Rethinking Negativity: How I became a pessimist
Last month, after a dry spell with no work, I landed a new project that I’m excited about. It’s exactly the kind of job that I was looking for, and I’ll be working with people that I like, trust, and respect a lot. I should be thrilled, right? So I was brought up short when I realized I was lingering over my lunch by going through all the problems, personal and professional, that I might face in my new position.
Here’s what ran through my head: I will be taking over a project that is off to a difficult start (never mind that that’s why I was hired, since I have the skills and experience to turn projects around.) How will I get the right staff? How will I get the stakeholders to be realistic about timelines? How will I light a fire under the people who aren’t directly part of the project but are essential to making it possible? I’ll be at my client’s site four days a week, so how am I going to eat healthily and keep up my exercise program? The challenges and negative thinking running through my head spun on and on.