A positive mental attitude is mandatory

A positive mental attitude can mean the difference between success and failure in any aspect of life. But I'm not talking about some hairy-fairy pie-in-the-sky type of positive attitude. I'm talking about a strong belief in yourself and the mental fortitude to overcome all obstacles.

Life is hard... get over it. But what you and I think is hard has nothing to do with what really it means to have a hard life. You should continually read and listen to all the rags to riches stories so that you can to realise just how lazy we really are.

Are you a cry baby like me?

I've never slept in a car, under a bridge or been homeless. I've never wondered where my next meal is coming from. I've never even been unable to pay the electricity bill.

My version of a hard life is having to get up in the morning and walking over to the couch to do something I really couldn't be bothered doing on a laptop. It seemed like a pain in the ass to right another article or change around a website again... but let's get real... my life is pretty damn easy. Even all those years I was struggling to make a living my life was still better than most.

I've worked a day job and then had to build my business at night. A business that ended up failing after two years of very long hours including weekends. Big deal... I wouldn't trade that experience for anything and it's actually lead me to some of the best things in my life.

Your positive mental attitude keeps you going

I'm a firm believer that if you have a dream and you just keep working towards it you will reach it. That's the super secret power of determination and persistence. And that's really the key ingredient for success.

Your positive mental attitude will keep you going when the going gets tough. When you feel helpless and out of control. Your attitude will lead you out of the darkness.

"When the dog bites... when the bee stings... when I'm feeling sad"

I'm not thinking about my favourite things... that's for sure. Not to slag off Julie Andrews and The Sound of Music (yes I have done the Sound of Music tour in Austria...) but I think we need a more realistic solution. So here's my personal formula for getting over those hard times.

And this isn't just for when business doesn't go your way or the work seems to be crashing down on you like a dingy in a storm. I first used it when I got dumped - painfully - and simply change the words around depending on my goal. So are you ready for the magic formula?

My magic formula for flushing out the dark thoughts

I go into the bathroom and stand in front of the mirror... looking down. I then bring up all the bad feelings I'm having of frustration, failure, overwhelm and anything else they may be lurking there. I give myself a moment to think about all these feelings individually and justify that they're real feelings that everybody goes through.

I allow myself to know that these feelings are ok and common among everyone... especially those who are really going after their dreams. But then I ask some questions like: "

• Will these feelings help me reach my dreams?
• Are they productive feelings that will drive me forward?
• What would happen if I gave up on my dream right now?

The questions show me that while the feelings may be justified they're not going to help me get what I want out of life.

Gradually the tide will start to turn and I'll start to feel more power over my situation. As the positive feelings strengthen I'll look in the mirror... staring into my own eyes as I continue to ask strengthening questions. And when I'm absolutely ready to let those negative feelings go I will keep looking myself in the eye and say...

"It's time to kick ass and chew bubblegum! ... And I'm all outta gum!"

Now you may be laughing your ass off right now and that's cool. The phrase actually comes from a computer game I used to play years ago and for some reason has stuck with me. You'll develop your own phrase if you decide to actually use this process.

The important thing is the phrase is your trigger to let all the bad feelings go. To stand up tall and know in your heart that you can reach your dreams. It is your point of decision that there is no turning back from.

What you do next

I don't care whether you think my personal process is stupid or not... or whether you'll use it. The important thing is you realise how critical having a positive mental attitude is. The willingness, the persistence, and the determination to keep going when it feels like all the odds are against you.

And I'll go back to writing about normal marketing stuff tomorrow... it's a little scary to share such personal stuff with the world so I hope at least a few people found it useful.