What’s the biggest issue of 2010?

It was something like being on The View!  I was on a panel for the Women in Business event last week.  Ilana, Editor of the Business Journal, started the discussion by asking each of the four panelists her biggest issue or concern for 2010.

The other women on the panel were rightfully concerned with issues that affected their respective industries.  Credit…said the banker.  Housing prices…said the real estate developer.  Healthcare reform…said – yep, you guessed it – the healthcare executive.

But what am I most concerned with?  It’s not credit.  It’s not housing prices.  It’s not healthcare reform.  You know why I’m not concerned with these?  Because I really can’t do anything about them.  Oh, I know that if we all join as one, we can make a difference.  But, as each passing day goes by, I really have no effect on these.  I can only hope that those who can do something about them, will!  And right about now, someone is going to send me some comment about how I have a choice with my vote – blah, blah, blah!!  Yes, I do.  And that’s why I vote.  And after that, it’s out of my hands.  At least until the next election.

So what was my answer?  Attitude.  That’s right.  Attitude.  My biggest concern for 2010 is people not having the right attitude.  You see, with all the doom and gloom out there, it’s real easy to get sucked in.  I mean, the entire world is facing challenges today.  And things aren’t going to get any better by approaching each day with a bad attitude.

Life can be difficult.  But each day when you wake up, you have two choices.  You can choose to be happy, positive, someone others want to be around.  Or you can choose get an express ticket and board the complain train, and be sad, negative and probably just a little bit lonely (or not, because I hear misery likes company).  Really, who wants to hang out with you?

But you know what happens when you have a positive attitude?  People are drawn to you.  People want to meet you.  People want to be around you.  And that’s a pretty good thing when you’re at a networking event.

I was amazed how many people came up to me after the event to tell me they agreed on my answer.  These were all smiling, seemingly happy people.  And I liked them.  And when you have a positive attitude, people like you too!

We recently consolidated our corporate operations.  And we’re finally all in one location.  If you were to describe our team with one word, it’d be happy.  Well, happy and infectious.  The entire team.  They’re all can-do, positive people.  There’s no challenge too great.  And if things aren’t going right, well, there’s always tomorrow.   And it’s amazing what you can get done (and we have!) with that type of attitude.

Sure times are tough. But that’s when people get creative.  That’s when people get resourceful.  That’s when people get interesting!  It’s in tough times that people approach problems differently.  We have to do more with less.  And we’re realizing that we’ll actually survive!  Who would’ve thought?!

A while back, I remember being at one of our Executives Network social events.  Terry showed up right at the end.  He walked up, shoulders hunched just a bit (obviously carrying the weight of the world on them).  I smiled and said “Hey Terry!  It’s been a while!  How are you doing?”

And in his best Glum-from-Gilliver’s-Travels-voice he said “Well, you know.  I’m out of work again.  And I didn’t get any severance.  And…”  I’m not sure what else he said because I stopped listening.  Because all I really heard was Glum telling Gulliver, “We’re never going to make it.  We’re never going to make it.”  But somehow they always did, didn’t they?

It’s not that I didn’t care.  It’s just that I didn’t come to a Happy Hour to hear his sad story.  I don’t think anyone did.  Now I’m not saying that you shouldn’t ever share your doom and gloom.  But pick your moments.  Pick your spots.  Don’t wait four years to say hello to someone again and dump on them your sad story (ease into it maybe…or not at all!).  Sure, sometimes we need a pick-me-up.  But don’t be that person all of the time.  It’s a drain on others to the nth degree.

And just remember, we all have stuff.  We all have things in our life that we’d like to be better.  No one’s life is perfect.  So I’m asking each and every one of you to look at the mirror each morning.  Ask yourself if you’re going to make it a great day (and if not, ask yourself why not!).  Ask yourself if today’s the day you’re going to walk out with a great attitude. 

Because having a great attitude is a choice.  Choose wisely!

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