I’m celebrating. Today begins the tenth year of having my column published every week. Nine years of meeting a deadline every week. Four hundred and sixty eight of them. Wow!
But that’s not the celebration. Oh, don’t get me wrong – I’m ecstatic about the event – and I thank the weekly business papers that publish me. They have helped my career in a way that cannot be measured.
The celebration today is the beginning of my thirtieth year of having a positive attitude. Oh, I was born happy, but it took me my first twenty-four years to figure it out.
“Jeffrey, what’s the secret of your success?” “Jeffrey how do you do it?” Both questions have the same answer at their core – it STARTS and is totally dependant on my positive attitude.
Every success I have ever had, and every recovery from failure I have ever made are directly linked to my positive attitude.
Do you have a positive attitude? Everyone will say yes, but less than one in one hundred actually do. One percent! Are you really in the one percentile?
Maybe but I doubt it.
Got attitude? Most everyone thinks they have a positive attitude, but they don’t. Usually not even close. They don’t understand that the essence of “attitude” is not a feeling – it’s a state of mind that is self-induced. You are in complete control of it. You determine what your attitude is. It has nothing to do with what happens to you. It’s not about money or success. It is pure and simple the way you dedicate yourself to the way you think.
If you’re a boss and you come into a meeting yelling, “OK everybody, I want to see some better attitudes around this place.” Start with your own, Bubba.
Attitude is ruined by minor blame and minor incidents. Grumbling about your fate instead of doing something about it. Not getting your way. Or “You gave me this cold.” Or “If it weren’t for you I’d…” or, “If I didn’t have to… I would have…” or the blame of, “I gave you the best years of my life.”
Attitude is something you give yourself over time. Day by day. And others can catch it from you. Or not. There is no “Instant Positive Attitude” – only “Instant negative attitude.”
Want One? How do you attain a positive attitude? Here’s the lifetime formula:
1. Surround yourself with positive things and positive people.
2. Read and listen to positive books and tapes.
3. Say all things in a positive way. How you can, not why you can’t.
4. Believe you can achieve it.
5. Don’t listen to others who tell you you’re nuts – they’re just jealous.
5.5 Start now and work at it every day. Simple yes, but it takes hard work.
To achieve a positive attitude you must study it, and practice the self discipline of it, and live the essence of it — every day.
My secret for sustaining it? I read two pages from a positive book every morning. Napoleon Hill, Dale Carnegie, Norman Vincent Peale. And I have listened to the Earl Nightingale recording of The Strangest Secret once a month (or more) for the past thirty years. Want to start from the beginning? Re-read “The Little Engine That Could.” It’s not a book for a kid. It’s a philosophy for a lifetime.
It’s about Time! If you take the hour a day that you currently waste watching the TV and convert it into positive action or learning for yourself, your job, your business, or your family, at the end of one year you will have captured more than 15 full 24-hour days. Which will help your success more – 15 days a year watching TV, or 15 days a year building your future?
You have a choice.
Here’s a quick lesson. When someone blames you, or you make a mistake… don’t blame someone else or grovel…say “thanks!” Attitude is the difference between. I’m sorry and thank you! It’s incredible! Try substituting the words thank you or I appreciate for the words I’m sorry. The results will…
— Make you a better person.
— Gain the respect of others.
— Lead you closer to the truth.
— Give you a better attitude about yourself
— Amaze you!
Positive attitude is the opportunity – negative attitude is blaming or dwelling on the obstacle.
Positive attitude is a self imposed blessing. And it is my greatest hope that you discover that truth and bless yourself forever.
Thank you for your loyal readership and support, I hope to serve you another ten years.
Free GitBit… Want an attitude adjustment? I would love to email you the world famous Charles Swindoll poem called “Attitude.” Go to www.gitomer.com – register if you’re a first time user, and enter the word ATTITUDE in the GitBit box.
Jeffrey Gitomer, author of The Sales Bible, and Customer Satisfaction is Worthless, Customer Loyalty is Priceless. President of Charlotte-based Buy Gitomer, he gives seminars, runs annual sales meetings, and conducts training programs on selling and customer service. He can be reached at 704/333-1112 or e-mail to salesman@gitomer.com
