(Cracking the Code with Greg Kozera - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

Everyone makes people happy. Some people do it by simply entering a room. Others make people happy by leaving a room.

You probably know both types of people. The difference is their attitude. Some people enter a room with a smile on their face. They are positive, uplifting and fun to be around. Others have a frown on their face. They are negative, self-centered and depressing to be around. We choose our attitude and the type of person we want to be. We also choose the type of people we want to spend time with.

Attitude is defined as a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person’s behavior. Attitudes have thoughts and feelings that influence our actions. The world and people constantly interact with us. How we choose to respond to others is determined by our attitude.

Attitude is how we look at the world. It determines how we deal with what the world throws at us. Our attitude determines if we are happy, sad or neutral. Do we respond with love or hate? Do we quit then complain or blame rather than find a solution?

In sales, “no” can be viewed as negative. I chose to look at “no” as “next.” More time to find the customer I’m looking for. What could I learn about my performance from the experience? Was this the wrong prospect for our product? Was I properly prepared? What did I learn that can help with the next prospect?

Last year, our high school soccer team won only one of our first seven games. The team’s dream at the beginning of the season was to win the state championship. We lost in overtime in the 2023 championship game. The boys doubted. As coaches, we began to have doubts but never gave up on our dream. We had to adapt and make changes. We had to develop our young players. The coaches and team captains kept a positive attitude and never gave up. The players continued to work and believe in the dream. Losses became wins. We won our last seven games including the championship game, outscoring our opponents 31-1. Because of the leaders, the team maintained a positive attitude leading to success.

The late Earl Nightingale talks about attitude, in his Lead the Field Program, a summation of 20 years of research on why some people do so well in life while many do not. Earl said, “It is our attitude toward life that determines life’s attitude toward us. We shape our own lives and the shapes are determined by our attitude. Human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitude.” Earl says we need to have a healthy attitude toward ourselves and what we can accomplish. Successful people expect more good things out of life than bad. The world plays no favorites.

Attitude is an individual choice. It is not determined by politics or political party. Attitudes can be contagious, bad or good. People tend to hang out with people having similar attitudes (in person or online). They develop their attitude based on the people they spend time with. I prefer to spend time with happy, positive, trustworthy people who care about others and believe human life is important.

Shale Crescent USA, for the second year in a row ,has been named a finalist for the prestigious Platts Global Energy Award. The 2025 finalists, over 50% of which hail from outside the United States, were just announced by program host S&P Global Commodity Insights. Shale Crescent USA is a finalist in the Excellence in Energy Downstream Category. Shale Crescent USA has what may be the only working solution for reducing emissions from Asian countries like China. Companies from Asia and Europe are moving production to the Shale Crescent, manufacturing under U.S. environmental law, reducing transportation emissions, growing the region’s economy and creating jobs.

The attitude of the Shale Crescent USA organization from the beginning has been one of success and anything is possible. That attitude, against all odds, put Shale Crescent USA’s first study with IHSMARKIT on the main stage at the 2018 World Petrochemical Conference. When attending SelectUSA or U.S. Commercial Services overseas roadshows, we expect success. Winners of the 27th annual Platts Global Energy Awards will be announced the evening of Dec. 11 at a black-tie gala in downtown Manhattan. Unfortunately, most likely we will not attend. Our concern is crime and personal safety. The perception we have is the leaders of New York City and New York State have an attitude of low concern for human life. That is their choice. We make ours.

How can we develop a good attitude? Here are suggestions from Earl’s Nightingale’s Lead the Field program:

1. Our attitude at the beginning of a task affects its successful outcome.

2. Act like you have a good attitude. Become mentally what you want to achieve.

3. For 30 days, treat every person you come in contact with as the most important person on Earth. To that individual they are. This is how human beings ought to treat each other. It will help you to develop a good attitude toward people.

4. Act toward others the way you want them to act to you. People want to feel important, to be needed, respected. People who fill this need will have it returned to them. We need others to succeed.

5. Our mind can only hold one thought at a time – keep it positive.

6. Never drop to the level of others with poor attitudes.

The U.S. has many problems. No one has all the answers. It’s uniquely American for people to have different ideas on how to solve problems. Solutions require people to communicate and work together. No matter the politics, solutions are possible when people with good attitudes work together. Anger and name calling never solve problems between individuals, in families or in our nation. We can change our nation with a positive attitude and respect for others.

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Greg Kozera, gkozera@shalecrescentusa.com, is the director of marketing for Shale Crescent USA. He is a professional engineer with a master’s in environmental engineering and more than 40 years of experience in the energy industry. Greg is a leadership expert, high school soccer coach, professional speaker and author of four books and many published articles.