Whenever I’m on the Internet and I run into interesting photos, I save them.  Here’s one I found recently.

Though anyone can relate to the message conveyed in this image, I found it especially compelling as an aspiring business owner and employee at a small startup. Most entrepreneurial material I’ve read have focused on both knowledge and hard work and focus little on attitude; however it is the most important element in any endeavor you wish to pursue. Attitude, or mental state is the very thing that allows you to even begin a new venture. Attitude depicts self-confidence or lack thereof. In the words of the late Henry Ford, “Whether you think that you can, or that you can’t, you are usually right.” Take a second to internalize the meaning of this, that’s a powerful statement.

Maintaining a positive attitude is imperative, especially during the rough times. When business is slow, a prospective client denied your wonderful proposal, technical difficulties lost you 4 days of work, and the list goes on. From now on, try this; consider the good. Failure usually carries a negative connotation, but it is actually a good thing. You learn how to develop strategies to prevent those mishaps from recurring. Marketing your business better, writing stronger proposals that clients cannot refuse, saving your work and backing it up regularly. In fact, if your not failing you should be concerned. That means your not trying anything new.

The next time you fail take a few minutes to simple jot down what went well, what went wrong, and what you could have done better. Those simple steps substitute “failing” for “learning.” Do not be fooled, failing can be a bad thing; when you repeat the same steps and expect different results.

The moral of the story is that your attitude has everything to do with your outcome. Thoughts become things, so train your thoughts to find the positive in every situation, good or bad. Birds of a feather flock together; surround yourself with positive people and other like-minded individuals if you want to see positive change. Don’t worry, be happy