Success Toolkit: 7 key attitudes to give you an edge

Glenford Smith, Career Writer

American businessman, philanthropist, and self-help author W. Clement Stone was on to something when he noted that "there is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative."

One of life's inescapable realities is that we cannot always control what happens to us.

Among the tens of thousands of employees who have lost jobs over the past two years were many excellent workers who did everything to have kept their jobs but lost them anyway.

You most likely don't have any control who your boss or co-workers will be or the duties you are assigned.

Often, we can do very little to avoid the inevitable vicissitudes and adversities that life hurls in our path, but we always have one thing within our power: our attitude.

Attitude refers to our disposition, mindset, or approach to life. According to Dr Stephen R. Covey, our ultimate power in life is our freedom to choose our attitudes in how we respond to whatever happens in life.

Here are seven key attitudes to put in your success toolkit in order to gain an edge at work and in life.

1. Gratitude

A grateful heart is a fertile garden from which will spring joy, inner peace, and happiness. Roman philosopher Cicero noted many centuries ago that gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all others. Be thankful for your job, your family, and friends.

2. Faith

Faith is belief or trust in a positive outcome that inspires an optimism which compels action to realise that positive outcome. It is when you can't get a job, or can't see a way to pay your school fees that you need to keep the faith. I've learned, as every other successful person has, that there is always a way out if you persevere long enough. Keep believing.

3. Determination

A determined spirit engenders patience, perseverance, and persistence when obstacles threaten to block your progress. A difficult project at work demands a resolute and determined attitude for you to complete it successfully. Never give up.

4. Self-confidence

By focusing on our past victories and successes and trusting our potential to achieve, we grow in self-belief. Practise self-belief when you're interviewing for a job as well as in your everyday work life.

5. Humility

Our capacity to admit mistakes, ask for help, take criticism and advice well, and to treat others with respect reveals our level of humility. We cannot get very far in our careers without this crucial attribute.

6. Caring

Leadership expert John C. Maxwell said famously that people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Whether you're the boss or a new employee, look out for how you can help, encourage, and support others.

7. Diligence

Faithfully attend to the small details of your work duties and the big concerns of your career will take care of themselves.

Glenford Smith is a motivational speaker and personal-achievement strategist.

glenfordsmith@yahoo.com