Your Greatest Resource is a Positive Attitude
What is your greatest resource? If I were to give you $250,000 for your lungs, would you take it? Or if I were to give you $500,000 for your heart, would you make a trade? How about $1 million for your brain? Certainly, no one is seriously interested in such an offer. You cannot put a price tag on these parts of the body. Therefore, what is your greatest resource? Is it your lungs? Your heart? Your brain? No, a positive attitude is your greatest resource in life.
Former presidential candidate George Romney said, “I did not say I did not say it. I said, I did not say, I did not say, I did not say I said it. I want to make this perfectly clear.” Really? Let me be perfectly clear about one item. You are unique! In addition, you have unlimited potential and ability to succeed in your career. Behavioral scientists say we use only 1% of our potential. Contrary to Alzheimer’s research, scientists also say we only lose 1% of our potential throughout our life. We need to make sure that the 1% we lose is not the 1% we use. So, how do we do that? Read on!
A behavioral study that I read stated that 93% of the success of an individual is due to his or her attitude. However, only 7% of his or her success is due to job knowledge, communications skills, and technical expertise. Therefore, people with a positive attitude learn what they need to know and get results.
For example, consider these two positive attitudes worth developing: expect the best of yourself and others, and believe you cannot fail!
Your Greatest Resource: Expect the Best of Yourself and Others!
Imagine when you went fishing you said: “I won’t catch anything as usual; I hate sitting in the boat, the lakes are too crowded, my buddy’s a clod and will screw up everything, or this is going to be boring”.
Would you enjoy fishing? Would you purchase new tackle or try new spots to improve your catch? No way! You would not even go fishing. Consequently, your negative attitude already predicted the potential outcome. Instead, why not expect the best?
In the 1984 Olympics, Mary Lou Retton was down to her last jump in the vault. She was in second place to the East German gymnast. Mary needed a 9.95 to tie for the gold medal and a perfect 10.0 to win. What do you think her attitude was? I cannot do it! My coach is a jerk. I am nervous and scared.
Dr. Denis Waitley, a behavioral psychologist, talked to Mary Lou just after the event. He learned what she thought about the jump. Mary Lou said to herself, “I need a ten. Get a ten. I need to run hard, extend, tuck and plant. This one is for you, Mom, and Dad. Now do it.” Then she exploded down the runway. She got a ten, a perfect score. Mary Lou did not go for a tie; she went for the gold. She expected the best and would achieve the best. Undoubtedly, a positive attitude was her greatest resource.
In summary, here are three lessons from this story. First, Mary Lou had a goal and plan. She prepared long and hard. Second, she dedicated her win to her parents, not herself. Winners have an uncommon desire to serve others. Third, she took purposeful and determined action. That is expecting the best!
Your Greatest Resource: Believe You Cannot Fail!
Your mind will do what you program it to do over time. Are you setting yourself up for career failure or success? A department store was having problems with theft. To combat the problem, the store played a subliminal message with background music. The message said, “Don’t steal; shoplifters will be prosecuted.” Shoplifting went up 25%. The negative message encouraged people to steal. So, the store changed the message to say, “Be nice and honest. Pay at the cashier.” As a result, shoplifting went down.
What messages do you give yourself or your co-workers? Do you always criticize what is happening, or do you consistently complain about your employees or customers? It will set you up for failure: problems with co-workers, relationship issues, and even sickness. To clarify, your thoughts over time rule your actions. However, why not do it in a unique way?
Believe you cannot fail as David Stevens does. He went to the annual Minnesota Twins tryout camp. He flabbergasted the Twins officials. They could not understand why David was there. You see David had no legs. The Twins’ managers talked to David to find out who he was. They discovered that he was a champion wrestler, he hit .500 on his high school baseball team. Also, he played middle guard in football.
The Twins asked him, “Why are you trying out– you are not going to make the team?” David responded that he did not have to be at work until 2 p.m., so why not try out? He demonstrated his greatest resource. Therefore, he had no limits or boundaries, did he?
Pulling It All Together
In conclusion, how many of us in the situations above would never try. We would think of failing or worry about what other people would say. Do not believe it anymore! Like a tiny acorn that has the pattern of a mighty oak tree in it, you have talent, strengths, and reserve potential. Expect the best in all that you do. Have PRIDE!
To help tap into your potential, try every day to review your goals and plans. Likewise, take time to visualize success and affirm it positively in your mind. Also, keep learning by reading books in your field, attending seminars, and listening to uplifting motivational messages. Always believe that you cannot fail. Certainly, remember this quote: there is no self-improvement, only increasing the ability to be all that you already are.
In summary, your greatest resource-a positive attitude-becomes a state of being not a destination or journey. Certainly, with the right attitudes–leading, selling, taking care of customers, or living life, for that matter, is a whole lot easier!
Resources for Leadership and Personal Development
Plus, do you want to establish an enduring positive attitude and achieve more success in life? See this complimentary guide and assessment on habits of successful people: Success Practices Guidebook.
Also, do you want to benchmark your career with the habits of extraordinarily great leaders? If so, check out this complimentary inventory and action plan: Servant Leadership: Leading by Example.
In addition, do you really want to advance your management career? Check out Rick’s best-selling books to learn more about great leaders, The Superstar Leadership Model and The 5 Dynamics of Servant Leadership.
Finally, for more in-depth career development and acceleration go here: 21 Servant Leadership Training Lessons.
