One day, a professor announced a surprise test. He distributed a paper to each student with the front side face down. Then he asked the class to turn over the page and start the test. But there were no questions on the paper -- just a black dot in the center of the page.

“I want you to write a few lines about what you see on the paper,” the professor said.

Puzzled, the students started the test. Once everyone finished, the professor collected all the tests and started reading the answers out loud. Without exception, all the students had written about the black dot, mentioning its position, size and so on.

The teacher told the students: “None of you will be graded on this test. I just wanted you to ponder over something. All of you wrote about the black dot. No one wrote about the white part of the paper. The same thing happens in our lives. We all have a white paper to observe and learn from, yet we always focus on the dark spots. We have so many reasons to celebrate: our parents, co-workers, friends, good health, a good job, the miracles we witness every day, for example.

“However, we often limit our horizons by focusing on just the dark spots -- our disappointments, our frustrations, our fears and anxieties. In our day-to-day lives, we tend to take so many good things for granted and focus our energy on insignificant failure and disappointments.

“Take your eyes away from the black dots of your life. Try and focus on the brighter side of life and let positivity govern your thoughts.”

I consider Norman Vincent Peale’s book “The Power of Positive Thinking” one of the best motivational books ever written. A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health and success. Whatever the mind expects, it finds.

I frequently promote this book in my speeches and writings, because even though it was published in 1952, the advice is timeless. Positivity is one of those attitudes that never changes.

One of my favorite aphorisms goes like this: Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

If you think positively, you will be more inclined to speak positively. Your positive words will spur you to positive actions. If you get used to behaving in a positive way, you will form good habits. And your habits will help define the kind of person you are. That will lead you to your destiny: what you will eventually become as a person.

Positive thinking has no negatives. Both personal and professional relationships benefit from a positive approach. By all means, surround yourself with positive people; support each other when the urge to be negative threatens.

Sometimes that’s not so easy to do in a professional setting. Difficult customers or co-workers can drag you down. Direct your efforts toward defusing difficult situations while refusing to indulge in negativity yourself. Successful businesses thrive on customer satisfaction, not on hostility.

Would you rather do business with a positive person or someone who finds fault at every turn? Conversely, do your customers find your dealings rewarding or tedious? Nothing chases business out the door faster than a contentious encounter.

If you can’t say yes to a deal, find a positive way to say no. “I’m sorry we can’t accommodate your request, but I’m going to call a friend who may be able to help.” You aren’t turning away business; you are leaving a future customer with positive thoughts about your practices. And they appreciate being treated with that kind of respect.

Here's an extra benefit: Treating others well does wonders for your own self-respect. Sounds like a winning formula all around.

Let’s circle back to the black dot story. I am fascinated with the ingenuity of the professor. Such a simple exercise is easily translated to so many life situations. We all have challenges that tempt us to focus on our own “black dots.” Try hard not to let them pepper your outlook.

Consider this age-old story about finding the positive in the face of adversity.

Everyone advised David to forget about confronting the enormous giant Goliath, saying, “He’s so big, there’s no way you can win.”

David replied, “He’s so big, there’s no way I can miss.”

Mackay’s Moral: A positive approach rises above reproach.

A scrawny old man wanted to get a job at a nearby lumberjack camp, so he approached the boss, who politely tried to talk him out of the idea.

“Give me a few minutes of your time, and I’ll show you what I can do,” suggested the man.

When the two arrived at a grove of trees needing to be cleared, the persistent old man picked up an ax and proceeded to chop down a huge tree in record time.

“That’s incredible,” the boss said. “Where did you learn to fell trees like that?”

“Well,” said the old man, “you’ve heard of the Sahara Forest?”

Hesitantly the boss replied, “Don’t you mean the Sahara Desert?”

The old man smiled and said, “Sure, that’s what it’s called now.”

“Achievers are producers,” writes Glenn Van Ekeren. “They understand the world will not recognize them for what they could have done, should have done or would have done."

Achievement is one of the desires that drives us. Why do you think we have various awards like Grammys, Emmys, Oscars and Nobel and Pulitzer Prizes, not to mention numerous halls of fame?

“The number of new products available and the new inventions which make life easier from generation to generation all testify to mankind’s thirst for more achievement,” wrote authors Leonard and Thelma Spinrad. “No matter what kind of society or political system a country may have, it seeks to provide recognition for what it regards as achievement.”

Outstanding efforts, great courage, heroic deeds, superior commitment and innovative accomplishments all deserve acknowledgement. But recognition shouldn’t be the primary motivation for achievement.

I can tell you from personal experience that achieving a goal or completing a major business or civic project is a reward in itself. Yes, my ego appreciates the kudos, but it doesn’t make the achievement any sweeter. I just want to do the best and most complete job I can do.

Finding the motivation to achieve is sometimes a challenge. You know what you can achieve; it’s the getting started part that inhibits results. When you feel stuck, you can pull yourself up with an attitude adjustment. The Success magazine website offers some ideas on how to make the change.

-- Rely on yourself first. You’ll have to ask others for advice, assistance and support, but remember that in the end, your success is your responsibility alone.

-- Have a plan. Don’t go off in all directions at once. Work out a solid, detailed strategy for getting from your starting point to the result you want.

-- Focus on commitment. Are you really committed to your goal? If not, you won’t be motivated to pursue it.

-- Concentrate on gaining knowledge. Don’t expect instant results. Instead, work on accumulating the knowledge you need to get to where you want to go.

-- Have some fun. Don’t make the work all drudgery. Set a goal you’ll enjoy working toward, and look for opportunities to have fun along the way.

-- Spark your imagination. Be open to anything, no matter how wild it seems at first. Generate ideas through brainstorming with others, exploring the world around you, and seeking opportunities to learn new things.

-- Challenge yourself. Don’t wait for the perfect moment to take action. Take chances, get out of your comfort zone and be realistic about your mistakes and the causes of your failures.

We all have the potential to be great achievers. It may not come with a trophy or a job title, but achievement is measured on many fronts. Don’t just dream about achieving something -- stay awake and do it!

Gretchen Alexander refused to allow her blindness to limit her life experiences. She mastered archery, golf, softball, sailing and waterskiing, as well as a number of other activities her sighted friends had yet to learn.

Speaking to a group of high school students about her achievements, one student asked if there was anything she wouldn’t try. “I’ve decided not to skydive,” she answered. “It would scare the heck out of my dog.”

Mackay’s Moral: Getting something done is an accomplishment; getting something done right is an achievement.

2020 has presented challenges for all of us, not the least of which is the fear that life will never return to normal.

It’s been tough sometimes to be grateful, considering what is happening all around us. But I have an idea that a friend shared with me when I heard grumbling about not being able to go to a ball game, or gathering with friends, or having to cancel a long-awaited trip.

“Yes, I know it feels like so much has been taken from us. But there’s still plenty of material to mine,” she suggested. “Start by finding joy in small things. Think of all that you have instead of wishing for what you don’t have.”

Her point was simple: If you are not grateful for what you have, it is doubtful you will be grateful for what you will get.

I’ll admit, at first it took some time and thought to adjust my attitude. But once I started listing what I was grateful for, I just kept going. My list was pretty long. And most of the items were not “things” at all. They were the people and experiences in my life.

I’m betting that all of you can make a similar list if you try. Start looking for little things that you can appreciate.

November is National Gratitude Month. That seems logical, with Thanksgiving always falling on the fourth Thursday of November. But you don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving to show your gratitude and appreciation. There’s something to be grateful for every morning you wake up. Challenge yourself to greet each day with an attitude of gratitude.

In fact, there are some pretty significant physical and mental benefits to gratitude, which include:

-- Improved physical, emotional and social well-being.

-- Greater optimism and happiness.

-- Improved feelings of connection in times of loss or crises.crisis?

-- Increased self-esteem.

-- Heightened energy levels.

-- Strengthened heart, immune system and decreased blood pressure.

-- Expanded capacity for forgiveness.

-- Decreased stress, anxiety, depression and headaches.

-- Improved self-care and greater likelihood to exercise.

-- Heightened spirituality, i.e. the ability to see something bigger than ourselves.

That list alone should provide you impetus to look for reasons to be grateful for what you have. And remember, where you are isn’t where you have to stay. As you ponder the things that you are thankful for, you can also look forward to how you can use those gifts to move to the level where you want to be.

Maybe your job isn’t as challenging or fulfilling as you’d like it to be. But you have gained professional experience, developed people skills that could lead you to take on more responsibility, been provided opportunities to grow your network or discovered that your real passion lies in doing something different -- all while being able to pay the bills with, hopefully, a little left over. That kind of education is a reason for gratitude, especially when you move on to your new and better job.

Have you told the people around you how grateful you are for their roles in your life? Your words don't need to be flowery or formal, just sincere. You might be surprised at how they respond -- perhaps because no one has ever told them they’ve made a difference.

If a face-to-face conversation is awkward, why not go back to the best kind of mail anyone can receive: the old-fashioned hand-written thank-you note. And I don’t say that just because I’m an envelope guy!

Start looking around for reasons to be grateful. It won’t take long, and it won’t cost you anything. You don’t have to be a psychologist to understand that you are responsible for your own happiness and attitude.

A 4-year-old actress was appearing in a movie with an aging, crotchety star. One day, the star came on the set all made up beautifully, and the little girl said to her, “Gee, you look so nice.”

The actress made a pouty face and replied, “What am I supposed to say to that?”

The little girl politely remarked, “You could say thank you.”

Mackay’s Moral: Thanksgiving is good, but “thanksliving” is better.