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Ability, Motivation, and Attitude


"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it." Lou Holtz

There are three primary aspects of your life that will determine whether or not you are successful in your endeavors. You will not be successful if you have only one or two. You must have all three working together. Consider them like the three legs of a "stool of success."

Ability - the level at which you are able to actually do things. Your skill level. If you have a high level of skill, that's good. And the better you get, the better it will be for you. To the degree that you can perform your actions at higher and higher skill levels, the more and more success you will find in your chosen field.

Motivation - the level at which you are able to find "a reason to act." This is the internal drive that you find that enables you to exercise your abilities. To the degree that you can find a way, or ways, to keep yourself motivated, you will see yourself right in the thick of things, carrying out your actions to the best of your abilities and succeeding accordingly.

Attitude - this is the mental state that you have while carrying out your actions to the best of your ability. It is the way you view the world around you and choose to see it, either positively or negatively. To the degree that you can maintain a positive attitude about yourself, others, and the circumstances you find yourself in, you will see yourself achieving greater and greater things.

"But Chris, can't I get away with just two?"

No.

What if you have high skills and motivation but a rotten attitude? People will stay away and hinder your success. What if you have a good attitude and motivation but poor skills? People will like you, maybe even root for you, but go to someone else with the skills they need. What if you have great skills and attitude but no motivation? Well, you'll be sitting on the couch like a lazy slug while the go-getters are out there making your money and achieving your dreams!

No, it takes all three. So let's ask some questions: Ability: How highly skilled are you? Is your skill level holding you back? How so? What could you achieve if you just took your skills to the next level beyond where they are right now? How would improving your skills improve the bottom line of your success?

Motivation: How motivated are you? Why do you answer that way? What would your spouse or close friends say? Would they say you are as motivated as you say you are? Why or why not? Why do you have the level of motivation that you have? What could you do to find a higher level of motivation? What would happen if you became super motivated for the next period of your life. What great things would happen?

Attitude: Do you have a good attitude or a poor one? How would you rate yourself? What about when things go wrong? Are you more of an optimist or a pessimist? What would happen if you took your attitude to the next level for the next 60 days? What if you just chose to have an incredible attitude? What would be the ramifications?

"The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows; it is what a man or woman is able to do that counts." Booker T. WashingtonThis is so true. People will judge you on what you accomplish, not what you know or what you talk about. In fact, if you know a lot or talk a lot but do not accomplish anything, people will wonder what happened. So the question is whether or not you will take the actions necessary to deliver on your potential. To do so, you will need to focus in on the three legs of the stool of success: Your ability, your motivation, and your attitude.Take some time this week to give some serious thought to these three areas. Your success depends on it! And when you have done some reflection - put the conclusions you come to into action!

About The Author:

Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and achieve their dreams.

To see Chris "live" at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on the subject of Secrets of Influence go to http://Chris-Widener.InspiresYOU.com/ or call 800-929-0434.


MORE RESOURCES:

Washington Post

Pistons' Wallace uses technical foul as motivation
The Associated Press - 11 hours ago
Sometimes he even uses them as motivation. After being hit with a technical with 15 minutes remaining, Wallace scored 17 points, including three 3-pointers ...
Iverson, Wallace lead Pistons past Spurs SportingNews.com
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Facing Raiders on national TV will serve as motivation Thursday
San Diego Union Tribune, CA - 17 hours ago
And while they technically do, they also are searching for other reasons to be up for Thursday night's game against Oakland (and the three that follow it), ...


Dawgs digging deep to find last-game motivation
Seattle Post Intelligencer - Dec 1, 2008
Finding motivation figures to be a challenge for a squad coming off a 16-13 double-overtime loss in its rivalry game. Willingham insisted he won't use his ...
UW to get close look at Jeff Tedford Seattle Times
all 17 news articles


Thousands descend on Austin Convention Center for motivation seminar
KVUE, TX - Dec 2, 2008
By QUITA CULPEPPER Organizers say it's a way to get inspired and find the secret to your success, while hearing from a dream team of successful politicians ...


Jansen wins Piner award as Nassau's top LB
Newsday, NY - 12 hours ago
For Wantagh's John Jansen, who took home the Piner Award as Nassau County's top linebacker on Monday night, the motivation to be the best was in part a ...


Austin businesspeople seek motivation in hard times
Austin American-Statesman, TX - 16 hours ago
By Lori Hawkins When Gregg Linberg heard an ad touting an upcoming daylong motivational seminar, he decided it was just what he and his co-workers at ...


SkySports

Barry reveals England motivation
SkySports - Dec 2, 2008
By Chris Burton Last updated: 2nd December 2008 Gareth Barry admits that four years in the international wilderness made him all the more determined to earn ...


"Keep the Mo": Daily Motivation Builds Momentum
Exchange Morning Post, Canada - 6 hours ago
While most leaders believe motivation is the key to any organization's success, many struggle to keep their people motivated on daily basis. ...


OPEC Cuts: A Barrel Of Laughs
Forbes, NY - Dec 1, 2008
"The major motivation for sellers is the discounting of the OPEC decision," said Mike Fitzpatrick, vice president of MF Global, in a report, "but motivation ...


Frankly, OU has no reason to apologize
Tulsa World, OK - 12 hours ago
"So I think it might give us a little extra motivation." The negative backlash the Sooners have felt ever since Sunday's announcement that they had edged ...

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