In April 2010, Positivity Nation™ was little more than a whisper of an idea when founder Lanette Pottle put thought into action, starting what has now become an international movement.

At the conclusion of a twelve week leadership course, Pottle was asked the timeless question, "What would you do if you knew you could not fail?"  Her response was to start a website called Positivity Nation™.  She knew it would be a place where she would share motivational & inspirational quotes but beyond that, there really wasn't a plan.

Two weeks after the end of the leadership course, Pottle had the opportunity to spend the day with best-selling author and success coach, Jack Canfield, at The Success Principles workshop (based on his best-selling book by the same name) held in Boston. In anticipation of the event Pottle set the lofty goal of growing Positivity Nation™ to include 10,000 people from all 50 states and twenty countries...still with no clear vision of what the mission would be.  And a mission and vision wasn't all that was lacking... 

Pottle's computer was six years old and badly ailing. This was compounded by the fact that she had dial-up internet, relatively no knowledge about starting a website, and was far from savvy in the arena of social-media.  In polite terms, Pottle is technologically-challenged.  Living in a rural Maine town (population 525), at the time she started the Positivity Nation™ facebook page she had just 76 friends (on her personal page) who were from six states and two countries. This did not deter Pottle, in part because she's had lots of experience overcoming difficult odds throughout her life...positivity playing some role in the outcome of each circumstance. 

“In the darkest, most difficult times in my life I have been blessed to have positive people placed in my path… some of them unexpected...even unlikely...and others who I always knew would be there for me."   

A few of the difficult times Pottle speaks of include the death of her cherished grandfather when he was hit and killed by a car as he was crossing the street,  growing up on welfare and being surrounded by alcoholism, witnessing physical abuse and being verbally abused, becoming a teen-age mother her senior year of high school, having her life threatened, being evicted from her apartment, being overcome with depression and later in life, going through a divorce.  “I am keenly aware that the challenges of my life have been minor in comparison to many. None of us need look very far to find someone whose circumstances are more difficult than our own.  I have also learned through experience that every challenge can be made easier  -- or more difficult -- by the ways in which we choose to respond or react. That is one message that I've tried to reinforce in my work with Positivity Nation™.”

In the weeks and months since meeting with Canfield on May 1, 2010, the mission for Positivity Nation™ became much clearer.  While positive quotes had been a source of inspiration during difficult times in her own life, Pottle became mindful of the need to move from simply being inspired to taking action. It was at this point that she "tweaked" the mission of Positivity Nation™ to what it is today… "Creating a world-wide epidemic of positivity...one small act at a time."

For Pottle, positive action takes form in ways reaching beyond her website and facebook page.  She is active in her own community.  She has a particular passion for working with youth and has taken Positivity Nation™ into her local elementary school.  She had the opportunity to work with students grades K - 8 on projects that embraced the concepts of gratitude, kindness, happiness, and doing good for others. In celebration the one year anniversary of Positivity Nation™, Pottle announced the creation of The HAPPY Grant (Helping & Acknowledging Positive, Purpose-led Youth), a funding program for youth age 12-17 in Washington County, Maine who desire to make a difference in their communities. Most recently, with the approach of the second its second, a new initiative, Positively Kind Week, has been announced and will be celebrated around the globe.
               ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Positivity Nation™ continues to grow and is currently represented  by individuals from one hundred countries :

Albania, Algeria, Aruba, Austria, Australia, Azerbaijan, Barbados,
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Bulgaria, Brunei, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, England, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras,Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Macedonia,Malawi,  Malaysia, Malta,  Mauritius,
Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, New Zealand, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria,
Norway, Pakistan, Panama,  Peru,  Philippines, Poland,Portugal, Qatar, Republic
of Georgia, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Serbia,  South Africa, South Korea,
Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan,  Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago,
Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United
States (all 50 States!), Venezuela,Vietnam, Wales, and Yemen
 
                
         ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

I love your posts and I’m so glad we have Positivity Nation. Even on the stressful days I look at the quotes and posts Positivity Nation has to offer and it reminds me that life is too short and you should just live it. 
~ L.M. United States

A good day is made better
when it starts checking in at Positivity Nation. No crime, no hate, and plenty  of hugs to go around. It's the only nation on Earth where everyone is welcome, and no passports or pat-downs are required! ♥ ♥ ♥
~Steve Gamlin, Motivational Humorist and Author, USA

I read something [in your blog] that touched me so greatly. You were talking about “who are you to want to achieve these goals” and it so touched me. I've come to a point where I want to volunteer...I want to give back...I want to do things that make a difference...maybe not big things but things...you know? I've been scared...scared because of who I was, of mistakes I've made and things I'm so not proud of. But you've given me the hope that its not too late to make a change...to do good things. You’ve encouraged me and gave me the courage to make a step in a positive direction...and I will forever be thankful for it! 
~ J.H. Canada

Thank you so much for coming to our school and teachng us about positive things. What you taught us really opened my eyes. ~Ellie

I so look forward to your posts every morning. It sets my frame of mind for the day & gives me a much better outlook for the day. I am finding more positive in things that use to really get me down. There is even a person I have to deal with that has a very negative way & have actually helped her by pointing out the good in things that she is so negative about. I also post a positive thought on the bulletin board at work each day as well. I am so glad I found this wonderful thing you do! 
 ~ N.V. United States

Thank you for coming and talking to us about being positive. I think you have inspired all of us to be nice to others. ~Tyler

I thought you should know you are really having a positive impact on my life. Last year I was told by my doctor I have from 5 to 20 years to live because of my kidneys.  I was kinda lost but I wanted better odds so I went to an eastern med doctor and started a better diet and found your facebook page.  Now I feel better in my head and body. Your fb page is a positive element in my life.  I can’t wait to see what’s gonna happen next…. something someone says or quote. I don’t know if I’ll get better but I know at least whatever time I have left will be time well spent so please keep this movement going. You’re a very amazing person and your words do have an effect on people. Thank you for you. I will try to pay it forward.  ~E.L. United States

I have a really noticed a difference in how I view my day and the events that occur in it due to your website [and facebook page].  I just love it and appreciate it so much.  
 ~K.M. United States

Positivity Nation inspires me every
day to do more and to be a better person. It helps me to embrace the positivity  in my life and to guide others to do the same. Sometimes all it takes is a smile  to turn someone's day around, and I can always count on a heaping helping of  smiles in this [facebook ]community.
~J.D., Canada

Thank you for making my mornings
brighter and filling them with smiles, inspiration and kindness!!