--- title: Are You the Source of Toxicity? | The Sales Blog description: Some people don’t know that they are the source of toxicity within their own company. They don’t recognize that they are the contagion and that they are spreading their own illness. Negativity is the only cancer that spreads by contact. When you express your negativity to others, you are infecting them with your negativity. Most […] image: https://www.thesalesblog.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_133231577.jpg --- ### [Now booking SKO meetings for 2026/27! 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They don’t recognize that they are the contagion and that they are spreading their own illness. [Negativity](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/negativity-the-only-cancer-that-spreads-by-contact) is the only cancer that spreads by contact. When you express your negativity to others, you are infecting them with your negativity. Most people are susceptible to negativity. Very few of us are immune. The people you interact with already have fears and doubts, they are already battered by a constant stream of fear, negativity, and divisiveness through our media channels. In that environment, your negativity can become the source of toxicity. [Cynicism](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/cynicism-is-a-recipe-for-mediocrity) is a derivation of negativity. It’s one of your ego’s ways of protecting itself from being hurt; if you believe deeply and things don’t work out, your image will suffer a blow. It’s easy to be cynical, sarcastic, and snarky. But your cynicism causes others to doubt their belief, and they worry about your judgment. Since you don’t believe, they have doubts. The people you interact with want to believe. They want to do [meaningful](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/a-short-story-on-sales-as-meaningful-work) work, and they want to make a difference. Your cynicism reduces them to something less than they might be. Gossip is negativity, and it makes for a toxic environment. When you confess other people’s sins, you are giving people a preview as to how you are going to speak about them behind their backs. When you invite them to gossip with you, you are inviting them to damage their character. Gossip is a way to bring other people down so that you can feel better about yourself. Gossip is sexy. It takes the focus off the areas where you need to improve by allowing you to believe that someone is somehow worse than you, less than you. That appeal is what allows the [infection](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/but-you-are-infected) to spread so easily and so quickly. There is no telling how you might have been infected. But if you have been infected, it’s your job to rid yourself of the disease and to take measures not to infect others. There is no benefit of being the source of toxicity.   ###### Tags: [Productivity](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/tag/productivity) [2014](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/tag/2014) Post by [Anthony Iannarino](https://www.thesalesblog.com/blog/author/anthony-iannarino) on December 22, 2014 Written and edited by human brains and human hands. ![Anthony Iannarino](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hubfs/ai-blog-profile-crop.jpg) Anthony Iannarino is an American writer. He has published daily at [thesalesblog.com](https://www.thesalesblog.com) for more than 14 years, amassing over 5,300 articles and making this platform a destination for salespeople and sales leaders. Anthony is also the author of four best-selling books documenting modern sales methodologies and a fifth book for sales leaders seeking revenue growth. His latest book for an even wider audience is titled, The Negativity Fast: Proven Techniques to Increase Positivity, Reduce Fear, and Boost Success. Anthony speaks to sales organizations worldwide, delivering cutting-edge sales strategies and tactics that work in this ever-evolving B2B landscape. He also provides workshops and seminars. Connect with Anthony on LinkedIn, X or Youtube. You can email Anthony at [iannarino@gmail.com](mailto:iannarino@gmail.com) [Follow me on my website](https://www.thesalesblog.com/anthony-iannarino) [Follow me on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/thesalesblog) [Follow me on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/iannarino/) [Follow me on Twitter ](http://www.twitter.com/iannarino) [![AISA-square-ad-SKOs-26-27](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AISA-square-ad-SKOs-26-27.jpg?width=400&height=400&name=AISA-square-ad-SKOs-26-27.jpg)](https://www.thesalesblog.com/authority) [![ai-cold-calling-video-sidebar-offer-1](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ai-cold-calling-video-sidebar-offer-1.jpg?width=318&height=179&name=ai-cold-calling-video-sidebar-offer-1.jpg)](https://www.thesalesblog.com/free-cold-calling-video) ![maximize-productivity-ebook-v3-1-cover (2)](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hs-fs/hubfs/maximize-productivity-ebook-v3-1-cover%20(2).jpg?width=768&height=994&name=maximize-productivity-ebook-v3-1-cover%20(2).jpg) ### Maximize Productivity Being productive means getting important things done. The big stuff. The stuff that moves you toward accomplishing your biggest, most important goals. [![DOWNLOAD EBOOK](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2922376/faff89b7-a7a5-474e-9a53-68c41c02cd55.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2922376/faff89b7-a7a5-474e-9a53-68c41c02cd55) ## Are You Ready To Solve Your Sales Challenges? ![Anthony-Solve-Sales](https://www.thesalesblog.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Anthony-Solve-Sales.png?width=290&height=221&name=Anthony-Solve-Sales.png) Hi, I’m Anthony. I help sales teams make the changes needed to create more opportunities & crush their sales targets. What we’re doing right now **is working**, even in this challenging economy. **Would you like some help?** [![Solve for Sales](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2922376/d3a4938b-2008-4a27-8b44-7b2223f6d035.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2922376/d3a4938b-2008-4a27-8b44-7b2223f6d035) ### Join my Weekly Newsletter for Sales Tips Join 100,000+ sales professionals in my weekly newsletter and get my *Guide to Becoming a Sales Hustler* eBook for FREE! --- ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org/", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Anthony Iannarino" }, "dateModified" : "2023-02-20T10:56:15 AM", "datePublished" : "2014-12-22 21:00:35", "description" : "Some people don’t know that they are the source of toxicity within their own company. They don’t recognize that they are the contagion and that they are spreading their own illness. Negativity is the only cancer that spreads by contact. 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