It’s been said that “Attitude is Everything”.

By definition, attitude is the manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc., with regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation, especially of the mind. The position or posture of the body appropriate to or expressive of an action, emotion, etc.

Attitude is both mental and physical.

“Our attitudes determine our success and happiness more than any other factor in life.” - Jimmy Evans

Our attitude is a choice.

Viktor Frankl was a prisoner of war in Germany during WWII from 1942-1945 at Auschwitz. His mother, father, brother, and pregnant wife were all killed in the camps. It would appear he had lost everything. He said, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.” Frankl lived to be 92 and contributed a great deal of value for many years after overcoming Auschwitz.

Attitudes are not caused by people or circumstances.

We CAN overcome any situation with a good attitude.

We are not victims of circumstances.

John C. Maxwell has spent a great deal of time and study on the topic of attitude. In his book, the Winning Attitude, John states “Attitude is the advanced man of our true selves. Its roots are inward, but its fruits are outward. It is our best friend and our worst enemy. It is more honest and consistent than our works. It is the thing that draws people to us or repels them. It is never content until it is expressed. It is the librarian of our past, it is the speaker of our present, it is the prophet of our future.”

He continues to share:

“Our Attitude…

1.     …Is a Choice

2.     …Determines Our Approach To Life

3.     …Determines Our Relationship With People

“The most important single ingredient to the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” - Teddy Roosevelt

4.     …Is the Only Difference Between Success and Failure

“Always be kind to your ‘A’ and ‘B’ students. Someday one of them will return to your campus as a good professor. And also be kind to your ‘C’ students. Someday one of them will return and build a two-million dollar science laboratory.” - The President of Yale University

5.     …At the Beginning of a Task Will Affect the Outcome More Than Anything Else

6.     …Can Turn Our Problems into Blessings

“What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude towards it. Every opportunity has a difficulty and every difficulty has an opportunity.” - Sidlow Baxter

7.     …Can Give Us an Uncommonly Positive Perspective”

Attitude is more important than your talent, skill, and ability in determining success.

“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” - Zig Ziglar

Attitude groups people into a few basic categories:

1.     The people you WANT to be around

2.     The people you DON’T WANT to be around

Attitudes are contagious, is yours worth catching?

If not, can an attitude be changed? 

“Who we are today is the result of choices we made yesterday. Tomorrow we will become what we chose today. To change means to choose to change.” - John C. Maxwell

Words have POWER! Here is one simple yet powerful thing to begin a change in your Attitude:

Make a conscious effort to speak words of positivity. It’s as simple as replacing “if” with “when” (“when I achieve that goal”, rather than “if I ever finish…”). Talk success into a reality!

If you were trying to motivate someone, you would offer words of support, encouragement, and inspiration. It is the same for yourself. Unfortunately, many people limit themselves with a self-defeating internal voice saying things like “I can’t. I doubt. I don’t think. I don’t have the time. I’m afraid. I don’t believe.”

This self-doubt will deteriorate our attitude and limit success. Rather than speak defeat, change the words to “I can. I expect the best. I know. I’ll make the time. I am confident. I believe.”

This change in yourself will reap significant positive benefits. Change this in your team and magnify the results considerably further. This little secret has been one of the biggest keys to great success in my own career!

“Nothing can stop the man with the right a right mental attitude from achieving his goal. Nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.” - President Thomas Jefferson

Attitude is more important than aptitude in determining success.

“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” - Zig Ziglar 

Why not reach for the stars?

Change your thinking, change your attitude, change your result.

One day we will all cross the finish line of our life. How will you finish? Will you let fate determine your final score or will you take control and write your own story?

Never give up and Be Hungry!