Your Attitude Determines your Destiny

                                                        Your attitude determines your altitude

On my desk in a picture frame, is my favorite quote by Zig Ziglar, when it comes to your attitude, “Your attitude determines your altitude.”   This reminds me to always keep my attitude in check because with the right positive mental attitude it could take you above during the storms of life.  Even when you don’t have control over the situation.

     To define our attitude, it’s the way we think and perceives the world, it’s the first thing which influence our behavior and exposes emotional and mental character of a person. With a positive attitude we can solve any type of problems and can face stressful situations.  Even when you don’t have control over the situation.  Having a positive attitude can hold us high above during the storms of life. 

      In my 20’s — I remember getting my first big job working for a big utility company as a meter reader, it had a six-month probationary period.   Then I got fired!!!   That Day, I remembered being call in the HR manager office on a Friday, there were Union Representatives and my supervisor.  I listened to 20 mins of complaints against me that did not represent my character, my work ethics, nor my Christian values.  I thought to myself, just a week ago, I received accolades 4 months straight for being the top meter reader in the department.  I was the guy that worked six days a week, worked the hard and dirty jobs no one wanted.  Surly I thought the permanent position looked promising.   What I was hearing was a description of someone else?   None of that mattered, still one week prior to the end of my probation on a Friday, I was Fired and told to pick up my last paycheck on false accusations.   I later I found out that I was making the older guys look bad. This wasn’t the norm of that department. So, I was expendable.    

However, I felt angry, confused, and felt betrayed by my supervisor and the company I worked for.   I remember sitting there refusing to allow this to shape my thoughts for violent retaliation.  So, I began to recite scriptures of my childhood and sung those songs I learned in Sunday School, “This little light of mine, I going to let it shine.”  I walked out of the office with peace and comfort.    And throughout the coming weeks I continued reciting those words of peace and comfort.

     Less than month later, I got a call from the Army recruiter and the rest is history.  It was my conscious awareness of the negativity present before me but, how in the mist of the storm, I shifted that mindset to a positive attitude that helped me to get through it, look your attitude serve as a compass in your life that directs your behavior. Changing the attitude of mind can change your behavior, direction and ultimately your destiny.

Quote: “A bend in the road is not the end of the road, unless you fail to make the turn.” -John C. Maxwell.                                                I took that turn, over 40 years!

I want to leave one thing with you, when you are struggling to maintain a positive mental attitude especially, now in this pandemic (Phil 4:8) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Check out my other articles and blogs at http: thecarolyledestinygroup.one or http://dcdardentalk.com

Let me know if this of any value to you.

Derrick Darden, PhD

How to Add Value to People?

Do you add value to your people, employees, or team members? Or do you manipulate them?

Let’s look at both: adding value to employees, versus manipulating them for your advantage. Both start with attitude. Our attitude determines whether we will succeed or fail. The attitude of a leader, especially within the workplace or the organization, is contagious. It will send either a negative or positive message to employees. Your employees will react either way. Your actions speak louder than words.

Everything starts within the mind. Your thoughts, emotions, and beliefs, which form your attitude, are displayed in front of people. If you think people are lazy, always looking for a handout, and should be grateful for just having a job, your attitude may be clouding up a possibly good environment. In this case, your attempts to motivate your people and add value to them will be null and void.  

To quote Les Giblin: “You cannot make the other fellow feel important in your presence if you secretly feel that he is a nobody.” This is a great lesson. Just think about that when you find it difficult to acknowledge people or find it difficult to trust and believe in them. You can’t motivate or trick them into believing you have their best interests at heart. People are not fooled by hypocritical behavior. Therefore, when the opportunity presents itself, they will leave the company, organization, or directorate. People leave people, not organizations.      

A leader who shows that he genuinely wants to add value to his people is valuable to the company and its culture. So try to see your employees in a positive light. In the morning, when I first see my team, I smile. Then I say, “Good Morning! Glad to see you.” It is genuine and from the heart. Try to create a pleasant atmosphere before starting your day.  

So, how do you add value?

When I was leading hundreds of soldiers or employees, doing small things that were memorable to the people I led went a long way. I remembered their birthdays, kids’ names, hobbies, or something personal and unique to them.

To quote John Maxwell, people don’t care how much you know, they care about how much you care about them.

When you value people, you look out for their interests, you empower them, and you help them to grow both personally and professionally. Sydney J. Harris says, “People want to be appreciated, not impressed.” First and foremost, adding value to people means valuing people. I wish my leaders had learned this lesson. I would be telling you about memorable experiences instead of anguishing ones.  

Remember, people do as people see!

Derrick Darden ,PhD

Website: thecarolyledestinygroup.one

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

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