The power of a positive attitude has been with me since I was a child thanks to my mom. She instilled in me at an early age that the power of a positive attitude would be an important attribute for me to have.
I got a chance to use that power of a positive attitude a year ago when I took a trip to the bookstore and a book caught my eye. As I leafed through the pages, I glanced at the publisher: Wiley. I had never heard the name before, but my book coach Joan told me that the company was a well-respected name in publishing. Since I now knew that the books they published were in my area of interest, I decided to use some positive thinking and send a book proposal to Wiley.
The next day, I flew to Dallas to speak at an American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) conference. I was busy practicing my speech when my co-speaker asked me to pick up something at her booth. I was running late, so I hurried through the booths, barely looking as I rushed passed. However, one sign caught my eye: Wiley. Intrigued at the sudden emergence of the name in my life, I decided to stop and chat with the booth attendants. Though there were a lot of people clustered around the booth, the attendants were polite and helpful. When I mentioned that I was thinking of publishing with them, they cheerfully directed me to the right person within the company, also standing at the booth.
I told this representative that I was a guest speaker at the conference and that I wanted to publish a book with his company. I explained that I was apprehensive about publishing with Wiley because I had heard it was hard to get individual attention at such a large company. I asked if using an agent would help me get my book published. He replied, “Why don’t you send your book directly to me?”
Later, I received an email from him, asking me to send my book proposal to him, as he was a senior editor at Wiley. I believe that this wonderful opportunity happened because positive thinking was working. The power of a positive attitude makes things happen.
That same day, I was riding in an elevator thinking about finding a new company to train. As I have experience in the fashion industry, I wanted to find a business in that area. Another woman got on the elevator, and I introduced myself as a speaker at the event. She asked me what I was speaking about. When I told her, she said she might be interested in my training services. She gave me her business card – she was a director at the GAP.
I often have these incredible experiences in life. Guess I was born lucky, right? Wrong! I didn’t just happen to be in the right place at the right time – I had the right positive thinking attitude. I was optimistic about my goals and I wasn’t afraid to get out and reach for them. And I would TELL other people about my goals so they were aware of the things I’m working on. When you are positive and open with the universe, fantastic things happen.
Fantastic things like breaking through the traditional gender barrier in 1984 to become an engineer and manufacturing executive in Korea. Fantastic things like making it in American business after coming to this country in 1985 with a rudimentary understanding of the English language but a whole lot of dreams. Fantastic things like starting my own company, to help Asian and American businesspeople communicate successfully in corporate America and bring team success to multicultural workforces. And, perhaps the most fantastic (or at least the most surprising) thing of all, becoming a rapper!
What made all these wonderful things happen? Me! Or to be more specific, me and my positive thinking attitude and self-confidence. Get on the bandwagon: be a positive thinker and watch great things happen to you.
Learn, Experience, Enjoy Global Success !
Jinsoo Terry
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