I always tell people that you can choose how you approach your day, every day.  Even if yesterday was the most miserable day at work and everything went wrong, the next day, you can choose to start fresh (with a smile) and put that positive energy towards building and cultivating relationships in your current field, profession or job as you call it.

Sure we can all sit and daydream about “dream jobs” and the ultimate opportunity, but in the real world, we work for a living.  We don’t do it for free, and if we’re getting a competitive wage for what we are doing, we should be more than gracious.  There are a lot of individuals out there who are working well below their skill set just to make ends meet, and if you’re going to be miserable about your job, there is a positive person out there who would happily take your seat. Remember, we’re all replaceable, no matter what you think.

The great takeaway from this message is, sure, you can truly “fake it” but there is a saying “fake it until you make it.”  I think its kind of what jr. executives do until they become successful in their roles because many of them take positions far beyond their initial expertise.  If you go to work and put on a smiling face and a positive attitude, it is infectious.  Now I’m not telling everyone to go in and end up with the nickname “bubbles” due to your new shiny outlook on your work/life.  However, you must think about what is most important to you and those you impact, and now more than ever.

The economy is causing many employers to think harder about expenditures and everyone is being asked to do more with less and to work smarter.  While this understandably adds an increasing level of stress on an already burdened workforce, moaning and griping about it never made anything better.  I commented yesterday on a co-worker who looks absolutely miserable every time I see her.  She is one of the most pleasant people I’ve ever met and she seems to be very negative about her day to day work.  It really affects how she is perceived by other managers and leadership within the organization, and it may potentially cloud their judgment of an otherwise stellar employee.

Consider how you can make an impact, positively.  These are the rules I live by:

1.  You can choose your attitude, every day.  Choose wisely.
2.  Use the 10-5 rule.  Make eye contact and smile within 10 feet of co-workers you encounter, and say hello within 5 feet.
3.  You can’t change other people’s behaviors, but you can change how you respond to their behaviors (either positive or negatively).
4.  Stop dwelling on things you can’t change or impact, instead, putting your energies towards the influence that you do have, and build on that.

Eventually you will find that it will impact your relationships with others and your overall happiness at work.  Food for thought.  Now I have to go get my lunch! The CNN video (and my inspiration for this post) is below.