This coming Saturday, September 13th, is Positive Thinking Day. There are 8,760 hours in one year and this is one 24-hour segment that is dedicated to helping you stop and analyze how you are actually viewing the world around you.

Life is all about perception. If you wake up in the morning and think, “this is going to be a bad day,” that sets the tone for the rest of your day and more than likely, you’re going to have a bad day. Conversely, if you wake up and think to yourself, “I’m going to make this a great day,” odds are you’re going to have a great day. Great days don’t happen – they’re created.

There are things in life that can’t be changed, i.e., you’re stuck in traffic, you spill your lunch in your lap, your computer crashes. The list goes on and on. As children, we may not be told that life can sometimes be unfair or even hard. It’s all in how we perceive and deal with life’s difficulties that makes all the difference.

Here are some ways to change your outlook on the day:

• Start your day with gratitude. Try being mindful of what you have. Keep a gratitude journal so you can look back over time and see what’s good in your life.
• Try staying in the moment. Take just a quick moment to stop, close your eyes and breath.
• Surround yourself with positive people. Positivity breeds positivity. One of the things that makes Advance Financial different from other companies is how we encourage each other and maintain a positive attitude in the midst of what can often be a very hectic work day.
• Smile. Smiles are contagious and you never know how your smile will change someone else’s day, let alone your own.
• Help someone. By lending a helping hand to someone in need, you can make them and yourself feel better at the same time.

I stopped one morning several years back to get gas on the way to work. There was a long line in the store as I entered to pay, but the cashier waiting on all the customers was so bubbly and cheery. A man in line asked the guy why he was in such a good mood (it was early), to which the cashier replied, “Well, I woke up this morning and didn’t have on a toe tag, so I thought I’d make a day of it!” Words to live by.

At Advance Financial we believe in being positive every day. In addition to the financial services we provide, we strive to pass on to our customers and our fellow team members a smile, a word of encouragement, a helping hand. We’re always hiring positive people. Listen as some of our employees talk about the culture at AF and see if you’re interested in a career with Advance Financial.

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College graduations are taking place right and left this time of year. It’s been four long years (or more for some) of selecting classes, all night studying, and taking tests. For some, the excitement of beginning their professional lives is thrilling. But for others, graduation means the dread of not knowing where you’re going to find a job.

While the job market is getting better, graduates are still finding it difficult to acquire work. According to The Labor Department, last year 260,000 college graduates were working at or below the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. This isn’t good news, especially with student debt steadily climbing.

With graduates not being able to find jobs and six times as many working retail, that’s where Advance Financial comes in. We are growing faster than any other company in the area. That means great opportunities and awesome earnings potential for people who want to be part of the Advance Financial team. Moreover, advancement to managerial positions is generally available within 3-6 months.

One of our recently hired employees, a graduate of MTSU, was contacted by the school business office to inquire about her job search. She gladly reported that she had been hired by us. She was then told that of the people contacted by their office, Advance Financial was one of the top three companies hiring recent graduates. That’s pretty amazing.

If you’re leaving college and looking for a place to land, check out our Job Center page. Advance Financial was named a Top Workplace by the Tennessean, one of America’s fastest growing companies by Inc.Magazine and Best in Business by the Nashville Business Journal. We’re full of people who love what they do. If that sounds like the right fit for you, join the Advance Financial team today.

Advance Financial will be holding a career fair in Lebanon, Tennessee on February 6th. The career fair will take place between 10am-2pm at the Holiday Inn Express on S Cumberland Street. The full address for the career fair is:

Holiday Inn Express
826 S Cumberland St
Lebanon, TN 37087

Please bring your resume with you, and fill out an application on our Job Center prior to your arrival.