Remember that email a couple days ago about rules?
The one with the list of “rules” I sometimes purposely break?
Well, someone recently asked about the part where I said I might embrace negative emotions. He said he wanted to know how negativity can be a GOOD thing when everyone else he talks to prescribes prancing around all day chanting positive affirmations and quoting “The Secret.”?
Very good question.
Look, while I’m a BIG fan of thinking positively, I also believe you can (and should, when appropriate) use your negative emotions to get the job done, too.
Let me give you an example.
When I was growing up I was quite the dork.
Yes… I know you find that hard to believe 
But it’s true.
I just couldn’t find my place amongst my peers. Or anyone else for that matter. I mean, I couldn’t get a date with a pocket full of $100 bills. And other than a couple sports, I had zippo going.
So I wasn’t exactly the most popular kid.
In fact, in a lot of ways, I was actually very weak. And there were some people in my life who used that weakness to actively keep me down.
Now, don’t get me wrong.
I hold absolutely ZERO ill will towards anyone.
Frankly, I owe some of these people a huge “THANK YOU.”
Why?
Because I developed a big fat chip on my shoulder — this insatiable need to give all the naysayers the “finger” and tell ‘em where to go.
And that negativity became a FRIEND.
There were so many times I wanted so badly to quit in business. Especially when my wife and I were technically “homeless” and things went wrong so often I began to feel like a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest.
Ugh!
But my ego just wouldn’t let me.
I HAD to stick it to the naysayers.
I needed my freaking revenge.
And, as a result, I worked even harder at learning how to sell, market and write copy. Hard work that’s since paid me back in spades.
So that’s what I mean by embracing negativity.
I don’t dwell on negative things.
I just use negative energy to my advantage.
Ben Settle
P.S. For more sales and marketing “war stories” like this check out:
