Attitude as a Rock in Your Success Path

"Rock your world" implies a positive image. Everyone responds enthusiastically to having their world rocked in a pleasurable way. Surprises you receive on your birthday and Christmas present delightful thoughts. You expect birthday and Christmas surprises to rock your world in a happy manner.

When the boss says, "Come in to my office, we need to talk" that uncertain surprise conveys an entirely different thought pattern. Your first thought frequently hovers around the apprehensive as you anticipate that conversation. That little talk with your boss has the potential of being a rock in your career path.

The words are similar since both could "rock your world" but the instant mental image is 180 degrees apart. The difference is more than just the words; it is the tone and the particular setting. Birthday and Christmas are automatically anticipated to be delightful expectations. An encounter with the boss conveys apprehension.

How much of our life do we pre-determine through our expectations? Unconsciously we set the stage for our experiences. How much do we actually contribute to the rocks in our path to success? Are we constructing our own rock slide avalanche?

Our own attitude determines more of our results than we like to admit. We choose to expect positive or negative results from every situation in our life. Does the situation change? No, our attitude and expectation change with each situation. You may accidentally be constructing your own rocks in your success path due to your attitude.


Attitude Checklist
1. What decision have you made about your attitude for today?
2. Did you decide last night, early this morning or in the heat of the moment?
3. Describe your exact decision.
4. Write out the one discipline you must practice each and every day to maintain that positive attitude.
5. List the old programming, family history or events influencing your daily attitude.

Life revolves around your internal attitudes and feelings, not what happens in the outside world. What happens to you and what other people think is never as important as what you think and feel. Your attitude truly is within your control.

David Neagle went from a fork lift operator who possessed a rotten attitude about everything to a very positive person about everything. His income directly reflected his correlating attitudes. A bad attitude translated to a very low bank account; an extremely positive attitude reflected an extremely plush bank account. The one major difference was his attitude. Attitude is a choice. Every day and every situation you have the opportunity to select your attitude. Making a firm decision to maintain a great attitude in advance of a ticklish situation creates a much higher likelihood of a positive result.

A recent study of teens who chose to take drugs or avoid drugs revealed an amazingly simple fact. The teens were from similar neighborhoods, similar economic backgrounds, similar academic achievements and similar religious backgrounds. The only difference between the teens who took drugs and the teens who did not take drugs was one simple fact. The teens who did not take drugs made a conscious decision prior to the heat of the moment.

Making a decision to have a positive attitude directly relates to the choice to take or not take drugs. When a firm decision is made in advance, the positive results are far more likely. Decide right now to maintain a positive attitude and resolve to uphold that decision no matter what happens. The simple act of deciding in advance creates a stronghold for victory.

You have the ability to prevent some rocks in your path to success simply by choosing a positive attitude and resolving to maintain that decision. Will it remove all rocks? No, but why create unnecessary impediments? Success has enough challenges without creating your own rock blocks.

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Education Opens Doors

Throughout my youth, I always heard ‘get a good education, get a good job and work hard.” In my case, the inference was a good high school education. My father believed there was no point educating a female beyond high school because she would not amount to anything anyway. He insisted his son attend college.

Fortunately for me, I had other ideas. Long story, short version, I not only graduated from college with honors but proceeded to earn masters degrees. No blame or “feel sorry for me” inferred. He passed along what he learned from the old country and from his parents. Even though I was a bit miffed at the time, I quickly devised a solution. The point of impact is that just because something was true several generations ago does not mean it remains valid today. Women hold prominent positions in industry and all professions in the 21st century.

Education served to change my life in numerous ways. My degrees opened doors for me which might have remained closed without those pieces of paper. Like education, talent also opens doors. Celine Dion’s talent captivated producer David Foster’s attention enough for David to invite Celine to sign a record contract. Talent opened the door.

I lived in Steamboat Springs ski resort for 29 years. In that period of time I became acquainted with scores of talented and highly educated individuals who were working as lift operators and restaurant or bar employees. Neither education nor talent alone propels anyone through life’s hoops and hurdles. Education proves to be a valuable asset. Talent attracts attention. Both of these elements assist a person; however, neither or both are enough to achieve the pinnacle of success.

Getting the door open with a degree or talent constitutes step one. Once that door opens even a small crack, persistence and passion must take the reins and drive. An impressive resume may entice a prospective employer to grant an interview. Unless you demonstrate desire and command of yourself and your professed skills, employment will not result. When you present yourself in a credible manner and your skills match their need, you may be hired. Now the work begins.

Many an employee has been the victim of their own bad judgment. Acting as if the duties or your fellow workers are beneath you causes tension and discord. The fault is not the duties, the employees or even the company. Look squarely in the mirror and view the problem. Education and talent open doors but bad decisions close doors.

Even though I jumped through many hoops and climbed over numerous obstacles to pay for my own college, once the degree is earned, it is totally up to me. Education becomes more than shelf development, buying books; true education requires implementation. In order to receive the full value of education, there must be self development. Jim Rohn, noted business philosopher, admonished us to “work harder on yourself than you do on your business.” Shelf development may impress visitors to your library, but life seeks evidence of self development.

Developing your education or talent into usable skills creates the true platform for achievement. Work hard on yourself and your skills. Maintain a congenial and cooperative attitude in the process and you will thrive. Education and talent may open the doors for you but once you step over the threshold, your attitude and performance take control. Many talented and well educated people fail to survive or thrive because they stopped learning, stopped growing and maintained a disagreeable attitude.

Education and talent open doors but lack of performance, bad attitudes and bad decisions close those doors. You control your present and your future. Anything you created in the past can begin its improvement in the present. Just as my father held old beliefs about educating women, so other people hold on to old beliefs and attitudes which no longer serve them or anyone else. They may hold old erroneous beliefs because they did not know any differently. Now you know. Your excuse evaporated. If your attitude and performance are not serving you profitably and productively, stop doing that and change to something which will work. Good attitudes and diligent work overcome a multitude of other deficiencies.

Education and talent open the doors but your passion, persistence, great attitude and diligent performance swing them wide open.

For more inspiration and articles, join me at www.Elaine4Success.com

Attitude Counts

Saying early morning would be an understatement. In order to drive to the airport and catch my “oh dark thirty” flight this morning; it required getting up at 2:30 am. Normally I am testing my eyelids for light leaks at that hour.

Yawn, stretch, jump in the shower and proceed. I answered a few last minute emails, packed up the computer, zipped the suitcases and headed for the airport. Even though I live in a suburb of Denver, the normal freeway traffic was non-existent. Driving to Denver International Airport was smooth and uncongested. Other than a few 18 wheelers, very few vehicles travel the freeways in the wee hours of the morning.

DIA frequently resembles a mob scene, but not at 4:30 am. Security was y a breeze, and the staff of Frontier airlines were not only alert and smiling, but extremely congenial. Very impressive customer service. Kudos to Frontier Airlines not only for excellent service but also for the excellent attitudes of the staff.

Attitude makes a tremendous difference in everything we do. Our attitude transmits through our words and actions. Every challenge we encounter flows more smoothly with a great attitude.

My standard line for years has been “Life is an attitude; choose to have a good one.”

If you knew that something wonderful was waiting for you when you returned home tonight, wouldn’t it make all of the little things which happen throughout the day a little easier to handle? The incident has not changed. The length of the day has not changed. The only change resided in your attitude.

Today was a perfect example. Travel can be hectic. I am a morning person but starting at 2:30 am was really early even for me. Add to the early start, driving to the airport, normal airport lines and procedures and all the luggage juggling; depending on my attitude, it could be a challenge or a hassle.

I travel with a laptop. When I first started carrying the laptop on planes, we had to actually turn them on to prove they worked. Remember those days? That is no longer a requirement, but I still have to remove it from its' case. Remove the coat. It was snowy in Colorado this morning. Remove the shoes.

As I was undressing – coat, shoes, jewelry, and belt – I jokingly commented on undressing. The man one lane over perked up his ears, smiled and said; “Now I’m awake. You have my attention.” The security guard at the scanner grinned and said, “And the panty hose, lady.” Of course he was not serious, but we all had a laugh. A few fun words and the day brightened for all of us.

What can you do today to brighten someone’s day? Kind little words mean so much. Tell someone they look nice. Say an extra appreciative “thank you” to someone who held the door for you. Say “good morning” or “have a nice day” and really mean it. Just giving a warm genuine smile to a passerby can brighten a day. There are so many easy little things each and every one of us can do to make life more enjoyable for others. Your attitude about yourself and your life either lightens the day for those around you or throws a dark rain cloud over them.

Remember the old “lil’ Abner” cartoon? Was it Joe Btsfplk who had a black cloud over his head? Eeyore from Winnie The Pooh, Hardy Har Har from Lippy The Lion & Hardy Har Har (Poor, poor hyena...), Pedro from Excel Saga, (NOOOOOOO!!!!!!) and Marvin The Paranoid Android from the Hitchiker's Guide To The Galaxy all poked fun at negative attitudes. Why have a rotten attitude or a grumpy attitude? It is not fun.

Do something good for someone today just for the fun of making someone happy. Spread the joy of a good attitude. Your life and the lives of everyone around you will smile just a little brighter.

For more inspiration and positive mindset, join me at www.Elaine4Success.com

Positive Mindset

Success leaves clues and those clues are frequently related to the mindset of the achiever.

“But I want it!” declares the persistent child. The best salesman in the world can not persist longer than an adamant child. Every persuasion tactic in the books and several new ones developed out of necessity on the spur of the moment will be deployed by a determined child. Small children will develop more creativity and more adaptability to any situation. When one approach seems blocked, they employ the ant theory and go around, over, under or through the obstacle.

When Fido wants to play “throw the ball or throw the stick” he will drop the wet gooey object at your feet and stand there eagerly wagging his tail and jumping around until you give in and throw the object. Fido, or at least my son’s Labrador puppy, will persist until his tongue is hanging out and he just can’t run another step without falling over in a heap of exhaustion.

Why can’t people be more like small children, puppies and ants? You say it is their youth and high energy? Perhaps that is a factor but my belief rests more with the persistence and determination. Before society conditions the innocent child to expect rejection and failure, a child believes they are indestructible and that everything is possible. Maybe the time has arrived to rediscover your inner child.

Everything remains possible for the person who is laser focused on exactly what they want. Truly believe you not only can achieve that goal but you absolutely WILL achieve the goal. Employ the determined child attitude of “I will not be denied.” Employ the persistent puppy philosophy of “This is Fun. I want to Play.” Apply the ant demeanor of hurrying forward and going over, under or around every obstacle. Put yourself in the mindset of being excited about your goal and absolutely knowing with every fiber of you being that the goal is already yours. It is already accomplished. See it happily finished in your mind. Smile and enjoy the feeling. Celebrate. Hold that joyous feeling.

Apply that laser focus on learning everything possible about your target goal. Read books, go to live seminars, ask others who have succeeded and network with positive minded and goal oriented people. Study personal development as well as every aspect of your potential business. Jim Rohn, noted business philosopher, says to “work harder on yourself than you do on your business.” Focus your mind on believing you have achieved and will continue to achieve. Persist in developing a plan to go from exactly where you are to exactly where you choose to go. Set time frames for every milestone in the success path. Record everything in your journal. Do not use your head for a filing cabinet. Read, study and persist on that plan.

Once you learn everything you possibly can learn, TAKE ACTION. Nothing changes until you take action. All of the thoughts in the world are non-productive until you put them into action.

Everything starts with your thoughts, your beliefs and your feelings. Passion is the key. The small child passionately demands. The puppy persists unendingly. The ant either finds a way or dies trying. Revive the passion and persistence. Bring back your inner child. Everything is possible for the laser focused and determined individual. It all starts in your head. Unless your head and heart are in the game, YOU are not in the game.

Gratitude Journal

Regardless of whether we like the President, the economy or anything else in our current lives, we still have so much to be grateful for every day.

We live in a great country. We enjoy tremendous freedom. We are totally free to worship as we choose. Gratitude for our health or the medical professionals who are available to assist us in restoring that health must never be taken for granted.

A roof over our head presents another opportunity for gratitude. When I hiked the Inca trail with my 60# backpack in 1999, I had the opportunity to meet so many locals. They were warm, welcoming and happy even though many lived in “lean-to” homes which appeared to be fragile enough to blow down with a stiff breeze. When we look around us, we are so fortunate and yet we hear complaints.

Happiness is a state of mind, a way of thinking. Our circumstances do not determine our attitude. Over 90 per cent of our emotional reaction to an event is determined by our attitude toward it. Yesterday I wrote about my computer challenges changing over to a new operating system. I ended that article with the statement, “. I’m also grateful for an inquiring mind and desire to learn.” The bottom line of the situation still revolves around an attitude. First of all, I am grateful that I have a computer. Second, I’m grateful I can pick up the phone and call people with more technical expertise than mine to assist me in resolving the issue. Third, the technicians were patient, knowledgeable and persistent until we solved the situation. Fourth, I took responsibility that I chose to change operating systems; neither the technicians nor the company nor the software were responsible for the issue. It was my issue and they were helping solve it.

I am grateful technicians were available. I knew when I installed a new operating system which has not been officially released, that a few challenges would likely occur. To expect all technicians to be totally familiar with a “not yet released” operating system would be unrealistic. Once again, it was my choice to upgrade. I am responsible.

Life happens. Challenges occur. Not everything goes perfect 100 per cent of the time. That is simply a fact of life. How you choose, and yes it is a choice, to respond to life little dilemmas is totally within your control. You can choose to be Oscar the grouch from Sesame Street or view it as an opportunity to learn or exercise patience. You can be grateful for the good things in the situation or find something about which to complain and whine. The choice is yours.

The technicians will be far more inclined to persist in helping you when you maintain an attitude of appreciation rather than being cranky. Bottom line remains that it is in your best interest personally and professionally to adopt a positive attitude. If you choose to be grouchy, the technician may choose to hang up on you. That certainly will not solve your issue. The technician may not persist as willingly when you are not appreciative. Your blood pressure may go up when you choose to get all upset and angry. None of these factors will help anyone and your problem may not become resolved.
Keep a gratitude journal every day. Record the big and small attitudes, events or opportunities which present themselves in your day. Write at least 10 items in your gratitude journal every day. Look them over from time to time when you hit a snag in your schedule. A gratitude journal helps you focus on the positives in your day.

Juicy Slice of Life

Summertime may be drawing to a close but summer melons are still in the stores everywhere. Look at the juicy watermelon treat from a totally different perspective.

W – Together WE accomplish more than each one of us could alone. No one gets to the top of the ladder alone. It is always with the help of those before and beside us.

A – ATTITUDE is the absolute controlling factor in every situation. Life is 97% our impression and interpretation of what happens more than the actual event.

T – TIMING is so important. Wise use of our time is critical. When we run out of time, the game is over. Time is a very precious factor. Use your hours and days wisely.

E – ENTHUSIASM – Without excitement, energy and enthusiasm for what you are doing, you will never accomplish your full potential. Passion for your life and your business is essential to achieve your goals. Greatness requires passion for your pursuits.

R – RESPECT for yourself and others. You have heard it said that you can never truly totally love another person until you learn to love yourself. The same is true for respect. Without self-respect, how can you truly respect the rights and feelings of others?

M – MAKE and keep commitments. Define your goals and objectives and commit to their achievement. Persist with that commitment until it is absolutely a reality.

E – EVERY day must contain come fun. You will be far more productive and happy about your life when you enjoy what you are doing and have fun in the process. Life is to be enjoyed. If your work makes you miserable, it not only drags you down but also drags everyone around you down. You can always make a living doing something you enjoy. Either change what you are doing or change your attitude about what you are doing.

L – LOVE is the answer. Regardless of the question, love is the answer. Love of what you are doing. Love for the people in your life. Love for yourself and others.

O – ONE day at a time. Start with small steps and short time frames. If you have to go in ten minute intervals do it. An alcoholic decides not to drink for ten minutes, and then keep adding another 10 minutes until it is an entire day, then week, then month, then year. You can apply that to not eating chocolate or whatever your big temptation.

N – NEVER give up. A winner never quits and a quitter never wins. Ever see the picture of the frog in the mouth of the eagle? The frog is attempting to choke the eagle as the eagle flies away. Never never give up.

You will never look at watermelon the same again. It is all in your perspective. Regardless of whether you have a home based business, a job, a traditional brick and mortar business or no business at all. These are basic principles of life.

,new

Live life as one juicy slice of adventure.

Love's Hidden Treasure

For Elaine Love, it was a huge surprise. She had no idea that deep inside her was an inspiring speaker, able to stand up in front of a room full of people, and deliver a speech that would not only win top honors, but, more importantly, change people’s lives, as well as her own, in very positive and gratifying ways.

“You could say that I experienced a hidden treasure lying dormant, deep inside of me.” says Love. “I was attending a seminar, and found myself becoming very distracted and annoyed by the “umms” and “uh’s” that seemed to perforate nearly every sentence. I decided right then and there that I had things of value to share, public speaking was the medium I wanted to use, and that I would settle for nothing less than being highly successful at it”.

Little did she know that public speaking would come very natural for her. When, at 64 years old, she decided to master public speaking, she had no idea she would unearth a talent that would take her on national speaking tours.

Elaine says “I joined Toastmasters International in November 2008 and by Dec. 11, I delivered my “ice breaker speech”. I mastered a one-year Toastmasters manual in four months, and began delivering speech after speech. Along the way, I decided to enter the organization’s international speech contest. The competition pitted me against speakers who have been on the circuit for as long as a decade. I won at the club level, the area level, the metro division and took 2nd place at the district level, behind the speaker who is now competing Internationally.”

She whispered “In the professional speakers conference, someone said “taking 2nd place to that particular 1st place speaker, is like saying I took second place in a golf tournament where the first place was Tiger Woods”.

Love has set her sights on, and is determined to compete and win Internationally, next year. Mediocrity has never been acceptable to Love. Her reputation rests on being the best. She says, “It really isn’t an ego thing…it truly isn’t. My business is based upon helping others succeed. If I expect and accept less than the best from myself, what kind of mentor would I be to others who have chosen to become a part of my team. I owe it to them and to myself to excel at what I do, and pass that knowledge and ability on to them. This is my passion. It’s simple. I just love what I do! I think you have to if you expect to achieve top level success at anything.”

Love’s latest speech, entitled “My Attitude Counts” won numerous accolades from her Toast Master Colleagues. Including:

“Great job!”

“Great presence! Vocal variety and audience involvement was great. The real life examples were great.”

“Examples – visuals…Great presentation, nice contact with audience.”

“Got me to considering where I can apply a positive attitude to areas in my life.”

“It was all good. Great speaker. Too bad we didn’t have more time!”



“The bottom line is it’s not what happens to us in our life, it’s how we choose to deal with it,” Love said. “Life is an attitude, choose to have a good one.”