SuperCompetent: The Six Keys to Perform at Your Productive Best

Part 6. SuperCompetent Key 6: Attitude

Note

SuperCompetent people always make an effort and practice positive thinking.

ATTITUDE is your motivation, drive, and proactiveness.

This key makes things happen with a can-do, winning outlook.

Your attitude is your state of mind and the way you perceive the world about you. Bill Schweber, Executive Editor at EDN.com, once wrote an article in which he described the difference between the founders of technology companies and the people hired to run them. The passion he describes is important. To sum it up, the high-powered gunslingers are fanatical about getting immediate results in their publicly traded enterprises, whereas the founders greatly want to influence the enterprise's future with the technology they create. The former take the short-term view; the latter have the long term in mind.

Of course, both short-term goals and long-term vision are essential to organizational success—both significantly drive accomplishment. Regardless of their roles, their attitudes exude the passion that commits fully to a course of action and sees it all the way through. The gunslingers' approach may mean finishing strong on a three-month project, whereas the founders' goals may require that they hit a 10-year profit target. Regardless of the method, their perseverance mind-set remains unchanged, which boosts fulfillment in their daily lives. Without this perspective, it's hard to continually put forth the effort needed to get a job done over a sustained period ...