The Most Important Thing Your Business Needs Today

Most of the stories my grandparents told were about how hard just making a living was during their growing up years in the Great Depression. Their stories always left me with a certain sense of financial uncertainty, of “Whew! Glad I didn’t grow up back then because I would have had nothing.”

As I researched high-achieving business professionals for my latest book, Work Positive in a Negative World, a different picture of the Great Depression emerged. Turns out everyone struggled, but some actually achieved outstanding results. Despite the loss of massive amounts of wealth virtually overnight, there were people who redefined the negative economic reality and achieved their business dreams.

For instance, listening to most of the Great Depression stories, I would have thought that no one could afford a book, much less have time to read. However, one brave author swam against the economic riptides, wrote a book, and found a similarly brave publisher. The two of them created a book that became the #2 best-seller of their day.

The book continues to sell well today. It became a series of similar books. That series became a training program. And today, the training company has affiliates scattered around the world and does well over $20 million annually.

Now who would have believed that such a business would sprout and take root in the Great Depression, and not only survive but thrive over 70 years later?

The negative reality of the world around us is evident daily. Today we are reminded in ways that my grandparents weren't during the Great Depression. We have 24/7 news channels to remind us with "breaking news" exactly how poor the economy is performing. Pick a medium, any medium, and you flood your mind with more negativity than any one person should have to endure in a lifetime.

Evidently this author chose a different mental path. How? He refused to succumb to the tsunami of negativity resident in the Great Depression. He focused on how he could be a part of the solution, not just another doomsdayer.

Sure, the worldwide economy is coughing up hairballs. Of course, global stock markets resemble playground kids on pogo sticks. Yes, your friends are standing in line to tell you that now is not the time to start a new business.

So who will you listen to?

Them?

Or, the guy who redefined the prevailing economic reality and achieved his business dreams by writing a book?

Oh, that guy was Dale Carnegie.

The book was How to Win Friends and Influence People.