054: Simple Mind Tricks That Actually Work For Emotional Control!

Kindness might be the most undervalued currency in our fast-paced world. This conversation explores how approaching situations with positivity can transform not just outcomes, but our entire experience.

When travel plans go awry or technology fails, our first instinct might be frustration. Yet, as personal stories reveal, treating the person behind the counter or the technician on the phone with genuine kindness consistently leads to better results. “I’ve never missed a flight,” shares one speaker, explaining how a smile and understanding attitude has gotten them onto fully booked planes—while others remained stranded.

The conversation takes a powerful turn when it shifts to perspective. A poignant story about a grandfather who spent his final hours angry over a minor workplace incident serves as a stark reminder to ask ourselves: Will this matter five years from now? The recent CrowdStrike-Microsoft incident offers another example—the technician helping you didn’t cause the problem, yet bears the brunt of customer frustration. Treating support staff with respect not only honors their humanity, but often gets your systems back online faster.

COVID taught us that we can slow down without the world falling apart. Perhaps that’s the lasting lesson we need: take a breath before reacting, recognize the humanity in others, and understand that most frustrations are temporary. Your positive attitude creates ripples far beyond the moment.

What small gesture of kindness might you offer today?

Chapters

• 0:00 The Mindset of Positivity
• 1:28 Staying Positive Despite Negativity
• 3:05 Travel Stress and Human Connection
• 5:17 Slowing Down After COVID
• 6:27 Perspective in Difficult Situations
• 9:13 Episode Closing and Connection

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

I know sometimes it's really hard, like sometimes we can't control our emotions or whatnot but just if you have that mindset and work on it, tweak it as you go. It's like, hey, slow down when you have an issue, just be nice to these people. Trust me, if you're going at it and just giving them a hard time, it's going to take that tech more time to get you up and running. There's one thing actually I think it's also essential yeah, and I told you I had so many barriers and walls that I built that actually I was struggling to get out and just do things and just being positive. Uh, two days ago I think we were we, we need a volleyball urgently and we went to the store and it's an outlet store, that next to where we were, and I know that store is usually low in stock and we're talking. It was like and she's saying do you think they'll have it? I was like, yeah, they will have it. Let's think that they're going to have it. And we got to go in and they will have it.

Speaker 1: 1:15

And just think positive, always think positive. And we got in and it's the only one in the store. Yeah, I mean they might not have it right. But just think positive. You know, uh, people will come and tell you your dress is ugly or you're ugly or whatever it's like. You know it's gonna happen. That's how we, that's how we grew up. I mean we had bullying and all the good stuff actually helped us to get where we are. So I actually embrace that. I kind of like, hey, you got to think positive, trust yourself. Okay, you're beautiful inside out. Whatever the story, don't let anybody put you down.

Speaker 1: 1:58

Like stay positive, keep that smile on and just move, ask nicely. Every single time Miss my flight, there's another flight that's fully booked. I just go at the stand and I smile and ask super nice, mark, I've never missed the timing on a flight. I'm always on the next one, even if they don't have seat. Just because you're smiling and you're asking nice, and the person behind the counter or the person you're in touch with human being, they feel you, if you're gonna go and have an attitude like I freaking missed my flight and I have a meeting and whatever, they're not gonna help you. Just give them. Give them the nice part they're working, make their life. Give them the nice part they're working, make their life. Give them the $10, the extra $8 as a tip. Okay, just that smile, it's just what it is. How much your net worth is down? Eight bucks, big deal, so yeah.

Speaker 2: 3:00

No, but you're right it goes back to, especially when you give that example of the airline industry. And, yes, they say we'll both be flying here in the next couple of weeks, but you get into that. That individual at that counter is dealt with a lot of crap in their day, let alone what's going on in their own personal life. But they say that travel can be very stressful. We know a lot of things happen and I've watched it. I've watched people just unload on these people and that person's the only person's right there is willing to help you. And you just walked up and you just laid into them and they had nothing to do with your situation, right, like they just happen to be employed by the company. Right, absolutely so.

Speaker 2: 3:43

And I know sometimes it can be difficult to put ourself in check and our emotions in check and say, hey, look, I understand. And a lot of times and I can be guilty, this time too I'm like look, I know that you this, you didn't create this problem. I know you just have to work for the company. So I know it doesn't necessarily, if I come across wrong, this isn't meant for you. I'm just letting you know ahead of time. It doesn't make it excusable. But I'm just letting you know that, hey look, I'm very flustered or whatever, but I know I'm here to talk to you about what can we do and what can we make happen or what's my options, and just talking through it and, yes, trying to be positive, trying to smile, going, hey, is it the end of the world? Yeah, it's an inconvenience. It wasn't life or death. No one died because they missed the flight. We just have to adjust.

Speaker 1: 4:32

Yeah, slow down, back to slow down. Just slow down before you talk and take it off on this specific employee that really has nothing to do with everything that happened to you.

Speaker 2: 4:44

yeah, that person didn't lose your luggage, that person didn't make you miss a flight, that person didn't make the the bulb not work in the, in the, the restroom of the airplane or whatever, so they couldn't leave. And that wasn't. That wasn't. They didn't have nothing to do with that, right, so yep yep, and it's sad how we take it on each other's.

Speaker 1: 5:03

And, uh, covet was sad, but it it was. The amazing part of covet is just taught us how we can slow down and nothing will change. Just slow down, take your time. We live together. We got to love each other. Unfortunately, coming from a country with so many civil war and whatever, love man, love each other it's like what are you trying to get out of this? What are you trying to get out of this? Like you're, you're mad at the, the, the cabin crew or whatever the story is. Which is they?

Speaker 2: 5:48

get traveled. There's a lot, of a lot of you see it a lot in travel.

Speaker 1: 5:51

Right there's just a lot of emotions.

Speaker 2: 5:52

There's a lot of a lot of things going on there, so yeah, they put a spice on your food.

Speaker 1: 5:57

It's like, yeah, just wait 10 minutes, you're going to eat, you're good, and I know, sometimes it's really hard, like sometimes we can't control our emotions or whatnot. But just, if you have that mindset and work on it, tweak it as you go. It's like, hey, slow down, slow down. Big one was the CrowdStrike Microsoft story, just think about it If you're an employee and you're mad at the tech that's coming to fix your problem.

Speaker 1: 6:27

That technical person was struggling for the past whatever a few hours or a few days in some certain areas and scenarios and everybody is cussing at this guy. This guy didn't build crowds right. This guy didn't send the error. This guy is trying to help you. So when you have an issue, just be nice to these people. Trust me, if you're going at it and just giving them a hard time, it's going to take that tech more time to get you up and running. Just shut the front door or be nice and let them do their job.

Speaker 2: 7:07

No, well said, well said, and I think we need a lot in other elements of our life as well, and it's not just on the technician in our industry.

Speaker 2: 7:15

Right, you let go and face it and we need to apply that across the board. I know it can be very that, can be hard at times, but you know, to be able to, I'm going to say, step back and look at yourself and look at the way you're reacting to things or the things you're saying and say, okay, stop. You know how do I put a positive spin on this, maintain a little positivity and really put it. Maintain a little positivity and and really put it, I guess, in um, well, now it's just totally just blanked. Um, you know, put it in perspective. You know, put it in perspective in the, in the grand scheme of life, right, because chances are maybe not tomorrow, but five days from now, five weeks from now, five years from now. It's not going to mean anything at all. We're probably not going to remember it yeah, people, why?

Speaker 2: 8:09

do we? Why do we, why do we let that consume us today, right yeah don't my grandfather get an issue at work?

Speaker 1: 8:17

he came back really, really mad. I still vividly remember him. I was at his house and he came back mad at work. He went to bed, didn't wake up for what he might have, somebody just took his lunchbox. I don't know what the issue was, but just if you think about you basically I mean you know it's time, but you basically spent the last 12 hours of your life over.

Speaker 2: 8:49

Somebody took your lunchbox or whatever the story is. Whatever the story is.

Speaker 1: 8:54

I mean, my grandmother food wasn't that great.

Speaker 2: 8:56

But oh, my alright, not everyone can be a chef, right? So I get it absolutely alright, naz. Well, hey, I look forward to seeing you in person here in just a few weeks. Let's make sure that we get some time together to catch up in person and maybe share some food or share some conversation, and until then, I want to thank you for taking the time to speak with me today to share your story, share and allow me to share that with others thank you for having me, mark.

Speaker 1: 9:35

Uh, honestly, I love what you do. Uh, I'm trying to do it. I'm trying to really make time where I can just push a little bit experience. Again, we're not the smartest, we're just. We're just learning as we go and I would love to help. So thank you for letting me share a little bit of my horrible stories and thank you so much and looking forward to see you. I'm staying a whole week. I'm not sure about you.

Speaker 2: 10:06

Yeah, I will be there. I think I arrive in Hollywood on Sunday actually and I'll be there through Sunday to Sunday.

Speaker 1: 10:15

Oh, really yeah, I'll be there for a week Saturday.

Speaker 2: 10:18

We'll definitely catch up Right on. Well, hey, until then, thanks again. It was my pleasure having you. We'll talk soon. Ceo of Current Tech Solutions and CyberGuardians. We know business owners like you want to focus on growing your company, not worrying about IT problems or security threats. That's where we come in. Our team uses AI to protect your business from cyber risks and keep everything running smoothly. If you're ready for peace of mind and a stronger future, reach out to us today. Let's secure and elevate your business together.