“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it”
-Charles R. Swindoll
I was reminded of this great quote this week, and spent some time thinking about attitude how it affects every aspect our lives and careers. When I think about the career successes and failures of my peers, bosses, colleagues, and my own, one thing is very clear: your attitude is EVERYTHING! Like anything in life, your career will have its ups and downs. You will hit speed bumps and have bad days. You will make mistakes and experience failure. You will encounter difficult personalities and that boss whom will micromanage you at times. Nothing is insurmountable with the right attitude.
If you find yourself in a rut or frustrated on a regular basis, with a constant flow of negative emotions, change your thinking. As quickly as negative thoughts enter your mind, send them out the door. Change the way you view adversity. Adversity is there to teach us life’s lessons. The key is to let adversity fuel you. Smile, take a breath, and then challenge yourself to figure out how to solve the puzzle by having a winning, “can do” attitude.
Avoid falling into the victim cycle at all costs, because there is always a way. When you cannot figure it out on your own, that’s okay. Enlist the help of others to brainstorm ideas, give fresh perspective and additional points of view. Separate fact from emotion, and collect as many data points as you can. Then, map your plan according to a logical and rational plan.
When you make mistakes, and you will, own up to them and do your best to course correct. Those who can dig in, identify the core issue, and influence a solution with a “can do” attitude will ALWAYS win over those that allow setbacks and failure to defeat and hold them back. Do not underestimate the power of determination and persistence. Just be willing to do the work to get there.
There is something you can control at work and that is your reaction to adversity and how you conduct yourself. So, take those obstacles and tell yourself “I got this”! Make this attitude a habit and you will see your career grow!
Here is a little video inspiration for when you need it.