Three Keys To Unleashing A Positive Mental Attitude

A few years ago, I read an interview with the very talented Holland Taylor, who portrays Charlie and Alan’s mother on the CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men. In this insightful interview she reveals that now that she is in what she called the final third of her life, she is taking university courses dealing with spirituality because that was an area of life she had neglected while pursuing her career.

This proves that people can and do succeed in life using as their power source things like talent and ability, but it also illustrates that deep down we are all aware that such power sources are temporary and that eventually we will need to connect with a much more permanent source of real power.

I have known many bright and successful people who discovered their intangible motivators during the first few years of their careers, but who also came to realize what Ms. Holland is just now realizing. Once they combined their intangible motivators with a source of permanent power they were able to really unleash the power of a positive attitude in a way that resulted in a sense of destiny and the self renewing source of vibrancy and confidence necessary to take the risk necessary to achieve their goals, as well as the courage and creativity to approach adversity expectantly.

The switch that turns on the power of a positive attitude is your expectations. A favorite quotation of mine simply says, “The quality of our expectations determines our actions.” I don’t know who said that, but it is a profound statement full of insight and truth. I once read where Victor Kiam, (the man who loved the Remington Shavers so much he bought the company) always made in person sales calls on bleak, snowy days (this was before he bought the company). He said he always expected to do well in such weather because no one else was out making calls —as a result he made many sales he would have missed.

But what if he had been like his competitors and taken the attitude that he shouldn’t expect much to happen on cold, snowy days? He would have told himself that people were too preoccupied with the weather to be interested in his products. He wouldn’t have even tried to make calls on those days and at the end of the month he’d have been scrambling to meet quota -- just like those other sales people.

Finally, the power of a positive attitude must become your philosophy of life, not just a tool or technique we use to advance our agenda. Most of us are familiar with the contribution made by Harvey MaKay toward systemizing and managing relationships.

Shortly after his first book Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive appeared, I had a salesman call on me. He began with the usual “rapport building questions” but instead of transitioning into the purpose of call, he began annoying me with more questions. When he asked for the date of my wedding anniversary it dawned on me that he was working his way through Mackay’s list of sixty-six things it helps to know in order to strengthen and maintain relationships. What he didn’t seem to realize was that the type of stuff he was asking for is learned over a period of time as a relationship develops. His attempt to use a wonderful and proven approach to relationship management backfired because it was obvious that his interest in me wasn’t sincere (we’d just met), he was merely using a technique to try to advance his agenda.

In order to fully avail yourself of the power of a positive attitude, it must become a part of the way you approach every area of your life, not just your business or careers. It takes time, discipline and effort but the transformation you will experience in not only attitude but achievement is well worth the effort!
Have a GREAT and PROFITABLE Week!
Robert Hidde
bob@confidentliving.com