Attitude is Everything
There are a lot of variables that go into determining whether we’ll successfully bring our goals and aspirations into existence. However, I only count one of them as the quintessential element that must be present to ensure success: a good attitude. Definitely having sound technical skills, knowing how to plan, and maintaining a life full of learning are key to creating a fulfilling life and career. Without a good attitude, however, you’ll find it hard to build the successful career you envision.
What is attitude? It’s our programmed way of responding to our environment and it’s derived from the generalizations we make about other people and the system in which we live. It evolves over time and is the result of two specific belief structures:
Outcome-to-Expectation Belief: The beliefs built over time from the differences between what we achieve and what our expectations were at the beginning.
Efficacy Belief. Our belief about our capabilities to organize and execute courses that produce the results we want.
If we predominantly see outcomes matching expectations and/or have a high-order of confidence that we can deliver the goods and produce what we want, our attitude is generally positive.
Why is a Good Attitude Important?
There are a multitude of reasons. In general, our attitude is who we are. Try as we might to hide it, our attitude shows up in every conversation we have, the quality of our work and relationships, and strongly affects whether we’ll take certain courses in life. In leaders, a good attitude is essential for building teams, influencing others, and achieving objectives. Good attitude is also important because:
It’s contagious;
It’s something that everyone around us can see or perceive;
It affects our health;
It affects our relationships;
It determines how far we’ll advance in any endeavor; and
It’s your trademark…it’s who you are to others.
Maintaining a good attitude allows you to stay aligned with your goals and bring about success in every project you undertake. Understanding that you have the responsibility and capability to change your attitude can give you the reassurance necessary to embark on any task, regardless of how daunting it might be.
“Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” –Lou Holtz