The Importance of a Winning Attitude

A winning attitude is critical to Life on Your Terms. I learned this firsthand 15 years ago, following a diving accident. Doctors told me that it would be impossible to live independently, but I refused to give up on my dreams.

Attitude, of course, is not like a light switch you can simply switch on or off. It's easy to start the day with the right attitude, and then easily and quickly find yourself slipping into the wrong attitude. As the legendary Henry Ford once said, "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right!" I totally agree. The minute you say you can't do something, you put up roadblocks and stop yourself. The minute you say you can do it, you set yourself on the path of possibility. Now, I am not saying that an empowering attitude alone will get something done -- action is required -- but believing is a great start.

"Attitude" is one of those words that evokes a wide variety of definitions. For that reason, I won't even try to give you an all-encompassing definition of the word "attitude." I would, however, like to share with you the three key components of my attitude.

You are capable of doing more than you ever expected. I know you have probably heard those words of encouragement from parents, teachers and coaches, perhaps so often that you now consider that statement a meaningless cliche. I'm here to tell you that this statement is absolutely true. Fifteen years ago following that life-changing diving accident, doctors told me I was a quadriplegic, that I would never be able to walk again, and that I would never be able to dress myself or even put on my own shoes. I now realize that prior to those conversations with the doctors, urging me to be "realistic," I had no idea what I was truly capable of. Those discouraging conversations with the doctors somehow gave me a new resolve. At that point, I promised myself that even though this accident changed my life, I wouldn't for a second let it change what I wanted for my life. I have made good on that promise. I am living the life I always imagined I would live - not just in pursuing my dreams of living independently, marrying and starting a family, and succeeding in the business world - but also in regaining an amazing degree of physical mobility.

Believe in yourself! As I tell audiences when I'm speaking about attitude, "Anything I can do, you can do." I don't have an extra "I-can-beat-adversity" chromosome. I do believe, however, that the difference between people like myself who have overcome seemingly insurmountable odds and those who don't is that we believe in ourselves. We listen to that small, faint, even fleeting voice that says, "I think you can do this." No matter the odds, no matter what even friends and family are saying, trust your gut instincts. (Our friends and loved ones have a natural desire to "protect us from disappointment." After we've been through so much, they reason, they don't want us to experience the pain of falling short of lofty dreams.) Even if your gut isn't sure, go ahead anyway, even when it gets tough. Over the years, I have had a lot of people tell me that they couldn't do what I have done. Each time my response is, "How do you know? Have you ever sat across from a doctor and been told what I was told?" They answer "No," and I say again, "Then how do you know?" Don't take yourself out of the game before it begins!

It's your attitude and no one else's. I go to bed every night paralyzed, and every morning I get up just as paralyzed. I can't control that, but I can control my attitude towards my paralysis and towards each day. It is a beautiful thing that the most important tool in creating the life we desire is completely under our control.. Every day, we have a fresh chance to choose our attitude. I know quite well how few things each of us can control in our professional and personal lives, and the challenges and setbacks that affect each of us every day. Take control of what you can -- your attitude -- and see where it will take you! Even after a number of wise and well-intentioned doctors urged me to lower my expectations about life, my attitude has given me a chance to do everything I've ever wanted to do. You can too!

I'd love to hear how you have used a winning attitude to achieve success in business or your personal life! E-mail me your story, so I can share it in a future newsletter!