Focus Only on What You Can Control

Happy Monday Morning! It is officially 2009. For most of us that means packing our gym bag and salad today, and bringing an unusually positive attitude with us to work. We are hoping to make things a little better than last year.

Today will be full of meetings, 2009 planning and organizing. There may be new policies and procedures that you aren’t comfortable with. Your email box may be flooded from the long holiday break.

If you are truly committed to making 2009 the best year yet, remember this: ONLY FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL.

My first manager gave me this simple advice. When followed, it can change many aspects of your life for the better.

You may not like all of your co-workers, you hate the new computer system, or you are stuck with a difficult client: if you can’t change it, adapt and start caring about something you CAN change. Like your attitude.

Dwelling on the bad weather, the traffic jam or a down economy is a waste of your time. If we do this, we are basically letting all of our co-workers and competition pass us up. Winners don’t have time to moan and complain about things they cannot change, they are busy innovating new ways to make their conditions work for them.

Try it out today and let me know how it went. I guarantee you will have a lot more time in your day and attract more good things by thinking positive and focusing on what you can control.