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. Washington This 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.
Latest News
Dawgs digging deep to find last-game motivation Seattle Post Intelligencer - 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 ... |
OPEC Cuts: A Barrel Of Laughs Forbes, NY - "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 ... |
Irish Win Record 39th Straight at Home New York Times, United States - “We knew coming into this game that there was something to play for and that gave us a little extra motivation,” said McAlarney, who led the Irish with 32 ... |
Chiefs provide Raiders true motivation to run Sacramento Bee, USA - "It gives us a little extra motivation to play for because when you have hard times, it's tough to find that extra motivation. We're playing at home against ... |
 BamaMag.com | Where's the love for Alabama? Gainesville Sun, FL - You have to believe it's motivation for the Tide. "I guess you could say that," Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson said. "But it's not something we've ... SEC CHAMPIONSHIP: Florida’s Harvin could miss game Florida Gators' Harvin improves, but enough to face Alabama? Transcript of Nick Saban conference call |
Vikings' view from above: exhilarating Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN - ... and I don't think those guys on that team want to be attached with not having a win. So that is a different kind of motivation, but nonetheless motivation." A moment to celebrate? |
 Seattle Post Intelligencer | AU should have plenty of motivation Times-Journal, AL - Then again, the Tigers should take the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium with plenty of motivation. - With a win, Auburn will become bowl eligible. ... Iron Bowl is motivation for injured Auburn players Tide has been scouting Florida for awhile Tide, Tigers Have Different Motivations |
 TSN.ca | Motivation, Tebow and Percy-cution GatorCountry.com, FL - Percy Harvin turns on the jets and heads to the end zone against South Carolina/Gator Country Photo by Tim Casey. The year was 1968 and the fifth-ranked ... No. 2 Gators hammer rival FSU again, 45-15 Storming to Atlanta: No. 2 UF heads for showdown with No. 1 'Bama ... Tebow: The Ultimate Warrior |
Don't let motivation to conserve fall with fuel prices Bloomington Pantagraph, USA - When gasoline was selling for $4 a gallon there was greater motivation to address those problems, just as there was when the fuel crisis of the 1970s hit ... |
Disease is motivation, not obstacle, for Center Grove senior Indianapolis Star, United States - But I use that as a motivation to work harder and push myself through conditioning." That dedication is inspiring to others around him, Center Grove coach ... |
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Affirmations goal setting software - Motivation & personal growth
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Super Tactics of Time Management Experts - Dave Saunders, The Time Management Guy
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