Attitude is Everything
Another guest post from Howard Spiva of the Spiva Law Group. Howard is currently the President of the Southern Trial Lawyer's Assocation and a very talented and successful trial lawyer from Savannah, Georgia.
My favorite way of "adjusting" my own attitude is to refer to quotes. Often times who said the quote is as important as what is said. One of my favorite is by Christopher Reeves, who said, you can stay in the shallow end of the pool or choose to go out into the ocean. Below I have assembled some other examples.
A few years back, a dear friend of mine and I started assembling 1000s of quotes. We narrowed them down to 100s. We then ran a daily quote in the Savannah newspaper. Many people cut the quotes out and collected them.
This man was Kerry Randall. Kerry really touched my life. Kerry is no longer with us and I miss him dearly. Together Kerry and I also made up some quotes of our own. I invite you to read these quotes, share them, repeat them and please feel free to add to the list.
Attitude is everything! - Quotes Assembled by Howard E. Spiva
Don't wait. The time will never be just right.
- Napoleon Hill
You can stay in the shallow end of the pool, or choose to go out into the ocean.
-Christopher Reeves
Don't let the start stop you from being successful. It's often the start that stops people.
- Howard Spiva Visionary is a self-fulfilling prophet. Don't predict the future. Create it.
- Leland Kaiser
Walking the tightrope is living; everything else is waiting.
- Karl Wallenda
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
- Helen Keller
Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Only those who dare to fail greatly can achieve greatly.
- Robert F.Kennedy
Live out of your imagination, not your history.
- Stephen Covey
The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
I have not failed. I've just found 10, 000 ways that won't work.
- Thomas A. Edison 1847-1931, American Inventor, Entrepreneur, Founder of GE
Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.
- William James
You must be the change you want to see in the world.
- Mohandas Gandhi
I am here to invent who I am and what my life is about.
-Howard Spiva
It's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
- Chinese proverb
The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.
- Vince Lombardi
Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere; and you will find a joy in overcoming obstacles.
- Helen Keller
Some people say they haven't yet found themselves. But the self is not something one finds; it is something one creates.
Thomas Szasz 1920-, American Psychiatrist
It's kind of fun to do the impossible.
Walt Disney
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
-Confucius BC 551-479
Optimists are right. So are pessimists. It's up to you to choose which you will be.
- Harvey Mackay
Our life is what our thoughts make it.
-Marcus Aurelius Antonius
MAKE IT AN EXCELLENT DAY!!!
-Howard Spiva
You have brains is your head.
You have feet in your shoes.You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
-Dr. Seuss (Oh, the Places You'll Go!)
Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.
-William Jennings Bryan
There isn't a person anywhere who isn't capable of doing more that he thinks he can.
-Henry Ford
"Change your thoughts and you change your world."
-Norman Vincent Peale
If you want to know what people really want, ignore their words; watch what they do.
-Kerry Randall
The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind.
-William James
"I am always doing things I can't do, that's how I get to do them."
-Picasso
ALL our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them.
-Walt Disney
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an art, but a habit.
-Aristotle
It's simple. Success comes from training harder, living better and digging deeper than the others.
-Lance Armstrong, (run July 25, 2004 after Lance wins record-breaking #6)
Remember happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think.
-Dale Carnegie
Progress always involves risk; you can't steal second base and keep your foot on first.
-Frederick Wilcox
You can have anything you want -- if you want it badly enough. You can be anything you want to be, do anything you set out to accomplish if you hold to that desire with singleness of purpose.
-Abraham Lincoln
Successful people believe in themselves, especially when others do not.
-Howard Spiva
If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today. As of this second, quit doing less- than- excellent work.
-Thomas Watson, founder of IBM
The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination.
-Tommy Lasorda
If you have a job without aggravations, you don't have a job.
-Malcolm Forbes
Fall down seven times; stand up eight.
-Japanese Proverb
People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances.
The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them.
-George Bernard Shaw
Contrary to popular opinion, life does not get better by chance, life gets better by change. And, this change always takes place inside; it is the change of thought that creates the better life.
-Kerry Randall
The only man who never makes mistakes is the man who never does anything.
-Theodore Roosevelt
Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their food, and tyrannize their teachers.
-Socrates
Real courage is moving forward when the outcome is uncertain.
-Michael E. Angier
Ideas are worthless. Intentions have no power. Plans are nothing . . . unless they are followed with action. Do it now!
-Michael E. Angier
You are what you are and you are where you are because of what has gone into your mind. You change what you are and you change where you are by changing what goes into your mind.
-Zig Ziglar
It is a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.
-W Somerset Maugham
If you are unwilling to suffer the pain of discipline, you will suffer the pain of low self-esteem. Choose your pain. One can be transformed into pleasure; the other cannot.
-Kerry Randall
"Impossible" is a word only to be found in the dictionary of fools.
-Napoleon Bonaparte
All that we are is a result of what we have thought.
-Abraham Lincoln
Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge.
-Napoleon Hill
The smallest deed is far greater than the biggest intention.
-Kerry Randall
My simple formula for success: Do not let what you do not have get in the way of using what you do have.
-Howard Spiva
We become what we think about all day long.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Adventure is not outside; it is within.
-Howard Spiva
When I hear somebody sigh that "Life is hard," I am always tempted to ask, "Compared to what?"
-Sydney Harris
No matter your past, you have a spotless future.
-Howard Spiva
Never, never, never, never, never, never give up.
-Winston Churchill
My favorite way of "adjusting" my own attitude is to refer to quotes. Often times who said the quote is as important as what is said. One of my favorite is by Christopher Reeves, who said, you can stay in the shallow end of the pool or choose to go out into the ocean. Below I have assembled some other examples.
A few years back, a dear friend of mine and I started assembling 1000s of quotes. We narrowed them down to 100s. We then ran a daily quote in the Savannah newspaper. Many people cut the quotes out and collected them.
This man was Kerry Randall. Kerry really touched my life. Kerry is no longer with us and I miss him dearly. Together Kerry and I also made up some quotes of our own. I invite you to read these quotes, share them, repeat them and please feel free to add to the list.
Attitude is everything! - Quotes Assembled by Howard E. Spiva
Don't wait. The time will never be just right.
- Napoleon Hill
You can stay in the shallow end of the pool, or choose to go out into the ocean.
-Christopher Reeves
Don't let the start stop you from being successful. It's often the start that stops people.
- Howard Spiva Visionary is a self-fulfilling prophet. Don't predict the future. Create it.
- Leland Kaiser
Walking the tightrope is living; everything else is waiting.
- Karl Wallenda
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
- Helen Keller
Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Only those who dare to fail greatly can achieve greatly.
- Robert F.Kennedy
Live out of your imagination, not your history.
- Stephen Covey
The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
I have not failed. I've just found 10, 000 ways that won't work.
- Thomas A. Edison 1847-1931, American Inventor, Entrepreneur, Founder of GE
Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.
- William James
You must be the change you want to see in the world.
- Mohandas Gandhi
I am here to invent who I am and what my life is about.
-Howard Spiva
It's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
- Chinese proverb
The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.
- Vince Lombardi
Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere; and you will find a joy in overcoming obstacles.
- Helen Keller
Some people say they haven't yet found themselves. But the self is not something one finds; it is something one creates.
Thomas Szasz 1920-, American Psychiatrist
It's kind of fun to do the impossible.
Walt Disney
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
-Confucius BC 551-479
Optimists are right. So are pessimists. It's up to you to choose which you will be.
- Harvey Mackay
Our life is what our thoughts make it.
-Marcus Aurelius Antonius
MAKE IT AN EXCELLENT DAY!!!
-Howard Spiva
You have brains is your head.
You have feet in your shoes.You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
-Dr. Seuss (Oh, the Places You'll Go!)
Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.
-William Jennings Bryan
There isn't a person anywhere who isn't capable of doing more that he thinks he can.
-Henry Ford
"Change your thoughts and you change your world."
-Norman Vincent Peale
If you want to know what people really want, ignore their words; watch what they do.
-Kerry Randall
The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind.
-William James
"I am always doing things I can't do, that's how I get to do them."
-Picasso
ALL our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them.
-Walt Disney
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an art, but a habit.
-Aristotle
It's simple. Success comes from training harder, living better and digging deeper than the others.
-Lance Armstrong, (run July 25, 2004 after Lance wins record-breaking #6)
Remember happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think.
-Dale Carnegie
Progress always involves risk; you can't steal second base and keep your foot on first.
-Frederick Wilcox
You can have anything you want -- if you want it badly enough. You can be anything you want to be, do anything you set out to accomplish if you hold to that desire with singleness of purpose.
-Abraham Lincoln
Successful people believe in themselves, especially when others do not.
-Howard Spiva
If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today. As of this second, quit doing less- than- excellent work.
-Thomas Watson, founder of IBM
The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination.
-Tommy Lasorda
If you have a job without aggravations, you don't have a job.
-Malcolm Forbes
Fall down seven times; stand up eight.
-Japanese Proverb
People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances.
The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them.
-George Bernard Shaw
Contrary to popular opinion, life does not get better by chance, life gets better by change. And, this change always takes place inside; it is the change of thought that creates the better life.
-Kerry Randall
The only man who never makes mistakes is the man who never does anything.
-Theodore Roosevelt
Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their food, and tyrannize their teachers.
-Socrates
Real courage is moving forward when the outcome is uncertain.
-Michael E. Angier
Ideas are worthless. Intentions have no power. Plans are nothing . . . unless they are followed with action. Do it now!
-Michael E. Angier
You are what you are and you are where you are because of what has gone into your mind. You change what you are and you change where you are by changing what goes into your mind.
-Zig Ziglar
It is a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.
-W Somerset Maugham
If you are unwilling to suffer the pain of discipline, you will suffer the pain of low self-esteem. Choose your pain. One can be transformed into pleasure; the other cannot.
-Kerry Randall
"Impossible" is a word only to be found in the dictionary of fools.
-Napoleon Bonaparte
All that we are is a result of what we have thought.
-Abraham Lincoln
Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge.
-Napoleon Hill
The smallest deed is far greater than the biggest intention.
-Kerry Randall
My simple formula for success: Do not let what you do not have get in the way of using what you do have.
-Howard Spiva
We become what we think about all day long.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Adventure is not outside; it is within.
-Howard Spiva
When I hear somebody sigh that "Life is hard," I am always tempted to ask, "Compared to what?"
-Sydney Harris
No matter your past, you have a spotless future.
-Howard Spiva
Never, never, never, never, never, never give up.
-Winston Churchill
A favorite from the movie 'Revolver': "If you change the rules of what controls you, you will change the rules of what you can control" ;-)