Attitude is the Key to your Success

By Kerry Daigle

Kerry Daigle is a contributing writer for Bonnes Nouvelles publication. You can read more about the good people and news at Bonnes Nouvelles @ their website www.ilovegoodnews.com.

Kerry Daigle and George Foreman

Did you know that you are going to make a decision as to whether you have a good day or a bad one? Plus you determine whether you are going to be successful or not…………It’s your decision!

I remember speaking to a group of college students in April of 1997 at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where I was invited to do an inspirational talk. My host was Richard George, a professor of marketing at the university and also the author of the best selling book entitled SUCCESS LEAVES CLUES. I was quite honored as Richard is regarded by his peers as an outstanding personal development coach and is a trainer to many Fortune 500 companies.

That day, as I watched these young students I saw the same thing I see in successful and unsuccessful entrepreneurs. Some came into the seminar and sat up front with notepads and eyes gleaming. Others walked in late, carrying cold drinks, beepers, slouching in their chairs in the rear, their eyes very distant. Some were seeking advice and looking for mentorship while others just wondered why they were there. They absolutely had no clue!

That leads me to a small word that can literally alter your life…..ATTITUDE!

Have you ever noticed the people that walked through life as “walking zombies”? What I mean by that is they were born in the 50’s……died in the 70’s……..but will be buried in this century. Their attitudes were so terrible that somewhere between the 70’s and this new millennium they lost their zeal for enjoying life. Their attitude shows! They are what I call “The Living Dead.”

These “Living Dead” wake up with a frown, crawl to the bathroom to prepare for the day, complain immediately upon awakening, leave home in a hurry slamming the door and kicking the cat while yelling at their spouse and the kids and drive off with their minds on hating what they do! Have you ever met that person? Naturally there is only one in your community…….he or she just move around a lot. They get asked by their fellow workers, “What’s going on?” These people generally reply, “Aw….nuttin……Just work!”

Now here’s the real weirdo in some eyes!! She gets up, kisses her spouse and kids good morning, then walks to the bathroom and looks in the mirror letting out a big smile. You can see her lower and rear teeth. She leaves home telling everyone to have a good day thanking GOD that she woke up again to a glorious morning. She has another day and yet another challenge. Someone asks this person how she’s doing……and she answers immediately with enthusiasm….”Great..and you?” with a big smile!!

It’s called ATTITUDE!

It is your attitude toward life which will determine life’s attitude toward you. You must mentally become the person you want to be. You and only you will make that choice.

Melvin Turner, a business associate of mine from Louisville, Kentucky and also a University Professor who does public speaking sessions on ATTITUDE….is known for assisting and encouraging Les Brown, the famous motivational speaker and well known author of several books including LIVE YOUR DREAMS. Melvin encouraged Les to embark on a speaking career and now Les Brown commands anywhere in the vicinity of $30K per speaking session for about an hour and a half.

Melvin sells a gold attitude pin attached to a card with the acronym ATTITUDE written on the card. Melvin is a perfect example of the happy individual who looks forward to life’s challenges everyday.

Melvin’s acronym of attitude goes this way!

A………Activate your potentials!
I define that as ‘use your God given skills’….Everyone has a love or skill…..It’s what you do with that skill that counts.

T……Turn all negatives into positives!
My read on this is that problems are nothing more than hidden opportunities to test you. Take them on!

T…………Try with all your might and success will follow!
In other words, be focused and never give up! Don’t let anyone steal your dreams!

I………Imagination is the key to self-development!
Dream and dream big! If you can envision what you want…it can happen to you.

T…….Tune into the positive side of life!
That might mean you may have to give up some negative friends. Why would you want to be around people that pull you down? Find a mentor to follow in their footsteps. Find someone successful.

U…..Unique is the individual that you are!
You are special! You all have special gifts. What you do with them is what is important.

D….Develop yourself now!
I believe everyone should invest 3% to 5% of their gross monthly income on themselves in purchasing personal development material such as motivational tapes, personal development and self-help books so they can become better people. Read positive books and listen to positive people on tape and follow their teachings. Be a better you and keep working on it. Make your automobile a ‘rolling university’ on tape.

E…..Express and enjoy life!
Be happy you woke up this morning, as Paw Paw Daigle use to say, “Some people didn’t wake up this morning”.

Here are my personal 10 principals to follow for success. I’ve written these down 2 decades ago after some interesting challenges in my life and never looked back.

1. Respond to situations…….Don’t react!
2. Be a student and find successful people to become your mentors
3. Don’t burn bridges…you might have to cross them someday
4. When you are wrong and make mistakes…..accept the fact….and then learn from them….Move forward! Make that a chapter in your book of life.
5. Always have a sense of urgency and a fear of loss
6. Write down your goals every week. Check them off….Complete them…Be productive in your new life!
7. Insist on success….Don’t let anyone steal your dreams!
8. People don’t care how much you know….they want to know how much you care!…..Treat people with dignity…..and they will treat you the same.
9. Swallow your ego! Be confident but not egotistical. Remember to always be a student, not just a teacher.
10. Change what you can………..Accept what you can’t