Drop Your Rocks: Daily Positive Thinking Leads to Success

There is a modern day parable that goes like this*:

As we travel through life, we collect experiences. Each experience has positives and negatives (whether we see those positives/negatives or not; nothing is absolute). For each experience, human nature is to pick up a piece of that experience and carry that piece with you as you progress through life. Imagine the negative aspects as rocks. Each negative aspect of an experience is like a rock that we pick up and put in our pocket. The more we see as negative, the heavier our burden. We could start by carrying pebbles, little things that annoy us. This can progress through stones and rocks. Traumatic events that might happen in our life might be boulders. These negative "rocks" begin to collect and weigh us down.

Drop Your Rocks.

In order to reach your goals, have the success you dream of, and fill your world with happiness and positive thinking, you need to suppress negative thoughts. You need to rid yourself of all the accumulated negativity that has built up in you over your life.

Negative thinking can include negative self-esteem - feeling like you will not be good enough, or maybe that people will judge you. It can include thinking that your past experiences have made you into a certain person, and trying to step out of that role will have negative consequences. Negative thinking can even be creating worst case scenarios in your head - what ifs that always result in a bad thing happening. It's thinking that you need people to accept what you do, or that you will always feel a certain "pain" and you have to accept that. Negative people hate, blame and complain.

Drop. Your. Rocks.

Positive thinking is ridiculously more powerful than you can even imagine. It really is magical. Like a unicorn that can make awesome things happen for you magical. You need to bring good things to you through after you have chosen to drop the negativity.

Positive thinking can truly make things happen, but it is a soft skill. It's not really "measurable". Sort of. Positive thinking can lead to greater productivity, better relationships, and personal joy.

When your brain is happy, it can actually be more creative, and create more ideas. When your brain is sad or afraid or angry, it produces fewer ideas. This brain science is something studied in education, in psychology, in business. The science behind the idea that neurons can be rerouted (in positive or negative directions) is called neuroplasticity. Brains like to be happy, and that happiness leads to more productivity.

Positive thinking attracts people who also want to feel happy or inspired. Human nature is to push away things that are negative (even though there are some people who are "negative Nancys", "energy vampires" or others who seek negative situations). You will find positive messages will bring more communication, more connections and stronger relationships.

Finally, when you begin to focus on thinking positive thoughts and dump the negative ones, you will find yourself experiencing more moments of personal joy. Don't get me wrong, life throws some nasties at us, and that won't quit. But when you develop a daily habit of seeking positive thinking, you will find yourself wanting to think, wanting to enjoy, wanting to play, wanting to create. Do it! Meditate, go for a run, play a game, start a journal or draw. Whatever you feel yourself compelled to do, just go ahead and do it. Your brain will begin to create those new neuron paths, and you will feel good as you do more of those things (whatever they may be - led by your personal interests).

So drop those rocks that you are hauling around with you. Letting go of those negative burdens actually helps you move toward success.

think positive thoughts . smile . choose happiness . healthy choices . positive words and actions . be productive . be creative . develop relationships

* (I've heard variations of this exist in spirituality and in Alcoholics Anonymous. I think it is a relevant enough metaphor that sermons and self help programs shouldn't be able to "own" it. I think the idea is transferable and can be applied to secular scenarios.)

Direct Selling Business Skills

Communication

Networking marketing, or direct selling, is completely dependent on communication. Interpersonal communication is how we network, how we create and build crucial relationships, and how we sell. Developing strong communication skills is the very first business skill a new direct sales representative should focus on. Communication skills encompass interpersonal (in person) and written communication, including online.

Time management

How you work your business is completely up to you; that could be some time, part time, full time or over time. However much time you devote to your beauty business, you will need to develop time management skills in order to maximize your efforts in the most efficient way possible. The best time management is like an epic to do list. It is critical to have a plan and a schedule and to manage the calendar carefully.

Organization

As a direct selling representative, tight organization skills will lead to more success. Customers, the order process, products, finances, events… all of the pieces of direct selling has to be effectively organized. My Avon organization includes a combination of physical organization systems, binders, and online files.

Innovation and Problem solving

Direct sellers will encounter problems. A customer’s favorite product will be discontinued; perhaps they will react to something new, or maybe a product was broken during shipment. Being innovative and working to solve problems in the most creative way will contribute to success. Problem solving is best approached with problem processing: what is the problem, what are the possible outcomes, what are some options for solutions, putting the solution into action and then following up to ensure the problem was, in fact, solved.

Customer engagement

Direct sellers have to develop impeccable customer service skills because we are directly serving our customers. We create those connections, guide customers through product choices and then support them after the sale. Customer engagement uses a complex set of skills that combine to ensure that the customer is satisfied. These offshoot skills include verbal communication, listening skills, situational analysis, the ability to control emotions and be professional, knowledge of policies and procedures, an understanding of psychology, and always being willing to improve the relationship.

Technology literacy

Technology is one my personal expertise areas. However, I know that technology is not the easiest thing for everyone. With everything moving to an online world, it is critical that to stay current direct selling representatives have to be able to navigate social media, the cloud and other technology pieces. I use a variety of technology tools to create content for social media, to manage and organize my business, and to work towards greater success as an Avon representative. Fortunately, most of the tools I use are free, but not all are easy to use.

Soft skills

Soft skills are the most challenging business skills to acquire, but if you know how to approach the challenge of developing soft skills, they will develop and strengthen over time. Soft skills have to do with how someone handles a relationship emotionally. It is the ethics, etiquette, social skill, leadership, flexibility, empathy, individual motivation, self confidence and work ethic that you bring to your business. This is the idea of being a “people person” and also of being a “positive person”. Thankfully, soft skills don’t have to just exist or come naturally, they can be learned. I feel the best ways to develop these introspective skills is through activities like journaling, habitual daily practice and time. By the way, your soft skills are also very much brand YOU because soft skills are often tied to your personality, your attitudes and how you portray yourself to others.