Attitude first
I am a runner. I love to run. Lots.
The global pandemic has cancelled all major marathons this year. In fact right now I should have been travelling to Boston to run a postponed 2020 Boston Marathon. It also was cancelled.
Has any of this stopped runners running? No. Why?
Attitude.
To run an endurance race takes a certain type of mentality. To know that you are willingly starting something that is going to hurt needs a mental toughness that is stronger than the physical pain you are heading towards. On top of that runners prepare for months for that chance to suffer. How?
Attitude.
As races were cancelled runners around the world expressed disappointment but not defeat. A pandemic might stop runners gathering in mass numbers in a single city but it did not stop runners training for virtual marathons. They found a way to accept the change and turn it into a positive. How?
Attitude.
This week around 20,000 runners around the globe are running the 124th Boston Marathon. The difference is they are running it in their hometowns and it is magnificent. The joy and the fun that is being had around running 42.2km has been heartwarming. Those 20,000 have taken a potential crushing cancellation and turned it into an extreme positive. All because of attitude.
It is no different in business.
How we approach a job, an issue, a challenge will dictate how successful we will be. A bad attitude will guarantee a bad result and while a positive attitude is no guarantee of a great result it is a pre-requisite to it. There are so many things that go into high performance but one thing I always look for is attitude before I worry about aptitude.
Leaning in or leaning back? Inquisitive or bored? Alert or asleep? Open or defensive? All of these relate to attitude.
My advice - when challenged by the impossible adjust your attitude and look through the lens that makes it an exciting opportunity to do something special. And you will.
Senior Management Consultant
4 年Too true. Your attitude is very important. It’s contagious so be mindful.
Senior Client Success Manager | Helping SAP and Oracle clients focus on Business Driven Roadmaps, reduce annual spend and fund innovation.
4 年So true Michael. I will alway remember my interview with you where you brought out a very raw emotion in me. I obviously had the right attitude as I got the job, and thank you for that opportunity.
Michael Young very true... we need a PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) to look at everything positively even if it seems negative. Where will you be doing your 42KM run? ????
CEO
4 年Amazing what can be achieved with the right attitude. Great read mate!
Asia-Pacific Growth, GTM and Business Transformation executive. Growth Executive- Slalom Australia. Student of Neurodiversity. Writer
4 年Thanks Michael. Indeed insightful.