I have recommended to many of my clients the book titled “FISH”. It’s a book about how to improve moral in any organization and thereby improve results. There are actually four principles in the book but, I think, the most important one of them is called “Choose Your Attitude.” The philosophy goes something like this. When you go to work, or run your business, or do just about anything in life the attitude you bring to that event is your choice. And depending on the type of attitude you bring will primarily determine the type of experience you will have. Start your day out with a moody and grouchy attitude and there’s a good chance you’re going to have a bad day. Not to mention the probability of irritating your coworkers and worse yet your customers. On the other hand, start your day with a bright and cheerful attitude your day seems to go so much nicer.  When you are faced with challenges you tend to look at them as opportunities instead. And you’d be surprised at how this type of attitude can be infectious among those around you.

I can hear many of you saying “yeah, but I hate doing . . .” (just fill in the blank). We all would like to be doing things that we love all day long. But the reality is in order to get certain results in our life there are going to be some activities that we don’t like to perform. Many of us have significant responsibilities to family members, to employees and to our customers. This will require us to do those things that we “hate.” But we can choose how we approach these things. Think about it. Why not approach it with a positive attitude in order to have the best day we could possibly have? Why would you want to approach it in any other way?

The way we approach our jobs in many ways has been ingrained in us. There are basically three types of attitudes anyone can have. First there is the neutral attitude. These are people who are fearful of change and tend to just observe others. They avoid risks and wish to play it safe. Then there is the negative attitude. These people tend to be critics who find faults in others. They are pessimistic and find change annoying. Lastly, there is the positive attitude.  Those who embrace opportunities. They take risks. They are willing to make changes and are not afraid of making mistakes. They tend to be confident people. When thinking about those who are very successful in business which attitude do you think predominates? I’m sure you can figure that one out.

So how do you get yourself to think with a positive attitude? Here are a few suggestions:

• Monitor your inner voice and catch yourself in negative talk. Replace your voice with positive statements.

• Talk to yourself in a calm manner.

• Stay in the present. Don’t worry about the future or fret about the past. Neither will get you anywhere. Take positive action

• Surround yourself with positive people. Distance yourself from those who suck your confidence and energy.

Attitude is the way we think. And that determines how we behave and the actions we take.  And the actions we take will determine the results we get. It all starts with how we think.

Consider this attitude. This is a quote from Michael Jordon. “I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot….and I missed.  I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that’s precisely why I succeed.” Hmm . . . I wonder if he ever read the book?

Your business success depends on your attitude. Choose to see everything as a challenge and a grind and you will probably experience hell. Choose to look at your business as an opportunity to take advantage of, and you most certainly will be successful. It’s really that simple.