It was the first day of my new corporate assignment in a customer’s office. Working for years with this customer in the field and with their management, I knew many of their people in the office. The managers and VPs had real offices. The rest of us were in cubicals.

After lunch Ralph, (not his real name) came to my cubical to introduce himself and talk. We had a nice visit but Ralph kept talking and talking and didn’t leave. I had things to do, but I didn’t want to be rude, especially on my first day. Suddenly my phone buzzed. Ralph said, “Well I better get going” and left. I answered the phone. It was Sue on the other side of my cubical wall, “Greg, you are new here. You need to understand when Ralph comes to someone’s cubical close to you and starts talking, your responsibility is to call the person Ralph is talking to so he will leave. You have a list with everyone’s phone numbers.” I was in the office for several years. The “Ralph rule” stayed in effect. We all make people happy, sometimes it is when we come. Sometimes it is when we leave. We know people who light up a room when they enter. They are happy to see everyone. They have positive attitudes and treat everyone with dignity and respect.

We also know people who can suck the air and life out of a room with their negative attitude. They talk about themselves and their problems. They frown a lot and are experts at finding the bad in every good day.

We choose our attitude. Happiness is also a choice. From an early age I learned happiness from “things” was short lived. We anticipated Christmas for months. On Christmas morning, in a few minutes the anticipation was over.

In sales, I learned the importance of bringing something of value to every sales call. It started with a smile and a positive attitude. I could always make someone’s day brighter. If they were down I could find a way to encourage them and make them laugh. If I looked hard enough I could find useful information or an idea they could use in their business. My goal was to always leave my customer better than I found them.

This week, my wife, Lynnda and I were at the West Virginia Chamber Business Summit at the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs. There was a record attendance of over 1,000 attendees. Most important, these are people who make me happy by entering a room. There is a lot to be positive about. West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice opened the Summit by announcing three more companies Hand Craft, Babcock & Wilcox and Prime 6 are expanding to West Virginia with $219 million in new investments.

Announcements are one thing, construction and actual jobs are another. Nucor Steel in Mason County is under construction and over 10% complete. On the BHE site in Jackson County a titanium factory and a solar plus battery storage project is being built. The Form Energy battery storage project building has taken shape near Weirton. A photo showed the newly paved parking lot with cars of the construction workers. The TCL plant at New Martinsville is expected to start production in 2025.

Paul Smith of Charleston was recognized for winning the James Beard award for Chef of the Year. Paul operates several restaurants in Charleston. Sen. Joe Manchin was recognized for his 42 years of service. West Virginia is the only state with two U.S. Senators from different political parties who actually work together for the benefit of West Virginia.

Wheeling native Chris Stirewalt spoke at the Business Summit on the election and helped to put things in perspective.

At the Business Summit, the focus is on business and commerce. No one cares about political party. The focus is on business. Not much different than Lynnda and I saw at the NSA Professional Speaker’s Conference a few weeks ago which was far more diverse the Summit. Commerce and helping others is more important than politics and our differences. Commerce and business can unify.

Being around positive people and listening to success stories creates belief success is possible. Success stories like Paul Smith’s, help people believe they can also succeed. Start with a smile, a positive attitude, and be a person who makes people happy when they show up.

Greg Kozera is the Director of Marketing for Shale Crescent USA.