What does being great mean. Well I guess that it means many different things to many different people but for me the concept of being great is the commitment to do everything that you do as well as you can. Do them as if you were great. Just remember that you become great by doing all things great, not just some great things.
The first key to being Great is to have Goals
The second key to being gReat is to be Responsible and to accept Responsibility
The third key tobeing grEat is to be Enthusiastic
The next key to being greAt is Attitude
Attitude
In all of life there is only one thing that is 100% in your control and that is your attitude. In any given situation you can choose how you behave, what you say, and how you say it BUT you cannot control the situation. Unfortunately most people do not consciously choose what to do, they just react with conditioned, conditional responses. In other words they have a set response to certain conditions and live in a rigid world of "if this, then that". Your attitude in any situation is always the outward display of your inner emotional state.
Why is attitude so important. Attitude is so important because your attitude determines your performance. It's how you feel about yourself, what you are doing, who you are doing it for and/or with, where you are doing it, when you are doing it and why you are doing it, that determines how you do it. Your knowledge, skills and talents determine what you can do. Your attitude determines what you will do, how you will do it and how you will behave while doing it.
The next reason that attitude is so important is simply this. Control your attitude and you control your life!
But, what is an attitude? An attitude is a conditioned pattern of thought, a learned emotional habit. You are not born with an attitude to life other than total trust. As a baby you were not sceptical, suspicious, enthusiastic or any of the many other attitudes that you now display. You learned, and developed, these attitudes as you grew and interacted with life and all too often the attitudes that you developed are no longer serving you well. You might find that, instead of your mind being your servant it is now your master and you are slave to it's control. You created the attitudes that you have and now they control you.
Now is the time to consciously create GREAT attitudes that will allow you to be GREAT.
The first thing that you have to do to be great is to NAG and no I don't mean the negative kind where we are constantly on at someone to do something. No, I mean a very positive kind of NAG which is to Nurture an Attitude of Gratitude.
In every situation in your life there is something to be grateful for. Instead of focussing on what is going wrong in your life, and the world in general, learn to identify what is going right. And this I will tell you, no matter how bad you think the situation is, there is always something to be grateful for. Remember the saying "Seek and ye shall find" You will find what you look for so learn to look for the good stuff. This is important because it leads to the next stage of Attitude control and that is to develop an APE.
An APE? I hear you ask. What do you mean an APE? Do you want me to monkey around? No, not at all, although you will find that once you have developed an APE life will be such fun that you might just want to do that. What I mean by develop an APE is to develop an Attitude of Positive Expectancy. Learn the habit of expecting the best because when you have faith in the future you are enthusiastic about the present. There is much truth in the saying "If you think you can there's a goodchance you will. But if you think you can't you most likely won't even try. Todevelop an APE just take a look at you now. You are so much more than you were.Just look at the foundation that you have created and just think what you can build on that. Just remember this. The very act of imagining the future creates the possibility of that future. So imagine wisely and expect the best.
The next great attitude you must develop is an Attitude of Acceptance. The most accurate measure of character is your behaviour when things don't go the way that you want them to. Your reaction to the difficulties of life displays your true character and it is in these times that you need the greatest self-control. All too often our reaction to the situation we are in is based on the fact that we want things to be different to the way they are. This is the fast track to madness. What we have to do is to learn to accept that things are the way that they are. This is the way to greatness. Now, by accepting I don't mean that you condone the situation or that you like it. No. I mean that you have the maturity to accept that what is, is and cannot be changed. You have the wisdom to realise that it is pointless to waste any energy on trying to change what is by complaining and blaming but that you have to focus all your energies on making the situation the way that you want it to be. Realise that you cannot change the way things are but you can change the way things can be.
Who you are makes a difference. How you are who you are makes a bigger difference. Being Great is an attitude. Being anything less than great, is an attitude. It's your choice as to what attitude you choose. I wish for you an attitude of Greatness.
One final thought. Attitudes are infectious. Is yours worth catching?
With love and best wishes
Johan
http://www.motivate.co.za
A professional speaker and trainer, Johan delivers exciting and empowering presentations, seminars and workshops.
Johan has the ability to make the most complicated subject easy to understand and the most sensitive subject easy to deal with.
He is the author of:
"Thoughts to live by" Vol 1 and 2 compilations of 99 specially selected inspirational and motivational messages; and
"A Practical Guide to Employee Management" a complete "do it yourself Human Resources guide.
You can get more information, and subscribe to "Instant Inspiration / Timeless Wisdom" at www.motivate.co.za/
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