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It's "YOUR" Attitude

By
Education & Training with Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp Non-Licensed

 YOUR Attitude and mindset mean everything.  This is out of the ordinary for me to share a post like this, but I feel it is warranted.  If it helps just one person who reads it today, then the mission is accomplished!  One of my clients shared this with me today and I want to share it with you.....Our Attitude can really determine our Altitude in life and in business.

John is the kind of guy you love to hate.  He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say.  When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"  He was a natural motivator.  If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, "I don't get it!  You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"  He replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or ... you can choose to be in a bad mood I choose to be in a good mood."

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.  Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.  "Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.  "Yes, it is," he said. "Life is all about choices.  When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice.  You choose how you react to situations.  You choose how people affect your mood.

You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood.  The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life."  I reflected on what he said.  Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business.  We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.  Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower.

After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.  I saw him about six months after the accident.  When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins...Wanna see my scars?" I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.

"The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter," he replied.  "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or...I could choose to die. I chose to live."  "Weren't you scared?  Did you lose consciousness?"  I asked.  He continued, "the paramedics were great.  They kept telling me I was going to be fine.  But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared.

In their eyes, I read "he's a dead man" I knew I needed to take action."  "What did you do?" I asked.  "Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said John. "She asked if I was allergic to anything 'Yes, I replied!'  The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, "Gravity."  Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live.  Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."  He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude... I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34.  After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.                                                    

Photo Courtesy of Simplyread.com

What's "your" attitude?  Why?  Who's really in control of it?

Comments(161)

Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices
What a great post. Something that I did not learn, and someting that I desperately need. So, I will start making my choices when I wake up in the morning. And I will choose to be happy.
Oct 14, 2007 05:16 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876
Jon - YOU CAN DO IT MAN!!  After 30 days, it will just become a habit!  A great habit to have in life!!  I'm behind ya all the way!!  :-)
Oct 15, 2007 04:51 AM
LaShon James-Major
The Document Diva - Long Beach, CA
Long Beach Mobile Notary - 562.314.4319

Brad, my motto is "feelings are a choice, choose wisely."

Many times people fail to realize they have control over their attitude so it's up to you how you feel.

 

diva sig

 

Oct 17, 2007 09:53 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876
LaShon - that is so true.  We have to stop and think about how we want to feel in response to a situation or a circumstance.  It's the things we have no control over that we shouldn't let affect our attitudes.  Even the thing we can control, we have the choice, and yes, we must choose wisely!  Great comment, thanks!!  :-)
Oct 19, 2007 02:11 AM
Kevin Riley
IHP Real Estate - Little Rock, AR
Kevin Riley

What an excellent post!  Attitude is everything and we have a choice in the attitude that we have.  We can blame no one but ourselves for the places that our attitudes take us.

Oct 20, 2007 08:53 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876
Kevin - said like a true pro and a good MAN!  We can only blame ourselves for letting anything in life control our attitudes.  Take no prisoners, do like the song says..."Don't Worry, Be Happy!"  Right?  :-)
Oct 20, 2007 05:44 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876
If it is to be, it is up to me! My personal affirmation for this next week! :-) Have a great week AR members and anyone ele who may read this post! :-)
Oct 28, 2007 04:42 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876
So why did this post die?  Why do posts die?  Don't you ever wonder why they just drop off the face of your Blog and never get seen or commented on again?  I'll tell you why.... I think I feel a post comin on...  :-)
Dec 05, 2007 06:42 PM
Gabrielle Nemes
RE/MAX Realty South - Tumwater, WA
206.300.8421, S King & Pierce County RE Advocate

So ... I'm a newer Active Rain'er and just came across your post. GREAT! Thanks. I needed that today!

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Dec 06, 2007 12:00 PM
Ernie Cabrera
REAL ESTATE AMERICA - Ernie Cabrera - Elk Grove, CA
Real Estate America

Brad, great post!  I will use this if you don't mind for one of my sales meeting.  It is a very positive and upbeat message that people need to hear today and especially in this market. 

Okay, I am reviving this again for you Brad....up it goes to the top!  LOL

Dec 06, 2007 03:20 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876
Gabrielle - glad you found this post and it found you. Sounds like it was good for the both of you. Thanks for commenting, I appreciate that very much!  :-)
Dec 06, 2007 03:24 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876
Ernie - I love it!  If this can help just "1" person "win the day", be my guest and use it!  Thanks for pushin me back up the ladder to the AR roof on this one!  LOL!  It is revived and alive!  :-)
Dec 06, 2007 03:26 PM
ActiveRain City and State Listing Group
Christiansted, VI

Brad,

My attitude is fine today, partly now, because of you. Thanks.

Maybe we could find a way to pass all this joy on to the folks in Omaha that have just met with tragedy.

There must be days that some find it hard to smile. We can't forget them.

Dec 07, 2007 01:48 AM
Sharon Ivey
Exit Dynamic Realty LLC - Chevy Chase, DC

What a great post Brad.  I try to have that attitude everyday.  Somedays are harder than others.  You know they say it is hard to stay mad if you smile.  I choose to smile.  May John continue to be healed physically.  His mind says he already is. 

Sharon

Dec 07, 2007 01:57 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876
Don - the folks in Omaha can have ALL the joy from this if they need!  It's all about attitude determining altitude!  :-)
Dec 08, 2007 10:58 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876
Sharon  - thanks, you're right, you can't stay angry if you smile or laugh.  It's all about mindset and attitude.
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment on this post, and most of all, for having a WINNING attitude while you dud it!  :-) 
Dec 08, 2007 11:03 AM
Ernie Cabrera
REAL ESTATE AMERICA - Ernie Cabrera - Elk Grove, CA
Real Estate America
Brad, this is such a good blog, I read it again, and should be revived again!  LOL  Up it goes!
Dec 16, 2007 06:14 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876
Ernie - I love this one, it's the only post I ever did that got the "RED X" but the message here is probably one of the best I've delivered.  Just the messenger, but what an impact this had on me and others. Always great to see you my friend, thanks for returning. :-)
Dec 17, 2007 02:29 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

This is one of my favorites. Timeless post with a terrific message. So many people need to read this. Thanks for sharing back in 2007.

Dec 28, 2009 01:25 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Awww Margaret, thanks for digging around in my closet and finding this one, I just read it again myself and it was a good "check" for me and my attitude today.  It is a great day because that is what my attitude and I have chosen it will be.  Happy New Year Margaret.  :-)

Dec 28, 2009 01:50 AM