Attitude. Webster’s dictionary describes it as “Position as indicating action, feeling, or mood; as, in times of trouble let a nation preserve a firm attitude…”
Attitude is the very basis from which springs the preparedness to face life’s challenges. If we have a defeatist attitude, we will invite defeat. If we have an attitude for success, we will invite success.
So how do we develop an attitude of success? Here are a few thoughts:
1. Surround yourself with people who feel good about themselves.
These are the ones with a positive attitude. Negative- minded people will pull you down and then leave you cluttered on the wayside. Positive-minded people will pull you up, reveal your hidden potentials and make you success-minded. Be infected by them.
2. Always seek to step up.
Ever heard of a mediocre success? There is no such thing! Success is always a step higher than mediocre. Seek always to step up from where you are. Hone your skills. Always seek to be better at who you are and what you do. Never rest on your laurels. Life is a continuous ladder; there is always a rung higher from where you are.
3. Look for opportunities in every challenge.
Do not allow yourself to succumb to negative feelings when you find yourself in a difficult situation. Challenges are there to spur you to think, to act, to connect with others, to motivate you. Food for thought: When written in Chinese, the word “crisis” is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity.
4. Learn, learn, learn.
Some wise old soul once said, “An idle mind is the devil’s playground, and it’s called Alzheimer’s disease.” That may not be totally true, but there is a point to it. Our minds need to be fed; and let me stress this: not with junk! But with food that will bring out the creativity and potential of our minds. The road to success for many has been paved with brilliant ideas learned and then put into effect.
5. Be of service.
Help others be successful and they will help you succeed. On the ladder of success, push the one above you towards the top and pull the ones below you. If you pull down the ones above you, there will be no room to move farther up. What is worse, if you pull the one above you and he falls, he might take you along with him.
It may not take overnight to build an attitude for success. It’s a process. However, when you begin the process, you might well discover that success is just around the corner.
