grow within your profession by giving you a significant confidence boost, which can boost your success in many other areas. Even if you struggle with seeing the glass half full, you can definitely fake it until you make it. Go in with a winning mindset – chances are that you will see winning results.

About the Author

Seven-time, New York Times best-selling author of "Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive," with two books among the top 15 inspirational business books of all time, according to the New York Times. He is one of America’s most popular and entertaining business speakers, and currently serves as Chairman at the MackayMitchell Envelope Company, one of the nation’s major envelope manufacturers, producing 25 million envelopes a day.

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