Attitude Isn't Everything

September 17,2009

Interview with John Maxwell author of The Difference Maker: Making Your Attitude Your Greatest Asset

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Mike Carruthers:
“With the right attitude you can accomplish anything” – you’ve heard that before, however…

John Maxwell:
It’s just not true. I know a lot of people who have a dream, believe in that dream, work hard to see that dream fulfilled but it’s just not in their skill set, and they’re not competent in that area.

John Maxwell, author of the book The Difference Maker: Making Your Attitude Your Greatest Asset

Attitude is what I call an "added value" asset. It will take what you have and it will add value to you. It will make you better but it won’t make you – there’s a difference.

Because attitude is a choice, says John, ability is usually not.

And here’s the difference - let’s talk for a moment Mike about a person’s ability. If let’s say from a 1 - 10, I’m a 3 in an area. I’m not very skilled or gifted but I want to do it  so I work hard and take lessons, get equipped, whatever – at best Mike, I’m going to go from like a 3 to a 5. What I’ve learned about ability is you can probably (if you work hard and are diligent and committed) jump about 2 numbers. And the reason that we cannot go any higher than that is - it’s not a choice it’s part of who we are.

But attitude is a choice.

Let’s say I have a lousy attitude, everybody dislikes me at work. It’s possible for me to go from a 1 to a 10 in attitude because it’s a choice. The swing is much greater in areas of choice than in areas that are not.

To hear the complete unedited interview, click here.