A Management Problem: The Difference Maker

Before I begin, I would like to share a story with you. It is a story about a man named Norman Vincent Peale and is one of my favorites from The Difference Maker: Making Your Attitude Your Greatest Asset.  As the story is told, Peale comes across a tattoo studio in the streets of Hong Kong.

Peale noted that in the window were hundreds of drawings of the choices available. Of all of them, a single one caught his attention--It read, "Born to Lose." He was shocked to find such a thing and entered the studio, asking the artist "Does anyone have that terrible phrase 'Born to Lose' tattooed on their body?"

The artist answered, saying. "Yes, sometimes."

"But I can't believe that anyone in his right mind would do that."

The artist tapped his forehead, speaking in broken English. "Before tattoo on body, tattoo on mind."

Attitude is a subject ignored by most. In fact, I believe many of us behave much like a child wielding a  toy sword. To us it looks like a harmless object but one reckless swing after another results in harm to ourselves and to others.

Our attitude permeates everything. It is who we are and what we are currently creating ourselves to be so it is of the utmost importance.

I have been talking allot about about attitude in recent weeks so when I discovered this book during a recent visit to the bookstore, I snatched it up. Maxwell does a great job of explaining why it is important to pay close attention to your attitude and how it can shape your life if you don't.

Throughout the brief 178 pages he provides easy to understand discussions concerning the difficulties that can disrupt or disable a positive attitude.

Discouragement, Change, Problems, Fear and Failure are issues we all face in our lives and in order to be able to manage our attitude properly we need to understand them.

Equipped with stories, quotes and personal experience John C. Maxwell delivers a book that I feel everyone ought to read. Especially if they have a management problem and want to change it.

Tim Draayer is an entrepreneur and author of  Live Your Best Life.

Comments

[Blaine Collins]

Tim, I love the story - "tattoo on mind." Thanks.

One of the checks I have on myself when things aren't clicking along so well is to ask, "Do I need an attitude adjustment?" The right attitude really does make all the difference.

[Rosa Say]

Tim, I often think of attitude as something we'll hire for as managers, but then miss the next beat on, because we'll take it for granted as a given in someone versus taking responsibility for how we effect it as employers and managers.

Great workplace environments are those which are the catalysts of great attitude because they are filled to the brim with hope and promise. They cradle us with a safe place to react as we instinctively or emotionally need to, just to get stuff out and dispensed with, and THEN they provide a framework in which we’ll do the next thing. Is the ‘next thing’ the best possible alternative, one imbued with optimism?

We may know this, but still cop out in thinking, "we're not psychiatrists!" so your title is spot on - it IS a management problem. I would imagine that having this book "equipped with stories, quotes, and personal experience" will make learning the theory [behind the answers] much more relevant to us.

[Tim Draayer]

Blaine and Rosa - I do the same thing, Blaine. Now that I've come to realize the power our attitudes have over our lives AND that we can mold and maintain them, I'm sure to follow up on my actions and be sure I'm maintaining the proper perspective.

I completely agree, Rosa, nothing beats an environment which is filled with a positive light. The awesome thing is that everyone of us is in the position to create that because we are all a part of that enviornment.

It doesn't just start with management, however. The management problem can begin within each and every one of us (at the heart) because we all contribute to the environment.

Asking questions of ourselves like Blaine states above is a start.

[Blaine Collins]

Nice discussion here. It seems we have two things going on: local and global (my new favorite framework).

As individuals, we have influence over and responsibility for the "local" - our own attitudes. Within organizations, we each have influence on the "global" - the organization's environment. Managers, in particular (but others, too) are accountable for creating an environment that promotes positive attitudes.

Reading back over the review, Tim, it strikes me that Maxwell may focus more on those things "that can disrupt or disable a positive attitude." I know that the problems of bad attitudes are daily concerns in many settings. I think it is also valuable to study those factors that lead to nurturing and sustaining positive attitudes, whether local or global.

[dave]

"Before tattoo on body, tattoo on mind."

This is pure relevance for me Tim, pure. It is all about programming our minds.

I endured too many years of a toxic management attitude at work. I used the Stockdale Paradox (from Good to Great)to cope. Never lose faith. Now, in a position to effect the entire staff's attitude, I have learned what not to do. Now, I can program the vision of where we can go.

"Before we get there, we have to see it in our minds."

I gotta get this book.

[Chris Owen]

As a girl who can sometimes be tempted to see her glass as half-empty, Attitude with a capital A, has to always be in the focus of my vigilance.
This sounds like a GREAT book

[Tim Draayer]

Thanks to everyone who has commented thus far and participated in the conversation. I really enjoy hearing from you and haven't been able to participate because of a busy past week. You guys are awesome.

Dave - I know exactly what you mean. Not only was I also enduring a toxic management environment I had toxic friendships at the same time.

All at once something inside was screaming for change. And I soon found out that it was my positive side wanting to get out.

Chris - I think we all have times like this no matter who we are. Its not that people who always seem happy and alive don't have days or times like this--they are just better managers of their attitude.