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Carolyn Smagalski
Business Basics
Founder - Editor - Host
What are you thinking?
How conscious are you of your most frequent thoughts?
Can you assess your style toward life? How are your
actions influenced by your attitude? What are your most
frequent words? How do you use vocabulary in your daily
thought patterns?
Answering these few simple questions, with honesty and care,
can change your life.
What are the words you use most frequently?
Florence Scovel Shinn wrote, "We cannot always control our
thoughts, but we can control our words, and repetition
impresses the subconscious, and we are then master of the
situation."
Carefully listen to the conversation of others. Do a little
experiment: 1. Choose several people whom you consider to be
successful in different areas of life. 2. Choose several with
situations that seem to be lined with "bad luck." 3. You may
want to keep a log, noting how you consider them successful or
unlucky (before you begin your assessment), followed by your
careful observation of words or phrases that make up their
normal speech patterns. 4. If you are engaged in conversation
with them, note your questions or comments to them during the
conversational exchange.
You will, undoubtedly, be astounded by your results. You may
discover your own comments during the interchange: "Yes, but
aren't you afraid it won't work?" or "Wow! I would never be
able to get up in front of all those people and give a speech
like that." or "That's a great idea. Why don't you do
something with it?"
You will discover people who use words like
"opportunity" often, in a give-and-take syntax. For
example, they will use, "I have this great opportunity
to get into that line of business," as well as "Thank you
for the opportunity to exchange ideas."
On the flip side, those with "bad luck" on a grand scale will
tell you all their troubles or how unfairly they have been
treated. They will be sincere, unaware that a mere change in
how they view their situation can make a tremendous difference
in the results of their life. Even others will begin to "see"
them as unlucky, starting every conversation with something
like, "I feel so sorry for him," or "Poor Jane."
"Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character," wrote
Albert Einstein. You may add your own discovery. "Weakness
of vocabulary becomes weakness of character."
After you have completed your experiment, you will be armed
with the powerful tools needed to make real progress in your
life. Analyze your current situation, and determine where the
"big picture" can be strengthened by a change in vocabulary.
Then move forward with confidence.
Are you familiar with the Zurich Axioms? The 12 Major and 16
minor Zurich Axioms are a set of principles providing a
practical philosophy for the realistic management of risk,
which can be followed successfully by anyone, not merely the
'experts'. The Zurich Axioms state, "Optimism means expecting
the best, but confidence means knowing how to handle the
worst. Never make a move if you are merely optimistic."
Be determined that your positive attitude will give you
positive results. Move forward with energy!
Recommended Reading:
The Zurich Axioms, by Max Gunther
The Business School for People
who Like
Helping People
Content copyright © 2003-2008 by Carolyn
Smagalski. All rights reserved. This content was written
by Carolyn Smagalski. If you wish to use this content in any
manner, you need written permission.
Contact Carolyn Smagalski
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