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Over the last two months, we have discussed various ways for franchisees and entrepreneurs to make their business work better. We’ve discussed how to spot a recession-proof industry, tips for making your franchise run on less money, as well as ideas for bringing out the best in your employees. One attribute we may have omitted: the importance of positive thinking.

While there’s no scientific theories or facts and figures to prove that positive thinking will have any effect on your annual profit margins, in these difficult times, some entrepreneurs are finding that a fresh personal approach can reap many dividends.

This article charts the evolution of positive psychology as practiced by Martin E.P. Seligman, who created a masters degree at the University of Pennsylvania for people interested in the concept. A number of big businesses have employed its graduates as consultants, and gradually, entrepreneurs have looked to positive psychology for career guidance.

At the heart of positive psychology is the need for entrepreneurs and business-people to thoroughly analyse themselves and their own business abilities. From there, business people can begin focus solely on doing what they do best, which is the key to all positive thinking.

The story focuses on CargoWise EDI, an Illinois-based software company serving the freight-service industry. They brought in David J. Pollay, head of The Momentum Project, whose mantra for entrepreneurs is “negativity is just not necessary.”

Pollay sat down with the executives of CargoWise and gave them a chance to articulate their feelings about the management of the company:

They recalled when they were at their best. They thought about the company’s wider purpose: creating jobs that support hundreds of families; cooperating while doing something they enjoy; producing useful products that facilitate commerce. None of it was groundbreaking, but employees didn’t usually articulate these things. They talked about negative forces that were beyond their control and vowed not to be derailed by them.

Positive thinking can work and it might be the X Factor that brings a fresh approach to your business. If you’d like to discover your own business strengths, take a survey on this website. And in the mean time, stay positive.