The other day I was speaking with some colleagues who were stressed out and complaining.

 

They were upset because, despite having overcome some very significant obstacles and performed above and beyond expectations they’d been subjected to a cursory critique about the cleanliness of their workplace by an off-site manager.

 

“Isn’t it nice to know,” one of them said, “that in the end, all that matters is if my desk is clean?” 

 

Now, apply your inherent perspective to this observation; if your base is sarcasm then this is a negative observation; if you are rooted in optimism this can be an epiphany like awareness that is positive.

 

The negative person is left with; “no matter what I do the cleanliness of my desk is what matters!”—and they can grow increasingly bitter because they feel unappreciated unless their desk is clean and feel belittled at the thought of gaining appreciation for cleaning a desk rather than doing good deeds. 

 

The optimistic person is left with; “no matter what I do the cleanliness of my desk is what matters!” – and they can grow increasingly positive knowing that “if I clean my desk everyone is happy and they will leave me alone.”

 

There is a third scenario however, and that is the manipulative personality who quickly learns; “no matter what I do the cleanliness of my desk is what matters!” – and they clean their desk knowing they can get away with unsatisfactory performance so long as their desk remains clean.

 

The results are in:

 

The negative (complaining people) will continue to do everything but refuse to clean their desk and become more negative and more complaining.

 

The optimistic people will continue to do everything AND clean their desk and become more optimistic and more positive.

 

The manipulative people will continue to do nothing but keep their desk squeaky clean, get promoted and begin to make observations about the cleanliness of your desk.

 

So, nothing has changed accept a few desks got cleaned and one person got promoted to take the place of the person who originally started the whole vicious desk-cleaning cycle.

 

The bottom line is this; people are people and the desk doesn’t matter.  It is just something to focus on.

 

When you are faced with people that have a negative attitude remember this:  Other people can not make you mad… they can sure invite you to the party, but they truly can’t make you made.

 

Your attitude is YOUR CHOICE!

 

Think of it this way; “if their attitude can’t be fixed… then your attitude can’t be broken!”

 

In the immortal words of M.C. Hammer…“you (they) can’t touch this!” – and “this” is your attitude.  YOU are in control of your attitude; They can’t touch it!

 

I would say more but my desk is kind of messy right now and in the end, that’s what really matters. 

 

Right?  😉

 

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Lon Kieffer is proud to announce the re-launch and re-vitalization of an old program; ‘Defending the Caregiver!” in a new format.  A one-man play, a Dramedy (comedic drama), celebrating, “The Caregiver!”  To learn more visit:  www.DefendingTheCaregiver.com

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Lon Kieffer, author of “Get Out of Bed and Go to Work!”, Speaker, Consultant, Expert on Workplace Culture Change and Generational Conflicts, gives seminars, keynote and plenary addresses, runs annual sales meetings, and provides Common Sense Consulting at:  www.LonKieffer.com. He can be reached at:  (302) 462-6748 on Facebook or via email at:  Lon@LonKieffer.com