Get Rid of Toxic Liabilities
Have you ever had that friend that complains about how bad his/her life is? Does your job give you a feeling of ambivalence and loathing? Is there a person that only points out the negative things in your life/work? Do you have a client that is more trouble than they are worth?
These are the people that you need to cleanse yourself of. No matter what happens to them, they will continue to focus on what they cannot or will not do. I would be interested in any kind of study that psychologically evaluates individuals like this. Does their environment affect this type of behavior? What about their home life? I digress.
In any event, surround yourself with positive people who are focused on moving forward, solving problems and creating opportunities that will improve your self, well-being and career. Focusing on negative aspects of any situation, while you can learn tremendously from, will only create a toxic environment that will poison your work, attitude and motivation. And that will hinder your growth and development. Have you ever had a boss that was never around? That never really seemed to care? I have. Early in my career, a boss of mine used the company as his personal playground. He never was around to contribute and only occasionally showed up to give his input. As a young, naïve marketing executive, I started to take on his demeanor and my work suffered terribly. I could have used that time wisely to grow my experience and knowledge, but I didn’t. I truly regret that now. It was such a wasted opportunity.
What about that one client that is more trouble than they are worth? Clients like that can be significantly detrimental to your business. In addition to wasting the time of your employees addressing mundane and insignificant issues, it can also destroy morale and impede growth. Seth Godin has a terrific blog post that outlines that specific topic. He can explain that better than I can. Read it here.
So, the company you keep can affect you tremendously. Choose wisely. If you cannot choose, you must push through it.
adam-oleary
Adam is a graduate of Colorado State University (bachelor’s degree in marketing), and he has experience on both the client and agency side of the marketing world. These experiences led him to come up with a unique, more efficient business model, which he’s incorporated into Encite Marketing. Adam sets the strategic direction for all Encite projects, developing integrated marketing campaigns that bring results. He takes a consultative approach with clients, educating them about how the process works, and keeping them in the loop about end goals, steps, and tasks.