Moment-to-Moment Optimism

By Dr. Russ

Considerable research has shown that optimists are more successful in business pursuits than pessimists.  Optimism is an essential ingredient to become a successful entrepreneur, to start up new business, grow an existing business, advance a career, and increase your income. Recently USA Today, of September 21, 2009, has found that in these tough economic times more individuals, by choice and necessity, are striking out on their own to form a small business and take the career path of the entrepreneur.

Is your optimism in shape?  Do you have the OPTIMISTIC STAMINA to start, grow, and advance your business and career in these tough times?

To find out take the Dr. Russ Buss  BUSINESS OPTIMISM STAMINA QUIZ below.

Instructions: Circle the number next to the item that is most true for you for each of the ten items below:

1. How easy is it for you to “temporalize” the negative, let go of a rejection, lost sale, or mistake; put it behind you and focus on the next positive step?  I usually let go of a negative in:

1.    less than a minute
2.    less than 15 minutes
3.    less than an hour
4.    half a day or less
5.    a day or more

2. When the “I Can Attitude” goes missing, I can get it back in:

1.    Less than an hour
2.    One to three hours
3.    Three to eight hours, eight to twelve hours
4.    A day or more
5.    Several days

3. I can easily and  almost at will put myself into a “Creative Zone” in any given moment in order generate new ideas or possible solutions to business opportunities or problems:

1.    Always
2.    Often
3.    Sometimes
4.    Rarely
5.    Never

4. When you hit a roadblock to your plans, you are able to adapt and make needed changes in you goals and plans:

1.    Without any hesitation
2.    With a little hesitation
3.    With a fair amount of hesitation
4.    With difficulty
5.    With a great deal of difficulty

5.You access this thought: “no matter what the outcome or what happens to me in any given moment, I know it is how I view it that counts,” as needed:

1.    Instantly
2.    With some effort and self-talk
3.    With a great deal of effort and self-talk
4.    A second thought much delayed by interference of worry and negative thinking
5.    A rare thought; a failure means I’m a failure

6. When I wake up in the morning, I am excited about all the new opportunities, possibilities and adaptations to change I will be making that day:

1.    Extremely excited
2.    Very excited
3.    Somewhat excited
4.    A little excited
5.    Not excited

7. A day without thinking about the risks I am taking in business or new entrepreneurial opportunity would be:

1.    Extremely boring
2.    Very boring
3.    Somewhat boring
4.    Only a little boring
5.    Not boring at all

8. I seek out new ideas, knowledge and skill to build my business:

1.    Daily
2.    Weekly
3.    Monthly
4.    Quarterly
5.    Yearly

9. I seek out and embrace disagreement and different perspectives as I evaluate various business options and choices:

1.    From many people
2.    From some people
3.    From a few people
4.    From one or two people
5.    Rarely or never

10. When I succeed or fail, I think about: 

1.    Only the next step I need to take
2.    Mostly about the next step but also about how others will view me
3.    Equally about the next step and about how others will view me
4.    Mostly about how others will view me and a little about the next step
5.    Only about how others will view me
   
Scoring Key:

10 or less ~ Your OPTIMISM STAMINA is in GREAT SHAPE. You are ready to take the next risk to grow your business.  Keep reading the Moment-to-Moment Optimism Blog as your MAINTENANCE PLAN.

11-20 ~ Your OPTIMISM STAMINA is in GOOD SHAPE but could stand some improvement.  Review items that you scored a 2 or higher for areas of improvement. Look through future and past blog entries for ideas to make revisions.  Stay tuned for information about some upcoming and exciting Business Building Optimism Workshops.

21-30 ~ Your OPTIMISM STAMINA needs a revised workout plan.  Review the areas that you scored 2, 3 or higher for areas of improvement.  Look through future and past blog entries for ideas to make revisions.  Stay tuned for information about some upcoming and exciting Business Building Optimism Workshops.

31-40 ~ Your OPTIMISM STAMINA needs much improvement.  Review the areas that you scored 2, 3 or higher for areas of improvement.  Look through future and past blog entries for ideas to make revisions.  Stay tuned for information about some upcoming and exciting Dr. Russ Buss Business Building Optimism Workshops

41-50 ~ Your OPTIMISM STAMINA needs a complete overhaul. Review the areas that you scored 2, 3, 4 or higher for areas of improvement.  Look through future and past blog entries for ideas to make revisions.  Stay tuned for information about some upcoming and exciting Business Building Optimism Workshops.