Category Archive: pessimism

How to Turn From Destructive to Constructive Dissatisfaction

You won’t make a difference if you’re easily satisfied. Yesterday I wrote, “Chronic dissatisfaction contaminates environments and teams.” Pete asks, “… what if I am the one who is chronically dissatisfied? What’s the… Continue reading

15 Reasons Positive Leaders Seem Negative

Negative leaders look in the mirror and see someone who cares. There are “good” reasons for negativity. You’re negative because… Some babies come out smiling and some come like Eeyore. It’s not an… Continue reading

How to Turn Negative Nancy into Positive Pam

Dear Dan, How do you distinguish between a true Negative Nancy and one who just has an eye for identifying areas that need improvement? There are folks who have the ability to immediately… Continue reading

3 Hard-and-Fast Rules for Dealing with Negative People

Negative people stir the slop and smell the same stink over and over. It’s exhausting.   3 hard-and-fast rules for dealing with negative people: #1. The three-time rule: It’s your responsibility when Dark… Continue reading

A Simple Practice that Yields Disproportionate Advantage

“Half the leaders I have met don’t need to learn what to do. They need to learn what to stop.” Peter Drucker Bad is an erasure. One dingbat behavior erases many noble behaviors.… Continue reading

The Leader who Smells Dead Mice

I smell dead mice everywhere. It all started with a dead mouse in the wall. I thought I smelled a dead mouse in the grocery store. I bought a hot dog for lunch… Continue reading