Is there one word that defines success? Yes, there is. It’s attitude. 

And I’m certain that you have studied or been told that a positive attitude is the key to success. Not quite. 
 
Attitude is defined as the way you dedicate yourself to the way you think. Your thoughts can be positive, neutral, or negative – and you choose them. You choose the way you think, the way you speak, and the actions you take. Positive, neutral, or negative.  
 
What are your attitude thoughts? What are your attitude choices? Are you ready to win, or thinking you’ll probably lose?  
 
It occurred to me earlier in the day that there are two simple words, when lived out and applied to everything from making a single sale to a long term career goal to the overall process and philosophy of life, are incredibly powerful. Highly successful people always do what is necessary and then they go a little above and beyond. “Some More” isn’t unique to those who might have prevailed over adversity but remarkably every super successful person you will meet will invariably display the habit of “Some More”. Adversely a person performing under potential will always be displaying the habit of “No more. My hands are full. More isn’t possible. Lets see. More in these times???”   

The question is which one are you? You see to the outstanding achiever it didn’t matter whether the adversity was financial hardship (most flourishing businesses of today were started in a garage with no capital – Amazon, Yahoo, Microsof…), lack of education (Dhirubhai Ambani),  a career setback (Steve Jobs) or even a physical deficiency (Lance Armstrong). The very experience of overcoming an insurmountable obstacle taught these people the transformative power of “Some More”. They used the power not to only to overcome adversity but also applied it to every goal and challenge thereafter.

 
Theoretically we have always known that one must have a positive attitude, yet many (most) of us don’t. I believe all people want to have a positive attitude, but situations occur that can cause challenges to your achievement. It is then that the extraordinary gets differentiated from the ordinary. The difference is the word ‘extra’. The difference is ‘some more’. 
 
Here are several specific attitude and insights that may help you better understand and maintain your positive attitude during those situations, opportunities, and moments when it counts: 
 
Sales Attitude. Business is down, and you need to make more sales NOW. Do you believe you’ll make the sale BEFORE you make a call or get to an appointment?

Business is NEVER good or bad out there. Its good or bad between your ears.

 
Value- Attitude. Are you thinking about how much value are you adding to things around you – people, relations, friends, colleagues, work, business, society… One thing is for sure – if you aren’t adding value, then you certainly are adding cost.

 
Can-Do Attitude. You’re challenged to do ‘some more’. Do you Believe you can do even before you attempt it? If the answer is NO, Guess what, DONOT attempt.. You’ll waste time.

 
Relationship Attitude. In the end, no matter what you do, where you work, you will be known by relationships you have formed. Are you forming relationships or busy running over people? 

Winning Attitude. You want to win!! But do you believe that you are the BEST and you Deserve it more than anyone else on Earth?

 
Profit Attitude. If you are in Sales - There are two sides to profit. Do you believe you will get your price AND that others will profit as a result of dealing with you and buying from you or do you believe price is too high? As Henry Ford says either ways you will be proven right.

 
Service Attitude. To serve is to rule. Are you thinking, “How can I be my BEST at serving others?” or is your Ego blocking comprehension of this fact. If it is – you will grow in life only after you stumble upon this realization.

 
Money Attitude. Everyone talks about making money. Incorrect. Money isn’t made. It’s earned. Have you ‘truly’ earned your money before receiving it?  

Success Attitude. How do you define success? Everyone wants to be successful. What is your definition of success? Are you earning it or are you hoping for it? Hope is not a strategy. 

Five-Year Attitude: Even though attitude is a daily habit – you must have a vision for your thinking at the very least for five years. Where you will be five years from now depends on your actions from now to five years. If you don’t know where you want to be in five years – neither do your actions. You can either find someone to blame in five years and crib and sulk or you can decide where you will be. 

“Days go by slowly but the years fly by.”  Hardwork has very little meaning in todays instant everything times. I am guilty myself. Yet the value of good old-fashioned hardwork and perseverance has never been more the need. Now more than ever in the times of slowdown and layoffs and shutdowns and whatever (mostly a state of mind), is not the time to lie back in the face of setbacks or succumb to self-pity or find an excuse to blame. If we learnt anything from extraordinary achievers who overcame adversity is that there is advantage to be found in even the worst adversity. In fact these people found their biggest advantages in their worst adversities. With a positive mindset and willingness to persevere in any circumstances and learning from adversity’s lessons – rises the ability to convert ashes of any failure. That is what is called giving your all and then ‘some more’. That is what is called success.  

Yours,

Chetan Walia