Negative attitudes are catching. When you associate with gloom-and-doom chronic complainers at work, you can't help but become more and more like them. The people you keep company with, as well, affect your reputation. If management continually sees you as associating with problem-makers, they'll assume that you're part of the problem, too, even if you never add fuel to negative fires.

Avoid being labeled by association; spend time with people who look for and find the good in every situation. Just walk away from the naysayers.