The Power of Positive Thinking in Business

by Scott W. Ventrella

Book Overview

10 TRAITS FOR MAXIMUM RESULTS Do you have what it takes to succeed in business? When it comes to work performance, we tend to be our own worst critics, and it is often difficult to see where our true strengths lie. The key to overcoming this kind of self-defeating behavior is to change the way we think. Norman Vincent Peale's great classic bestseller, The Power of Positive Thinking, was the first book to introduce positive thinking as a means to personal...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 074321238X
• ISBN13: 9780743212380
• Release Date: May 2002
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

A potential life changer

Scott Ventrella's book is by far the best book that I've ever come across which nails down specifically how to become a positive thinker. This author did his research very well. He does not get too deeply involved with psychological theory, nor does he force the reader to follow long anecdotal stories. Ventrella gives short and easy to follow practical examples in a clearly bulleted format. It's easy to read and understand, and you can reference it quickly if necessary. Whatsmore, the advice he gives is effective and priceless. This book has been a great help to me and I highly recommend it to everyone, even those who are not in business per say. I even recommend it to those who have a positive attitude, so that they can understand negative thinkers and find ways of affecting a change in the workplace or home.

An excellent reference for increasing productivity

Scott Ventrella's The Power Of Positive Thinking In Business: 10 Traits For Maximum Results was written as an antidote to the gossip, griping, and negative impediments to team effort that undermines productivity and costs U.S. companies about three billion dollars a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. When the bottom line suffers from negative thinking, so do all the countless individuals who depend upon the business in question. The Power Of Positive Thinking In Business is a careful, easy-to-understand guide to adopting a healthy, optimistic attitude for positive action and successful payoffs. From stimulating creativity to fostering an environment of trust, The Power Of Positive Thinking In Business is an excellent reference for increasing workplace productivity, and ultimately, saving a great deal of money.

Must read for individuals serious about success in business

Ventrella successfully draws upon Norman Vincent Peale's grounbreaking principles written more than 50 years ago, and effectively applies them to contemporary business situations. The book is more than a "how-to" business manuel, its based upon very sound, fundamental principles about successfully pursuing your dreams. This book is a must purchase for anyone who is serious about success in life and business- no matter how you define success.

Insightful and powerful adaptation

Ventrella captures the spirit of Peale and applies it to the everyday challenges of modern organizational life. So much has been written about centers of influence, self-determination, etc. but Ventrella brings it down to earth with practical, usable tools. The interactions between belief and action are described without a rigid perspective, reflecting both the idea that beliefs influence actions and also the behavioralist view. In describing a pragmatiuc approach to self-improvement, he actually uncovers a potent method of changing corporate culture: one employee at a time. Bravo!!

A Helpful Update and Application of Dr. Peale to Business

The Power of Positive Thinking is one of the best selling volumes of all time. In this book, Professor Ventrella has taken Norman Vincent Peale's work and applied it successfully to business. The principles are consistent wih Dr. Peale's original, the examples will be meaningful to most business people, and the book can readily be applied to diagnose the reader's key issues and improve. I found the book easy to read, even easier to use, and insightful. Anyone who wants to apply the principles of positive thinking to business should read and use the material in this book.Undoubtedly, one of the reasons the book is successful is because it had the support of the Peale Center. In fact, the foreword is an endorsement of the book from Ms. Ruth Stafford Peale. The book puts the concept of positive thinking very effectively in context. "[Over] 95 percent of the time, people list internal factors as . . . why people fail to reach their full [business] potential . . . ." These are "attitude" issues like "fear," "low self-esteem," "lack of confidence," and having "no clear goals." Also external factors like "lack," "loss," and "limitations" are also controlled by internal perceptions. The line that really hit me was that "most people start their jobs with a positive, hopeful outlook." This means the "challenge for managers is to create an environment that constantly reinforces and nurtures positive attitudes."The book provides a road map for applying its concepts to any situation. You start with (1) define the situation (both in terms of business issue and the emotional gravity), (2) then determine what you are telling yourself, (3) determine your desired outcome (goals, affirmation, and visualization), (4) access your positive traits, (5) rehearse the situation mentally, (6) take action, and (7) assess the results of your actions. This is nicely summarized in the end as a Professional Challenge Worksheet.The book has a very involved definition of what positive thinking is. I won't try to paraphrase or quote it. The main point is that positive thinking is much more than optimism, and is practially tied to a process for producing results. The book is well grounded in psychological studies of human behavior. In this section, I was particularly impressed with the list of self-limiting beliefs that almost everyone has. These are tied to self-denigration, intolerance, frustration, and blaming others. The ten traits are as follows: optimism, enthusiasm, belief, integrity, courage, confidence, determination, patience, calmness, and focus. There is a quiz to help you determine where you are strong and where you need work. Each trait then gets detailed treatment, along with suggestions for how to strengthen yourself appropriately in each area. I found the quiz to be helpful and perceptive. The book is also well grounded in sports metaphors and stories that will be meaningful to many. I should share that despite having read many books about af