How You Doing? The Answer is Up to You and It Will Make Your Day Great If You Answer Correctly!

How are you? That's a loaded question, and I'll tell you why:

60% of the people that ask that question don't care how you're doing. They're just making small talk;

30% of the people that ask that question hope you're doing badly, because their life is a shambles, and we all know misery loves company;

10% of the people you talk to genuinely care how you're doing, and will ask a follow-up question or two.

OK, so 1 in 10 people care about how you're doing. That's pretty sad, when you really think about it. So why not respond in a way that benefits you. That's right, in a way that benefits you. Answer as though you are doing great. My friend Johann Stoessel responds to the "How are you doing?" question like this: "Just this side of perfect, and getting better all the time!" Wow! What a first impression, and what a way to make yourself feel better. Like I said, only 1 in 10 cares about you, however I'd bet that every person Johann responds to remembers his response, or at the very least hopes that they can somehow capture some of his magic and will spend more time talking to him. At least I know that's what I did.

So why not just say "I'm fine. How are you?" when people ask how you're doing? Simple, really. Because how you say you are is how you are. Let me say that again: How you say you are is how you are. If you say you're great, you're great. If you say you're crappy, you're crappy. If you say you're fine, you're fine. Plain old vanilla fine. Who wants to be fine? I say I'm great, so I am great. It's mind over matter, if you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

And with that, I challenge you to make it a great day! Take charge of your life, say you're doing great, and you will be. After all, it's all up to you!

Disclaimer: The above are my statistics based on the people I've talked to. Your results may vary, and past performance is no indication of future results.

Phil Gerbyshak leads a team of IT help desk professionals in Milwaukee, WI, and finds that sharing his knowledge is a crucial component in his success as a leader and as a person. Phil's personal philosophy is paraphrased from Tim Sanders' fantastic book Love is the Killer App: "Share your knowledge, your network, and your love. The rest will follow." For more musings by Phil, please go to http://makeitgreat.blogspot.com.

---

Reframing Rejection

So people will reject us no matter how good we... Read More

Scary Stuff

Life can be downright scary - sometimes more than others.... Read More

Positive Thinking: Polyanna Syndrome

Why do we have such a downer on Pollyanna? After... Read More

How Gratitude Can Be Your Partner in Life

Gratitude is one of the most important things you can... Read More

Knowing the Power of Positive Thinking

In the self-help and wellness industry, a mission has been... Read More

Dealing with Criticism and Rejection

Whether it's the other kids making fun of you at... Read More

Success, the Only Option

One often hears people say they can't sketch because they... Read More

The Enchantress Within Each of Us Returns?Making Potholders, One Stitch at a Time!

When I was little I was very busy--as I imagine... Read More

Improve Your Self Confidence

Knowing yourself is the foundation of self-esteem, self confidence and... Read More

Does It Really Matter?

We are all involved in this game called life and... Read More

How To Reduce Anxiety When Affirmations Dont Work

Have you ever read that you should think positively when... Read More

Develop Yourself - The Power Within

Living without limits. Living your life to the fullest. Living... Read More

Attitude = Altitude, Its Really Up To You!

Quote of the week:"Of all the attitudes we can acquire,... Read More

Being Tender With the Ugly Parts of Yourself

Does that title make you cringe? It made me cringe... Read More

Your Mental Attitude is The Key!

As a being of thought, your dominant mental attitude will... Read More

Positive Self-Talk

One of the most powerful influences on your attitude and... Read More

Good News! The Pathway of Change Is Predictable

Often when radical change occurs in our lives we feel... Read More

Dealing With Negative People Made Easy

I was playing tennis today with one of my tennis... Read More

Positive Mind, Successful Life

It took me a long time to realise the benefits... Read More

Forget Positive Thinking

There are always explanations for why things to you or... Read More

Enhance Wellness by Doing Something Different.

Many people would say that it is absolute madness to... Read More

Is The Glass Half-full Or Half-empty?

Keep focusing on the fullness of your life: Keep remembering... Read More

You Gotta Be Positive!

Remember Des'ree? She had a great song out in 1994,... Read More

Why You Want What You Cant Have

"You can't always get what you want . . ."... Read More

Accepting Rejected Thoughts

Sometimes we are in a position to look into the... Read More

Challenge Your Perspectives

When I was a young girl, my sister and I... Read More

Tips on Boosting Your Self-Confidence

How you feel about yourself truly does affect your interaction... Read More

The TRUTH About What REALLY Causes Negative Thoughts

Do you feel that your negative thoughts are holding you... Read More

The Power of Positive Thinking - Turn a Bad Day Around!

Turn brutality into kindness. There is no small deed and... Read More

Important Days Ahead

Humans tend to categorize things by large or small, bright... Read More

Gratitude: the ICE that Fills Your Half Empty Glass!

Are you completely happy in your life right now? Honestly?... Read More

Fear -- Feel It and Keep Moving

Many of us allow our fear to stop us in... Read More

Star Wars the POSITIVE Effect !

In many ways the Star War movies are simply a... Read More