Everything starts with a thought!
Or, perhaps more accurately, everything starts with a thought in response to some event.
Reading different people’s perspective on the Global Financial Crisis and you’ll see some people advise to “pull back”, become conservative, stop spending, almost hide.
Others think it is a great time to start a business, to buy (while prices are low), train up staff to get them ready for the upturn.
The point is not: “Which camp are you in?” The point is the difference in viewpoint and the viewpoint comes from how people think about a situation.
My brother, a successful business owner, once remarked to me “stop listening to the radio and reading the newspaper and act like nothing has changed.”
My late father in law said in the ‘92 recession: “Bill, there’s ALWAYS money around.”
It all depends on how you think!
So, what are you thinking? Doom and gloom? Peace and prosperity?
Just as importantly, what are your staff thinking? How do they view your leadership in a time like this? They feed off you.
I was reminded of this with my own staff recently and I have to really take notice of how I am talking, acting and responding to the challenges we are facing.
So what’s my point?
The Bible says: “How a man thinks, so is he.” It’s okay, I’m not going to get all “preachy”, but the phrase is worth considering.
You are what you think. “If you think you can, or can’t, you are right!” (Henry Ford)
Look at your business plan. Can you do that? Will you do that? What do you think? Really?
How are your staff coping? Morale high or low? People looking to stay and fight it out or leave at the first opportunity?
If it all starts with what you think, what are you thinking? What needs to change?
