MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER, AUTHOR & SUCCESS COACH

July 2025 GOOD news letter The truth about positivity

The TRUTH about positivity

 

 

 

I am grateful to one of my all-time favorite coaches, Mike Denny, for sharing his insights about the importance of positive feedback.

 

Those of us who are motivational and inspirational speakers constantly preach that you should find whatever motivates you to be the best version of yourself. We talk about how motivation is needed to help you accomplish your goals and sometimes even to get up in the morning. In this newsletter I’ll shed some light on how to incorporate motivation into your daily life… not once in a while, but every day in some form or fashion.

 

How many positive experiences does it take to overcome the destructive impact of one negative experience? To effectively offset the negative input we are exposed to every day, we need a lot of positive input. In fact research suggests we need a minimum of five positives for every negative input we hear, see, or experience.

 

Research suggests that this 5 to 1 ratio of positive to negative is crucial for our mental well-being. This balance helps us move from feeling simply okay to flourishing.

 

Why is positivity so important?

The brain naturally has a “negativity bias,” meaning it is more likely to remember negative experiences than positive ones. This bias can make it seem like negative experiences have a stronger impact, even if the number of positive experiences is greater. To counteract this bias, we need to expose ourselves to more positives.

 

What type of positive input has the most impact? In a nationwide survey of over 2,000 workers, 69% indicated that receiving praise and recognition was more motivating to them than money. Four out of five workers said recognition or praise motivated them to do a better job.

 

Providing feedback of 5 positives to 1 negative is a goal for increasing the amount and quality of feedback that we give to others. Positive or encouraging feedback makes an individual more likely to perform a behavior again.

 

In addition to supporting people with verbal feedback, writing inspirational notes can have a long-lasting impact. Positivity helps to counteract the damage caused by people who seem to be in the demolition business.

 

“When you expect the best, you release a magnetic force in your mind which by a law of attraction tends to bring the best to you.”

—Norman Vincent Peale

 

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

—1 Thessalonians 5:11

 

Giving and receiving positive input helps all of us. It would be hard to find anybody who doesn’t benefit from positive feedback. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that you helped make somebody’s day better or even changed somebody’s life? Each of us has the ability to be positive, so I believe we have the responsibility to do this.

 

I would be thrilled to speak to your company or organization about ways to increase positivity in your workplace. For more information on this topic, please check out The Van Deeb Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.

 

 

What People in the Audience are Saying…

With Van's passion, humor and experience you can be assured of one thing- your audience is going to get fired-up, built-up, and fully charged –up. As an entrepreneur at the top of his game Van is in the unique position of being able to "talk the talk" because he has "walked the walk". Over the years he has been a great inspiration to me and my staff. Van is a speaker with charisma, humility and impact and he's a difference maker in the lives of the people he touches…"

—George Akers // President, First Mortgage Corp.

I wanted to thank you for coming and speaking with our company today. I thought your presentation was awesome! I was really motivated and inspired by your thoughts and ideas. I will use this motivation to grow my business and my personal life.”

—Justin Pauls // Realtor, Tampa, Florida

We are delighted you will be accepting the award for Omaha’s Top 25 fastest growing companies. Congratulations on your outstanding growth and we wish you continued success.”

—Tracey Fortina // Omaha Chamber of Commerce

Thank you for running such a class act company. It is an honor and a pleasure to be associated with someone such as yourself. I know you are probably one of the most respected businessmen in the region.”

—Dustin Talacko // Realtor, Omaha, Nebraska

Congratulations on writing “Selling from the heart” and thank you for sharing a copy with me. Your class has been one of the most enjoyable classes I’ve ever taken. Your enthusiasm and passion for your work are awesome. But the most refreshing part of the class was your delightful sense of humor. Thank you again for being a fantastic teacher.”

—Linda Reismeiler // Student at Randall School of Real Estate, Omaha, Nebraska

Kudos to you, Van, for reaching a major goal. But more than that...For successfully building one of Omaha’s best companies from scratch and making it thrive even in less than ideal market conditions. You have realized the American Dream...And brought it home to many, many others. My best to you!”

—Todd Andrews, Anchor and Producer, KETV Omaha

Having you here again was such a blessing to so many! As I looked at the pictures, I could see just how interested each and every person was in what you had to say!

This has been such a gift to our agents when they need it the most. The fact that you come, you are so genuine and caring, you are so honest, you are not trying to sell anything and your passion to help each and every person believe in themselves and become the best they can be is HUGE! The timing is perfect for us all helping and caring about each other, so, thank YOU from the bottom of my heart for giving of yourself to help all of us!”

—Carolyn Summerton // First Mortgage Company of Idaho

I enjoyed your seminar and its focus. I was on the fence whether or not to attend and decided why not? I could have sat through an all day session if there was one, usually I end up at the seminars that start with a focus and quickly go astray. I found with yours time flew by too fast and it was already time to go but I wasn’t ready to go.”

—Scott Asbill, CDPE // Associate Broker, Realtor