07 Jul Green Light Day
A Day of Green Lights
Have you ever had one of those mornings when everything seems to go your way? You wake up refreshed, enjoy a good breakfast, and then drive to work—or wherever the day is taking you—without hitting a single red light. I have had those days, and they always seem to lift my spirits. With every green light, my confidence grows, a smile settles on my face, and the day begins to feel full of promise.
When the Lights Turn Red
Of course, there are days when the opposite happens. I get in the car and meet one red light after another. Sometimes I am even stopped at a nearby railroad crossing, waiting for 10 minutes for a train with more than 120 cars to pass. If I have not allowed extra time, that delay can leave me rushing to an appointment.
Still, I refuse to let those setbacks control my attitude. A red-light day may slow me down, but it does not have to darken my outlook.
Choosing Optimism
As an optimist (Myers-Briggs ESTP,) I try to greet each day as an opportunity for positive experiences. Green lights on the road simply reinforce that attitude. They are small reminders that momentum matters—and that a good start can shape the way we see everything that follows.
Starting with Gratitude
I also begin each day with gratitude. I am grateful to live in a country where freedom and unlimited opportunity exist. I am grateful that my ancestors left Eastern Europe, where they faced persecution, and built new lives in Canada and the United States.
I am especially grateful for my parents. They grew up during the Depression, and my father later served four years in the U.S. Army during World War II, much of that time overseas. Despite difficult circumstances, my parents worked hard to give my brother and me the best life they could.
The Power of a Positive Attitude
Approaching each day with a positive attitude matters far more than many people realize. Looking back on my career, I believe it was one of the key contributors to my success in enterprise sales.
Whenever I met with a prospect, I genuinely believed that if I followed my proven sales methodology and remained persistent, it was only a matter of time before that prospect would sign a contract and become a customer. That confidence wasn’t arrogance—it was conviction based on preparation, experience, and a repeatable process.
I also believe that a positive attitude influences the people around us. It shapes how others respond, often lifts their own outlook, and creates a more productive and enjoyable environment. Positivity is contagious; it spreads naturally, often without anyone realizing it. It also makes me more inclined to be patient, encouraging, and kinder to others.
That same confidence played an important role in helping me outperform the competition, winning more than 90 percent of the opportunities I pursued. Once a company became a customer, however, the sale was only the beginning. My focus shifted to delivering exceptional service so that each customer became highly satisfied—and ultimately a strong reference for our company.
It’s a Choice
In the end, the lesson is simple: choose to look on the bright side. While none of us can control every circumstance, we can control how we respond to them. A positive attitude won’t eliminate every challenge, but it can make those challenges easier to overcome and often inspires the people around us to adopt the same outlook.
As the familiar Monty Python song from Spamalot reminds us: “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.”