The Power of Positive thinking by Tony Robbins
Smokey’s Sponge Theory
I’ve learned a lot about attitude and the importance of surrounding myself with positive people from my friend Glen “Smokey” Stover. Smokey worked in sales for 45 years in the cemetery and funeral home industry.
While this may sound like a gloomy field, let me assure you that Smokey is a positive dynamo! Every time I get off the phone with Smokey, I feel terrific.
Smokey explained to me that human beings are like sponges: We “soak up” whatever people around us are saying. So, if we spend time with someone who’s negative, we sponge up the negatives and it affects our attitude. Of course, the reverse is also true. When we hang around positive people we soak up the positive. We feel better… and perform better.
I once asked Smokey, “What do you do if you’re speaking with a negative person?”
He said, “I get away from that person as soon as I can. I’ll say something like, ‘Gosh, it’s been good to see you, Charlie,’ and I move on to another person.” Then I asked Smokey, “Did you ever have a friend who was negative?”
“Not for very long,” he said.
Well put, Smokey!
