Simon Middleton

Yes I'm a positive thinker: but I also know you have to work at it

I have an unusual profile for a 'self-help' writer and speaker. My particular journey has led to an outlook which is certainly positive, but also firmly grounded in reality.

Be self-unlimiting

The best piece of advice I ever received was to not limit my ambitions, because there would always be plenty of others ready to do that for me. The advice rang true and fitted with my essentially positive attitude, but also admits a vulnerability I know most of us try hard to overcome.

We might want to be positive, but that attitude is hard to sustain on willpower alone. It's very easy to get thrown off track and lose self-belief.

Apply a grounded strategy

Unlike others, I don't think it's sufficient to simply 'ask the universe' for good things to happen. Instead I offer a grounded strategy to make the most of our character, talent, intelligence and ability to work hard at improving ourselves.

My book Build A Brand In 30 Days applied that approach to creating successful small businesses. My new book Brand New You takes the same attitude to personal development. I've used it for my own career... and I know it works.

Using lessons learned

My ideas won't appeal to everyone and I don't try to make negative people into positive ones. Instead I use lessons I've learned from business and life in general to offer useful strategies and tools.

These can help determined and positive people to explore and improve their careers, self-confidence, relationships and true potential in life.