Wendell Dallas
Vice President and General Manager
AGL Resources

In today's environment, where the media is feeding you one bad news report after another, I have to admit, it can be a challenge to focus on what's positive. So, how do we meet this challenge head on and defeat it?

My one thought is this - keep it simple.

I say this because each person has their "own" definition of simple. We have millions of things today that we're trying to keep track of, and if you're honest with yourself, you're probably not doing as well as you would like, so you end up beating yourself up.

Information anxiety (overload) kills your ability to do anything, or I should say, everything. Stop doing this and accept the fact that you can only do one thing at a time. Trying to do it all, and perfectly I might add, is what experts (media) say you should be doing.

Blah...

Take control back - work on a job (technical or interpersonal) skill, smile (I mean, really SMILE, and big), work on your resume (and only focus on the positive, no exceptions), go after your dream job/company and tell them why you're the right person (who cares what others "experts" say - you're doing this with passion), start a savings account
today, take your wife on a date, play a board game with your family (yes, a real board, not a computer), the list could go on and on.

Reflect on when you're the happiest and start doing more of those things, whatever they are. Connecting with these things is what builds your confidence and gives you the energy to face the uncertain times, with a positive attitude.

And I firmly believe that having (or building up) a positive mental attitude is the key to keeping things simple. A PMA drives, not only how we see the world, but more importantly, it drives how we see ourselves.

We should look at all of the things around us and determine what enables us to see the good qualities we bring to the table each day. This will build your self-confidence (not overconfidence, I might add). Focus and reflect on the good things you've accomplished, the people you've influenced throughout your life, the people who have influenced you, and the challenges you've overcome. Since no story or experience is the same, we are all unique creatures in this world of opportunity. You bring value to your circle of influence everyday, so use it.

Bottom line, each and everyday I look for something new to learn. And fortunately, I have thousands of opportunities (my family, work, friends, my faith, etc.), but just as importantly, I look for an opportunity to teach. By keeping it simple, especially in tough times, I always find what I'm looking for.