Building Positive Attitudes In and Out Of The Office
By Dr. Alan Zimmerman
Hold up your thumb and forefinger about 2-1/2 inches apart. It takes about 1/100th of a second for Olympians to run that distance in the 100-meter race. But that's the difference between winning and losing.
In the women's 100-meter dash at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, for example, the gold medal was won by an American who crossed the line only 2-1/2 inches in front of her closest opponent. The fifth place went to a Jamaican who finished a mere 6/100th of a second behind her. And yet that little bit of difference made all the difference in the world.
The same goes for attitude. When you compare age, gender, upbringing, education, IQ, and just about any other factor you can think of, research says that attitude is the little bit of difference that makes all the difference in success in both your personal and professional lives. In fact, the research makes it clear that attitude is more important than any other element when it comes to ensuring success.
So how do you build a positive attitude that ensures your success? Just follow this "4-Day Attitude Diet," focusing on a different skill each day. And repeat the cycle until you've built an invincible attitude. It works!
Positive Attitude Diet Day 1: Fill your mind with positives.
Keep a journal and write down 50 wonderful things that happen to you on Day 1. Include even small things like finding a quarter on the sidewalk or a stranger greeting you with a cheerful "good morning." After a while, you'll realize that most of the things that happen in your life are positive.
Of course you may have some doubts about yourself. But on day 2, literally, consciously feed yourself with positive affirmations. As boxing champ Sugar Ray Robinson said, "To be a champ, you have to believe in yourself when nobody else will." And Dolly Parton added, "I'm not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know that I'm not dumb ... and I also know that I'm not blonde."
Of course, you may think this a rather Pollyannaish activity ... especially if you're working with some very difficult people. No problem. Simply see these people as giving you an opportunity to learn patience and practice assertiveness. That's something you can like.
You may have to talk yourself out of uttering negative words. If, for instance, the man at the front of the company cafeteria line seems to be holding up everyone else, you'll be tempted to make a snide remark to the person next to you. Don't do it. Instead, say, "It's kind of nice not to rush every single minute of the day."
When you have a positive attitude, you refuse to use a loser's language. If you talk like a loser, you ll end up losing. As George Schultz, the former U.S. Secretary of State said, "The minute you start talking about what you're going to do if you lose, you have lost."
Nothing absolutely nothing contributes more to your success than your attitude. The good news is you can have a powerful, positive attitude if you get on the 4-Day Attitude Diet. I've seen it work for thousands. Now it's your turn.