John C. Maxwell - The Difference Maker: Making Your Attitude Your Greatest Asset

Have you ever heard someone say, Attitude is everything? It seems to be a favorite line of some motivational speakers. According to them, a great attitude is all you need to be successful. Unfortunately, its simply not true.

I do a lot of professional speaking. Each year I communicate at live events to 250,000 people. And I do believe in motivating others. However, I dont think of myself as a motivational speaker. I call myself a motivational teacher. That may seem like a technicality, but heres the difference: A motivational speaker makes you feel good, but the next day youre not sure why. A motivational teacher also makes you feel good, but the next day you possess something that will actually help you.

The promise that attitude is everything is hollow. In fact, if you believe that attitude is everything, it may actually hurt you more than help you. If attitude were everything, then the only thing that would separate me from a successful singing career would be the belief that I can do it. But trust me, there is another factor that stands in my way: talent. If youve watched the reality show American Idol, then you know what I mean. I am amazed at the number of terrible auditioners who respond to blunt criticism from the judges by saying things like, I know I can sing. Thats just your opinion. Truthfully, no attitude is strong enough to compensate for lack of skill.

So does a good attitude make any difference? Absolutely. Attitude is the difference maker! Attitudeisnt everything, but it is one thing that can make a differencein your life. Businessman, philanthropist, and author W. Clement Stone stated, There is little difference in people, but the little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.

The goal of this book is not to snow you by saying that attitude is everything, but to show you that your attitude is the difference maker in your life. I desire to do that by helping you understand where your attitude comes from, what it can and cant do for you, and how you can make it an asset. I also want to give you insight into how to deal with the Big Five Attitude Obstacles everybody faces: discouragement, change, problems, fear, and failure. If youre like most people, you have to deal with at least one of those issues every single day! Lets take this journey together by first looking at some basics about attitude.

What is an attitude, anyway? When you hear the word, what do you think about? I think of attitude as an inward feeling expressed by outward behavior. People always project on the outside what they feel on the inside. Some people try to mask their attitude, and they can fool others for a while. But that cover-up doesnt last long. Attitude always wiggles its way out.

My father loves to tell the story of a four-year-old boy who was finally put into time-out after battling his mother.

Sit in that chair until the timer goes off, the mother said in frustration. The boy sat down, fearing greater punishment, but said, Okay, Mommy. Im sitting on the outside, but Im standing up on the inside.

Your attitude colors every aspect of your life. It is like the minds paintbrush. It can paint everything in bright, vibrant colorscreating a masterpiece. Or it can make everything dark and dreary. Attitude is so pervasive and important that Ive come to think of it like this:

It is the vanguard of your true self.

Its root is inward but its fruit is outward.

It is your best friend or worst enemy.

It is more honest and consistent about you than your
words.

It is your outward look based on your past experiences.

It is what draws people to you or repels them.

It is never content until it is expressed.

It is the librarian of your past.

It is the speaker of your present.

It is the prophet of your future.

There is not a single part of your current life that is not affected by your attitude. And your future will definitely be influenced by the attitude you carry with you from today forward.

Your attitude colors every aspect of your life.
It is like the minds paintbrush.

If your attitude is so important, then you may be asking yourself, Where did I get it? Am I stuck with it my wholelifefor better or worse? First, lets look at the question of where your attitude comes from.

Two men were out fishing. When the fish stopped biting, they started to talk. One man praised his wife and extolled her many virtues, summing it up by saying, You know, if all men were like me, they would all want to be married to my wife.

And if they were like me, the other replied, none of them would want to be!