Recently I received an email from a former member of Markson Management Services, which means some years ago. In that communication he said that he was always interested in my stories of the days when I experienced lesser success – which, I guess was a kind way of saying, my failure days.
Further, he inquired as to how I turned it all around; what triggered my new mindset that resulted in greater success later on. And, lastly, he said he remembered me saying that pure positive thinking, by itself, never works.
Even after all these years, it’s easy for me to remember what triggered the mindset for my turnaround – and believe me, as much as I would like to tell you that my motivation was pure and well intentioned – that would be a lie.
My original motivation, sad to say, came from the jealousy I had – seeing others experience more success and happiness than I was experiencing. It came from a fear that people would see me as the loser I was, and it came from internal pain and from a self-image that told me I was simply not good enough.
The answer to the question of what event caused me to turn it all around is simple. It happened at a Parker Seminar in March of 1969. I must admit, I was reluctant to go, and if a great friend of mine hadn’t paid my way, the single most important event in my life never would have happened.
To make a long story short, what I learned at that seminar caused me to MAKE A DECISION TO CHANGE MY OWN LIFE. I started doing an affirmation each and every morning. I wrote goals for the first time in my life. I started to copy and mimic anyone who was more successful than I — which was everyone! I put a smile on my face everyday, changed my greeting of people, shook everyone’s hands and gave them a compliment. I looked them in the eyes for the first time in my life and acted as if I were already successful.
I became positive, and focused, energetic and action-oriented. I changed my office hours, my fees, and the speed with which I worked. I even spoke a little louder and a little more enthusiastically to everyone I communicated with.
I gave real recommendations to patients, no longer letting them get away with what they wanted, which was really inferior, cheaper health care. I began to police their visitation schedules and no longer allowed them to come or go when their pain went away or when their insurance went away.
I began to feel more confident and the results were truly amazing. It was like turning on a faucet of new patients, better friends, and more opportunity. The more I changed, the better things became and I finally learned to stop complaining and blaming others for the cause of my own misery.
Then, I modernized my office, updated my equipment, and started to pay attention to details, including sending out a minimum of three thank you notes each and every day.
I began to be thankful and gracious and generous — and instead of my heretofore normal “poor little unfortunate me” victim mantra I had used to help me fail – I chose to develop and use only two things – optimism and action!
Hopefully, those who are struggling a little will get this message. It is NEVER too late to become more successful and if I can do it, YOU can do it too!