Attitude 101
This Blog has moved! Click here to see what's new in the life of the Pruett family.
I finished reading Attitude 101 by John Maxwell this week. It is part of his series of books that take a key topic and break down the essentials in an approachable format. The series is Relationships 101, Equipping 101, Attitude 101, and Leadership 101. I actually read them in reverse order the first time around, and as I re-read them to glean more wisdom I am still reading them in reverse order.
Attitude 101 addresses several key questions:
- How does attitude impact leadership?
- How does attitude impact an individual?
- What shapes a person’s attitude?
- Can an attitude be changed?
- Can obstacles actually enhance an attitude?
- What is failure?
- What is success?
I read the first half of the book several weeks ago, but came back to it this week and read the sections on failure and success. To be honest, they came at the perfect time. I’m watching a chapter of my life seem to come to close - an entrepreneurial effort that I had high hopes for and had dreamed would set up the rest of my life in many ways. While I’ve wrestled with feelings of inadequacy and failure, I’ve also been fairly confident that I’ve given my all in this endeavor and have grown tremendously in the process.
Maxwell encourages readers that failures often open a new opportunity - and generally provide chances to grow and learn as an individual. I like the quote by Bill Vaughan:
“In the game of life it’s a good idea to have a few early loses, which relieves you of the pressure of trying to maintain an undefeated season.”
— Bill Vaughan
In this process of building a company, shaping our team, defining our market, pursuing key customers, and delivering services I’ve seen my leadership skills and understanding of the business world - and the importance of personnel dynamics - experience great growth. I still have tons to learn, and continue to devour lessons from great leaders, but I realize that without this opportunity my life would have been very different.
Every time I read a Maxwell book I walk away encouraged - in this case I’m encouraged that when I fail it gives me an opportunity to grow, to learn, to explore new opportunities. My character is displayed as I respond to adversity, but the outcome of an endeavor is not the same thing as my identity. Failure does not define me.
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
— President Theodore Roosevelt
