ATTITUDE: Thinking Your Way to the Top!

Possibly the greatest obstacle we face in achieving success in anything is our own "negative thinking!" Self-sabotage has stopped more people from living a life filled with passion. We ask ourselves to many questions in the wrong context. You never know how really good you are until you step out of your comfort zone. People spend more time focusing on what they can't do or don't have. There is a self-fulfilling prophecy that says: "You are what you think about daily."

"Man often becomes what he believes
himself to be. If I keep on saying
to myself that I cannot do a certain
thing, it is possible that I may end
by really becoming incapable of doing
it. On the contrary, if I believe thatr
I can do it, I shall acquire surely the
capacity to do it, even if I may not
have it at the beginning".

MAHATMA GANDHI: 1869-1948

A positive mental attitude combined with a focused mind will accomplish amazing results. You will create an aura of success that people will sense while in your company; "Success gravitates to Success!" The feeling that you will experience will attract to you those who wish to achieve what you have become. To overcome obstacles, which do come up from time to time, you must prepare yourself by developing a "never give up" mindset. Professional athletes
use "visualization" to break through mental barriers in order to achieve phenomenal results. The best of the best are where they are today because of that "conditioned" way of thinking. Earl Nightingale and W. Clement Stone summed it up perfectly: "If you can conceive it and believe it, you can achieve it".
Your attitude towards who you are and what you do has a very strong bearing on your position in life. The individual who exudes confidence, is positive, focused, and has a desired goal will most likely achieve his destiny. As I mentioned earlier, a limited belief will most likely result in a limited outcome. It's hard to believe that about 97% of the world's population will die before ever showing their true potential. Only about 3% will actually find true success and happiness in their lives. If you think and act like a champion, you will soon become a champion.
Something else you will need to consider when climbing your ladder to success is the ability to overcome "fear"! Besides negative thinking, fear is the second greatest killer of dreams. The acronym for fear is "FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL". Many people are afraid of taking risks for the fear of losing something. To eliminate this, change the word "fear" to "challenge or opportunity", it sounds so much more positive and worthwhile. Life is based on taking challenges, overcoming setbacks, and growth. The more obstacles you persevere through, the stronger you will become.

"Fear of failure and fear of
unknown are always defeated
by faith. Having faith in
yourself, in the process of
change, and in the new direction
that change sets will reveal
your own inner core of steel"

GEORGETTE MOSACHER
The famous question asked so many times: "What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?" has been commonly used in levels of human development on a regular basis. People get frustrated and give up when things don't work on the first, second, and even third time. Being able to overcome this emotional dilemma in order to achieve your goals is what builds character. If you acquire this kind of thinking in your attitude, success is inevitable. An "I can do it" approach is what separates those that are good from those that are "great".
Let's look at some of the greatest achievers in history. Abraham Lincoln, a man who overcame both personal and professional hardships to become the president of the United States of America. He had the attitude that "quitting was not an option". Every setback he faced made him that much more determined to achieve his goal as the leader of a country. Colonel Saunders was another individual who also faced hardships and disappointments to become a leader of an international corporation. His perseverance and determination when hearing the word "NO" was just not going to be the case. The belief in himself and his product resulted in one of the most successful food restaurants in the world. Thomas Edison spent countless hours working on an idea that would eventually become the first "light bulb". If not for his tenacious work ethics, we would be reading books by candle light.
All three men had the right thinking, the right attitude, and the right mindset to see their goals come to fruition. These men and others like them all share the same common characteristics when it comes to thinking. You attitude will play an important role in whatever you wish to achieve. Nothing worthwhile in life was ever created without hardships and difficulties. You need to be patient and believe in your talents and abilities. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither will your empire. Turn your goals and dreams into reality by living a life filled with passion. The setbacks or obstacles that always seem to appear are only there to test you. The term "trial and error" is just another way of saying "practice makes perfect". Start off strong and finish like a champion. We all have what it takes to win!!