September to remember as I like to call it. Apart from the fact that I met great minds, I also improved greatly on hive. September was my second month in hive and I am really glad I took this step.
Some days ago, I picked a book from my bookshelf, Today Matters. The book was given to me by an old-time friend.
Photo Credit: Picture was taken by me with my iPhone 6s.
Today Matters was written by John C. Maxwell, one of the best-selling authors in New York. He is known to be one of the experts on leadership in America. He is also the founder of so many leadership organizations.
John C. Maxwell is 75 years old and has written more than 30 books. His books are usually focused on leadership and self-discovery. He believes that the outcome of tomorrow depends on today. In his book Today Matters, he stressed the importance of today and how much power we have over today.
“Everyone has the power to impact the outcome of his life. The way to do it is to focus on today!” - John C. Maxwell.
Today Matters describes 12 daily practices to guarantee tomorrow's success. It was published in May 2004 and is made up of 14 chapters.
Reading this book reminded me how valuable time is. While growing up we were always told, “Time waits for nobody”. I have come to understand this because we don't even know how much time we have left. The time you have is now, let today count!.
Time is fleeting, treasure time.
I will be doing a weekly review of the 12 daily practices to guarantee tomorrow's success. I will start with the most controversial chapter. Chapter 3, Today's Attitude Gives me possibilities.
Photo Credit: Picture was taken by me using my iPhone 6s.
This chapter has 15 features. Attitude might not be a determinant of success but it sure influences how long success can last. I learned a lot of lessons which I will be sharing. Before then, I will like to ask, Does attitude influence one's success in life?
“The winner's edge is not in a gifted birth, a high IQ, or in talent. The winner's edge is in the attitude, not aptitude. Attitude is the criterion for success.” - Dennis Waitley
Book Summary and Lessons
Your Attitude At The Beginning Of A Task Affects Its Outcome More Than Anything Else.
According to John, the way you start a task determines how it will end. He believes that confidence increases the chances of success.
Since we are not certain about the end, it's important to start well. That is the only hope for tomorrow.
“All's well that begins well” - John C. Maxwell.
At the beginning of a task, your mind should be fixed on the facts and not on your feelings.
“Focus on the possibilities, not the problems” - John C Maxwell.
Your Attitude Towards Others Determines Their Attitude Towards You.
This is something I always have in mind, The energy you give is what you receive. The author described this chapter using a short story of a mother and her daughter.
A mother and her daughter went on shopping for Christmas. As they journeyed, the mother complained if everything from the hiked price to the crowd to the poor quality of products to the sore on her feet. She argued with a clerk in one of the stores after which she told her daughter “ I'm never going back to that store again. Did you see the dirty look she gave me?”
The young girl replied, “She didn't give it to you, Mom. You had it when you went in”.
Give out the energy you like to receive.
Your Attitude Can Give You a Winner's Perspective.
Here, the author explained why an optimistic person with great confidence and a good attitude has a higher chance of defeating one who is pessimistic. According to him, a pessimist invites the negative outcome he expects.
“All things being equal, attitude wins. All things not being equal, attitude sometimes still wins” - John C. Maxwell
Your Attitude - Not Your Achievements Gives You Happiness.
Is it true that “The thoughts in your mind will always be more important than the things in your life?”.
“He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts and multiply the grief which he purposes to remove” - Samuel Johnson.
Photo Credit: Picture was taken by me using my iPhone 6s.
Happiness comes from within and the satisfaction that comes from achievements only lasts for just a moment. Life itself is fleeting, we are not certain of winning all the time hence the need to choose happiness.
Happiness is a choice.
So with these, I will like to tick a big YES to my question above.
“The thoughts in your mind will always be more important than the thing in your life” - John C. Maxwell.
Your Attitude is Contagious.
This is very true. People tend to adopt the attitudes of those close to them.
“We learn by imitation”
This is why a child grows up behaving like his mother, father, teacher, pastor, friends, or whosoever spends most of the time with him.
According to John, In a team, where so many things are not contagious such as talent, zeal, and experience; Attitude is what determines their results. A team with a confident, optimistic, and teachable leader will most likely perform well. Want to know why?
“Attitude is catching” - John C Maxwell.
Take Responsibility For Your Attitude.
The author described this with a story of his wife, Margaret Maxwell in an interview.
Margaret Maxwell was asked, “Does John make you happy?” Her answer was “No, he doesn’t”. She further explained, “I thought it was John’s job to make me happy but he didn’t. He wasn’t mean to me or anything. He is a good husband. But nobody can make another person happy. That was my job”.
It’s all our choice to make.
Decide to Change.
The journey of change begins with a decision. Here, the author talked about recognizing our wrong attitudes and taking self-decisions to change.
According to him, “There are things in your life you cannot choose, your parents, your place of birth, your race. But your attitude is something you can change.”
To change a bad attitude, you must first recognize it and decide to change.
Think, Act, Talk, and Conduct Yourself Like The Person You Want to Become.
Have you ever been to a class reunion get-together 10 years after graduation and was surprised at some of your classmates you never thought would be successful in life probably due to their poor academic performances?
You can become anything you put your mind to.
Those classmates of yours made up their minds to change. They had a picture of who they wanted to be in life, they learned to act like the person they wanted to be. They acquired the skill of the person they wanted to be. Transformation indeed takes time but it comes.
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us” - Walt Emerson.
Place a high value on people
According to the author, valuing people is one of the secrets of maintaining a good attitude.
“Your interaction with others sets the tone of your day” - John C. Maxwell.
When you value people, you’re more focused on encouraging them and making them improve thereby driving away negative thoughts from your head.
You cannot have a bad attitude and encourage others at the same time.
Develop a high appreciation for life.
Gratitude breeds the feeling of contentment. If you want to be happy in life, embrace gratitude. It keeps us covered on rainy days.
Always have an attitude of gratitude - Sterling K. Brown.
Cherish what you have now.
“We learned about gratitude and humility that so many people had a hand in our success” - Michelle Obama
Find Something Positive in Everything.
The world is filled with a lot of negativity. A lot of people are bitter and radiate only bad energy. To maintain sanity, we must find something positive in every situation. We must find someone positive in every situation, we must also say something positive in every conversation.
“Nothing helps a person to remain positive like having an ally” - John C. Maxwell.
Remove Negative Words from Your Vocabulary.
You can’t maintain a good attitude with a negative mind. Our words are indeed like a reflection of our minds.
Embrace positivity.
Express Gratitude to Others Daily
“Of all virtues, Gratitude seems to be the least expressed” - John C. Maxwell.
I agree with the author, There is a lot of selfish, ungrateful, and entitled people in the world today.
I found this piece while reading,
“Gratitude helps us to think about the good things. Thinking about the good things helps us to be grateful. Remaining grateful helps us to have a more positive attitude. And having a positive attitude prompts us to think about the good rather than the bad”
Photo Credit: Picture was taken by me using my iPhone 6s.
In summary, The book Today Matters is an inspirational book that explains the privileges we have today.
One today is worth two tomorrows, what I am to be, I am now becoming - Benjamin Franklin.
The way you live today has a great impact on your tomorrow.
“Most people don’t lead their own lives, they accept their lives” - John Kotter
We all have the power to impact the outcome of our lives.
Yesterday ended last night, focus on TODAY!
I will recommend this book to young adults and business-minded people who intend to be successful. Stay tuned to my next review on Today’s Priorities Give Me Focus.
Together, we can make the world a better place!.
Thank you so much.