From the beginning, we are taught by our parents what NOT to do.
Don't cross the street without looking. Don't go to bed without brushing your teeth. Don't talk back. Don't get in trouble. And on and on.
Similarly, from an early age we are told by our parents, "Don't worry, honey. Everything will be all right." Or "Let me kiss it and make it well." From infancy up, we're inundated with platitudes that may provide short-term diversion but don't work in the long run.
One of my favorite books, Norman Vincent Peale's "The Power of Positive Thinking," is a classic bestseller that inspired an optimistic perspective for millions of Americans. I was deeply honored when Dr. Peale wrote an endorsement for my first book, "Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive."
Now Bob Knight, the legendary college basketball coach, has written an inspirational and entertaining rebuttal to Dr. Peale's book, explaining why negative thinking will actually produce more positive results in sports and in daily life. His new book is titled, "The Power of Negative Thinking."
Known for his fiery temperament, Coach Knight feels that most basketball games are not won; they are lost. That's why his coaching philosophy is to instill discipline by preparing to win, rather than hoping to win.
Preparation keeps you from beating yourself. In his locker rooms, he posted a sign that read, "Victory favors the team making the fewest mistakes." He writes about the value of watching game film with his team to pinpoint mistakes "and especially patterns of mistakes so they don't occur again."
Coach Knight provides his two candidates for the greatest words in the English language: "No" and "Don't."
"Don't and can't are obviously negative phrases, but putting the words into use can bring very positive results," he says.
He points out that seven of the Ten Commandments start with "Thou shalt not." He even developed his own Ten Commandments, including:
- Don't accept the status quo. Look for better when others are satisfied.
- Always question. The best of all questions: Why?
- Look for improvements to make in yourself or bad habits to break.
- Never think talent alone will determine the outcome.
- Never talk too much. Get yourself a degree from the Shut-Up School.
Mackay's Moral: "Everybody wants to win, but not everyone wants to prepare to win." - Bob Knight
Harvey Mackay is the author of the New York Times best-seller "Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive." To send him a question or comment, go to
tulsaworld.com/mackayfeedback.
Original Print Headline: Negative thinking can help, too
Column - Harvey MacKay
No one ever accused Larry Winget of mincing words. Larry, who is often referred to as the Pitbull of Personal Development, wouldn't take kindly to it anyway.
I WILL GO to the ends of the earth to find ways to improve communication and salesmanship, so I was delighted to be invited to Israel in July to be briefed by the creme-de-la-creme of Israel's intelligence community.
