MERCHANTS OF GLOOM

There are just some people that I tend to avoid like the plague. I don’t want to be around them. I don’t even want to breathe the same air as they do. I will drive to the next state to avoid them. 

 I call them Merchants of Gloom.

We all know them, or their cousins. And they’re a sneaky lot. Out of nowhere, they pounce on all positive thoughts, ideas, hopes, and goals and crush them, spewing every reason they can think of about why your idea is bad or won’t work. They leave in their wake broken dreams and aspirations of those around them. 

One of the greatest books ever written on personal and professional development is THINK and GROW RICH by Napoleon Hill. It was written in 1928, and its lessons are as applicable today as they were nearly 100 years ago. One of the most powerful messages from the book is the simple thought that “What you think about, most of the time, you become.” If you think negatively about your world, you will relegate yourself to a lifetime of fear, without goals or vision, no hope, and a daily existence of merely surviving. Think negatively, and you will be negative. In turn, you can believe in the available possibilities and the hidden opportunities to dream and grow.  And both modes of thinking are strongly influenced by the people that you hang around. 

The Merchants of Gloom (MOGS) I have encountered are either just stupid or very calculating. Some just don’t know any better. They’re just programmed to make everything negative. You might say, “It’s a beautiful morning!” They might say, “What’s so beautiful about it?” You might ask a MOG, “Hey there, how’s it going today?” and they will most always say, “I’m ok, I guess, mostly just getting by.” Blah, blah, blah.

These people will completely suck the life out of you with enough exposure. Have you ever had a great day at work, then gone to lunch with a MOG friend, and an hour later, returned to work ready to hide or go in the corner and cry? This is how some MOGs are programmed, while others are intentional and calculating. 

Both types of MOGS are dangerous, but calculating MOG can cause the most significant damage.  These are the ones who will target you if you are positive in all you do and say; if you’re the one who always shines, grows, and is productive. They believe that if you maintain this positive outlook on life, you will eventually make them (the MOG) look bad. To prevent that from happening, they direct their negativity towards you, hoping some of it will wear off on you, and you, in turn, will NOT be as successful as you could be. Thus, it eliminates the risk of making the MOG look bad. 

This happens in every workplace, every day. Do not fall victim to them. 

The best strategy against the MOGs in your world is to avoid them. Identify them early and have the foresight and courage to walk away and not give them the time of day. And, if you need a tool to manage the noise and control these negative yappers, here’s the best one. Warren Buffett says the best “noise management” tool is learning to say NO to the world. He says, “The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say NO to almost everything!” This skill of just saying no isn’t always final, but using the term gives you time to escape the garbage talk and harmful noise, allowing you to re-engage on your terms if you choose. 

You must be disciplined and understand the toll the MOGs can take if you subject yourself to their blather. My favorite definition of discipline is, “The ability to make yourself do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.” 

Continuing to hang around the MOGs in your life, just to be nice, is ridiculous. It’s not about being nice; it’s about creating a legacy of positive input, adopting a positive outlook, and becoming a strong influence on success in how you walk, talk, smile, or sit. Your body language and your vocal tone reflect your mindset, and whether you like it or not, someone is always watching. And there may be someone who can make an incredible difference in your life and career. 

 Be aware and control who you allow around you. Who you allow to influence you. What you read and watch. Do not allow these Merchants of Gloom to steal your future. They will if you let them. 

Have the discipline to change your friends. Have the discipline to change your circle of influence. Have the discipline not to allow these Merchants of Gloom to affect your personal and professional future. Sometimes it’s as easy as walking away and just saying no.