As Radio Thinketh

From the 5/4 issue of Radio Ink Magazine

 
“This recession is killing my business. I can’t come close to what I did last year. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m afraid I might lose my house.” I’ve heard these words every day for the past several months, and I’ve been guilty of saying them myself. But then I read a great book by James Allen, titled, As A Man Thinketh (So He Is). The title says it all. What are you thinking?

My father raised me with a can-do attitude. During a recent visit, we ran into an impossible situation at 11 p.m. the night before Easter. I played through all the scenarios and finally realized I could not solve the problem that night. “Have you thought about this — or this?” my father asked, offering different solutions. “Yeah, but they would never do that on a holiday weekend,” I answered.

Then I began to adopt his thought process: “If you believe you can solve this tonight, you can. If you don’t, you won’t. I guarantee there is a solution if you decide to win and are willing to work until it’s resolved.” It was late, I was tired, and I had mentally given up. But my dad had laid out the challenge. Though it took several phone calls, some driving around late at night, and a bit of creative thinking, the problem was solved by 2 a.m. The incident was an important reminder of the impact our thinking plays on our ability to succeed.

I once had a friend who accused me of “buying into all of that positive thinking stuff.” He was one of the most negative people I know. No matter how much I tried to make him understand the power of his subconscious mind, he had more reasons why it was a fool’s game. His career crashed, no one wanted to be around him, and he died 20 years prematurely.

Some things may truly be out of your control, but you can change your behavior and your belief systems. It will impact the people around you, and the way they think and react; if your influence is convincing, you can impact the decisions they make toward your business.

Last week I spoke to a promoter who had sold out a conference for car dealers despite a competitive conference having been cancelled a few weeks earlier. He said his decision to succeed impacted how he came across in his marketing, his phone calls, and everything he did. “If they smell fear, they won’t support you,” he said. “The first thing I had to do was remove my fear and decide to succeed.”

You can succeed while the other stations in your town are planning for failure. How can you influence the attitude of advertisers? What lengths are you willing to go to beyond the point where others would have given up? How much is your acceptance of failure creating your own failure? What can you do to exceed last year’s numbers? You may have to invent new ways, but belief is the starting point. Though I don’t recommend detachment from reality, there is value in avoiding negative influences like the news and focusing on changing the business atmosphere in your local community.

Immerse yourself in the great positive-thinking classics, listen to audio books, take a seminar. Seek ways to free your mind from the bonds of negativity. You’ll notice a significant uptick in your own belief systems, which will impact your actions, your ideas, and others within your sphere of influence.

Eric Rhoads,
Radio Ink

Comments

[JJ Duling]

As always- RIGHT ON!

[Andrew Deal of CelleCast]

Glad to be on your team Eric!

[Bob Soos]

I think it's time more true broadcasters get back in the business....and commodity managers GET OUT!!

[Dave Newton]

Amen, Eric. Also read Malcolm Gladwell on underdogs at www.NewYorker.com.

[Kelly Orchard]

I'm with Andrew Deal -- True broadcasters must come back! Somebody call me!

[Chris Kennedy]

Some people dismiss the power of positivity but it is true, when you take an honest look at it. Positive results and positive thinking go hand-in-hand. People are naturally influenced by many things -- both fear-based (e.g. Swine/H1N1, shark attacks, anthrax scares, whatever) and the positive.

Fear-based thinking only keeps people -- and companies -- small, closed, scared, limited, neutered...and, ultimately, powerless to action

Positive-based thinking keeps people -- and companies -- growing, reaching-forward, building, investing...and, ultimately, empowered for action.

Visualize with positivity and witness the right solutions!

[juliet bain]

Is there any way to say to Larry Wilson how much I admire his love for his rescue dogs! If only more wealthy people cared like he does.
Thank you so much.
Juliet Bain.