Amazing Things Will Happen: A Real-World Guide on Achieving Success and Happiness

Chapter 8

Don’t Let the Seagulls Get You Down

Think about the times you’ve been by the ocean watching the waves crash and felt the sand be sucked out from beneath your feet as the tides do their magical dance. You’ll also see your fair share of seagulls and other birds flying around and making a hell of a racket.

Life (on the ocean or otherwise) is always going to be full of seagulls. You can spot them rather easily because they are constantly making noise, swooping in from time to time and shitting on you before flying away.

Real seagulls will leave a white mess on your head and shoulders, but people whom I refer to as seagulls are even more dangerous, because what they leave behind is self-doubt and uncertainties, both of which you must learn to ignore.

Managers, colleagues, and even clients can trigger these feelings. You’ve been working hard on an assignment, and someone says something along the lines of, “This isn’t at all what we were looking for.”

When this happens (and oh yes, it will happen), there are one of two responses:

1. Let the comment get you down and send you into a world self-doubt.

2. Consider what was said and, more important, who said it. Do a gut check to see how you feel about the assigned tasks and then stand your ground.

You could also ignore the seagull completely and push forward. This one works only if the seagull in question is someone you’ve worked with for a long time and whose habits you know. Just be smart about your decision to ensure that you ...