Positivity is infectious.

Positivity is infectious. If you've been watching the DNC Convention you're seeing positivity out in full force. Happiness. Hope. Joy. Li'l John thumping the entire stadium with Turn Down For What as he announced Georgia's selection of Kamala Harris for President and Tim Walz - News for VP. (Fellow Minnesota boy!) When positivity shows up you can feel it all the way into your bones. And it feels good.

I am reading the book FISH right now by Stephen Linden, Ph.D, Harry Paul and John Christensen. One of the pillar concepts of how to bring joy to work is PLAY. A spirit of play is so powerful. In the book one of the characters reminds us that we learned to play in Kindergarten, but somehow lost it in the drudgery of work. The character also reminds us how important it is in our every day life. The play we enjoyed so freely in kindergarten, which made our lives so rich, belongs with us every day. Not just in our memory banks. Play is inherently a positive act. No wonder we never wanted to come in from recess.

We are all fully aware of the way things are today. I am going to get some nasty letters for even showing the picture here, as it's political in nature. The "dividers" won't read this far, when I tell you I am not writing this to stump for any side of the aisle. I love and appreciate my fellow countrymen regardless of political leanings. I have voted for both sides of the aisle. This picture is the most current and relevant picture of positivity in the world. If all we see is a political thing, we're missing the point. Looks at the smiles, not the politics.

This morning I was reflecting on my own work, that of marketing leadership, strategy, planning and execution. I am a self-described marketing nerd. I love the gears of it. I love the systems. I love the psychology. I love the customer stuff. I love Ella, a new Ai marketing tool for marketers that helps me do better work. (Thank you Keith Lauver ) There is nerdery in marketing like in any other craft, and it holds a spot in my heart. My friend Meredith Vadis loves the nerdery of operations. My friend Carrie Cook, MBA Fractional CFO loves the nerdery of finance. My business partner Jason Voiovich loves the nerdery of writing. Maybe a better word for this is discipline over nerdery. Fine. Same diff. But even though there is nerdy to it, that's not what makes it work. Positivity is what makes it work.

I also love the concept of fractional. I love the nerdery of that too. I love how it fits so nicely into client budgets. I love how it transitions people from a corporate tool to independent, self determined entrepreneurs. Free spirits. Deep thinkers. Allies to small businesses. As a fractional leader myself, I love how it requires us to not just be a specialist, but an ally to our clients. I love the systems and processes and procedures of it all. The stuff we teach at Voyageur U. There is nerdery (discipline) to fractional as well. But once again, that's not what makes it work. Positivity makes it work.

(PS our next Fractional Accelerator class begins September 11. I would be remiss if I didn't pause and mention that now. Look for Fractional Accelerator on our website here and sign up. Chat with Christian Solomine to learn more. He is great at checking his LinkedIn!)

Back to positivity. There are things we like to do, and are passionate about and care about. But as I sat in my backyard reading FISH my mind began to wander and contemplate what holds it all together? Sure, there are processes and systems and gears, but what makes it all go? What makes it special? I could not help but repeat positivity over and over again in my mind.

Positivity can make sour days sweet. Positivity can turn a bad sales week into a good one. Positivity can turn a boring system into a game changer. Positivity can bring divided teams together. I'm not sure about the gearing of positivity, but boy oh boy I can't deny that it is a huge part of any success. Perhaps the largest part.

If you're missing positivity, bring a little bit back. It's free. It may cost you a little bit of vulnerability but who cares? Life is short. I don't want to live in a world where positivity is rare. Tamped down. Not encouraged. Scoffed at. Do you? I want to spread that shit everywhere.

Be positive today. Anyone can do it. Bring it to your work. Add it to your meetings. Share a bit with a colleague or co-worker. I am reminded that it's not just what we do that matters. It's the way we do it that makes it valuable and special.

Positivity.

Go Fractional,

John

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