With all the negativity surrounding us, we realize it can be difficult to stay positive and optimistic. The media tends to paint a pretty dismal picture, and we can't fault them for that...bad news sells newspapers. However, continually focusing on and talking about the negativity tends to create a self-fulfilling prophecy. The only thing we can do to combat what's going on is to maintain a positive mindset and continue to go out everyday and do our best.
 
In light of this, I thought it was very timely to share with you all this classic parable. You may have heard it before, and I think it fits perfectly into today's current state of affairs. Take care and stay positive!
 
 

The Man Who Sold Hot Dogs

There was a man who lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs.

He was hard of hearing, so he had NO radio.

He had trouble with his eyes, so he read NO newspapers.

But he sold great hot dogs.

He put up signs on the road and cried "Buy a hot dog, Mister"

People bought.

He increased his meat and roll orders. He bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade.

He finally got his son home from college to help him out.

But then something happened.

His son said, "Father, haven't you been listening to the radio? There's a big depression coming on. The European situation is terrible. The domestic situation is worse."

That made his father think, "Well, my son's been to college, he read the papers and he listens to the radio, he ought to know."

So the father cut down his meat and roll orders, took down his advertising signs, and no longer bothered to stand on the highway to sell his good hot dogs.

Sales fell fast, almost overnight.

"You're right son," the father said to the boy. "We certainly are in the middle of a great depression. There just isn't any business."