The Power of Positive Thinking

When Jennifer Lyle’s partner left Software Testing Solutions (STS), she had no idea he would surface 18 months later with a company that produced a similar product. While she initially felt disappointment that her ex-partner became a competitor, she now holds no grudges when seeing him at trade shows and they remain friends.

While this may seem hard to some, including me, to not see her ex-partner’s actions as a sort of betrayal, Lyle sympathizes with him and said there is enough room in her market for two companies.

Lyle’s optimism is a key element to her success in business and life. Dwelling on situations that didn’t turn out as expected are a waste of time, Lyle says. Lyle sees business as an extension of life, instead of separate from it, and utilizes inspirational strategies gleaned from the likes of motivational authors and speakers Robert Kiyosaki, Brian Tracy and Blair Singer. At times, she sounds like a motivational speaker for the small business owner.  

“Don’t play somebody else’s game, play your own game and play life the way you want life to be,” Lyle said. “Don’t let life change you, don’t let all the disappointments and the things people do that aren’t exactly what you want bring you down and change your perceptions. That’s how you change the world one person at a time.”

While the inspirational/motivational section of the book store is chock full of books offering advice and inspiration for business and life, the fact remains there is often an underlying truth to success not taught at MBA programs. Having a positive, excited outlook and not playing into fear and despair are widely considered a key to success, in business and life. It’s easy for small businesses to worry about money, but worrying can sabotage any endeavor.

“If we don’t stay positive we put limits on ourselves,” Lyle said. “If you start to think how am I ever going to out of this or how are we going to make it through the quarter, these are very detrimental thoughts to carry around.”

Lyle embraces a sales and business model at STS that encourages high energy by being excited and positive. She also encourages a work/life balance through generous paid time off and stipulation for exercise programs, which helps make her employees be happier and therefore more productive, she says.

Brian Tracy writes that positive emotions such as happiness and passion for what you do give you energy, while negative emotions deplete your energy. He says the key to success is to be positive, alert, and clearly focused on your work and your objectives, since to be at your best mentally requires being at your best emotionally. To create high levels of positive emotional energy it is important to remain calm, positive and optimistic about yourself, the people around you, and your work. “Refuse to express negative emotions, either to yourself or others,” Tracy writes. “Resolve to be cheerful, and refuse to be knocked off course.”

Having a positive attitude gives any individual more energy that can be used to accomplish more. It might seem like common sense, but we often need reminders when things don’t work out as planned. 

“In a small business environment it’s too easy to worry about money,” Lyle said. “That’s not to say you still don’t, but you try to catch yourself and believe it’s going to work out and do your best. That’s all you can do.”