Attitude is Everything by Jeff Keller book summary
Introduction
Are you feeling stuck in your current life and don't know where to start to make a change? This book is here to help. To change your life, you need to change your attitude. If you have a negative outlook on life, this book is for you. It's designed to help negative people develop a better and more positive attitude towards life. When your attitude becomes positive, you'll discover new things about yourself that you never knew existed. This book is also beneficial for positive people, offering important concepts to help you grow and seize even greater opportunities in life.
This book has the potential to transform your world. Your attitude is everything. Once you change your attitude, your possibilities and outcomes will change too. This book will teach you how to think, speak, and act.
In the first section, you'll learn the importance of your mind in achieving success and how to use your thoughts to shape your world as you desire.
In the second section, you'll discover the power of positive language and how it can propel your life toward endless greatness.
In the third section, you'll understand the importance of taking action. Nothing good happens if you don't stand up and work towards your goals.
Get ready to dive into a world of knowledge that will teach you how to grow and become more successful than you ever imagined.
Section : 1
Success Begins in the Mind
Your Attitude Is Your Window to the World
Your attitude shapes the way you see the world and can influence how your day unfolds. Two people might experience the same event but feel completely different about it, all because of their attitudes.
As children, we start with a clean and positive attitude toward life. We believe we can walk, run, or ride a bicycle despite falling many times. We don't blame the world or others for our failures. However, as we grow up, criticism from parents, friends, and teachers can cloud our judgment. Our once-clear outlook becomes tainted by these negative experiences.
To see the world clearly again, you need to clean your window. While external factors and people can motivate you temporarily, only you have the power to change your attitude. You might feel powerless, but history shows that many have succeeded by changing their attitudes.
Consider the story of Viktor Frankl, a prisoner in Nazi death camps. Despite daily suffering from hunger, cold, and the loss of his family, he maintained a positive attitude. He believed that although everything was taken from him, he still had the power to choose his attitude.
Frankl learned that circumstances don't matter as much as how we perceive them. While other inmates let their situation define them, Frankl chose a different path. He believed that lack of sleep, food, or health didn't determine who he was or who he would become. He knew that a positive attitude was key to surviving as a successful person.
Being in prison didn't mean he was a prisoner—his positive attitude kept him free. Frankl not only survived but became one of the most influential figures in psychology. His wisdom is captured in his bestselling book, "Man’s Search for Meaning."
This story illustrates that changing your attitude is possible for everyone. Your circumstances don't define you; your attitude does.
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Attitude is Everything by Jeff Keller book summary
You Are a Human Magnet
Have you ever wondered why some people succeed while others do not? The answer is simple: We Are What We Think We Are. When you focus your thoughts on a specific goal, all your energy naturally aligns with achieving that dream. Your actions will follow your thoughts because your attitude is set toward success.
We attract what we strongly believe in. If you believe you can achieve something and this belief dominates your mind, you will accomplish it. To build a positive attitude, you must think positively all day long, not just for a few moments.
Jeff Keller, the author of this book, shares his journey of becoming a real estate owner. His dream began when he observed people in his town making significant profits from real estate investments.
Despite the challenges that real estate owners faced, they were still making huge profits. Jeff wanted to be one of them, but he hesitated because he was afraid of failure. He focused on potential obstacles like tenant issues and rent problems, viewing his goal with a negative attitude.
Reading books about the power of attitude transformed Jeff's mentality. In 1986, he decided he would purchase two investment properties that year. With a newfound positive attitude
Picture Your Way to Success
To achieve your goals, you need a clear image of your desired destination. Many famous athletes and singers have imagined their success since childhood. The mental images we create form a mental movie that shapes our reality. Only you can control these mental images.
As children, we had no mental background holding us back. We believed we could do anything. However, as we grew older, our belief in ourselves became clouded by past failures and negative experiences. These negative mental images can overwhelm us, leading us to give up trying new things.
You are responsible for changing the mental movies you create. If you have a negative mental image, you can transform it into a positive one. Relax and visualize your new narrative, engaging all your senses.
Robert's story is a great example. He received a nomination for a judge position, a dream he had cherished since childhood. Although happy, Robert was nervous. Despite being skilled and having a strong chance of winning the election, his nerves were getting the best of him.
Jeff Keller, Robert’s friend, gave him life-changing advice. Jeff suggested that Robert write a sign that said "Judge Robert Jones" and keep it in sight at all times, even carrying one in his wallet. Constantly seeing the sign reminded Robert of his dream and conditioned him to act like a judge every day.
As stronger images formed in his mind, Robert became convinced he was a judge and could succeed. This belief led him to campaign more vigorously and push his party to work harder for votes. The positive mental images made Robert stronger, helping him to turn his dreams into reality.
When positive images turn into positive attitudes, nothing can stop you from achieving your desires in life.
Make a Commitment and You Will Move Mountains
No goal can be achieved without commitment. Commitment is the core of achievement, defined as the willingness to do whatever it takes to reach your goal. Commitment is magical; when you focus on a dream, new paths in life will appear, leading you toward that dream. These paths were always there, but your commitment helps you notice and follow them.
However, commitment alone is not enough. Life will test you with obstacles. You must be patient and never give up. Commitment means doing whatever it takes and staying strong for as long as it takes.
In 1999, Jerry Gladstone started his own company selling collectibles, including toys and other merchandise. A year later, he decided to focus solely on selling animation art. Although he was selling animation art from various studios, he realized that to achieve real success, he needed to focus on Disney art.
Jerry contacted Disney, but they refused his offer. Undeterred, he continued contacting Disney for three years. His persistence annoyed one Disney executive so much that she left him a voicemail saying he would never get a deal with Disney.
Did Jerry give up? No. He continued calling more executives until they all tired of his persistence and offered him a deal. The condition was that he open his shop in Minnesota or Massachusetts. Though he loved his hometown of New York, Jerry flew to Boston, Massachusetts, the next day, secured a location, and called Disney again.
Impressed by his commitment, the executives let him join the Disney program. One year later, he was permitted to open a store in New York. Ten years later, Jerry became one of the biggest animation art sellers in the world.
Commitment and persistence can help you overcome any obstacle and achieve your goals. When you are truly committed, you will find a way to succeed, no matter the challenges.
Section : 2
Watch Your Words
Your Words Blaze a Trail
You might wonder why talking about word choice is important. Your words can shape your future. Words reinforce your attitude: positive words lead to a positive attitude, while negative words lead to a negative attitude. Therefore, it's crucial to be mindful of the words you use.
The process starts with thoughts, which turn into words, then beliefs, actions, and finally, results. Once you build a positive mental image, start speaking positively to guide yourself toward your goals. Sharing your dreams with others can also help, but be cautious—share your positive talk only with extremely positive people who can support and uplift you, possibly even becoming your accountability partners.
Kent Cullers' story is truly inspiring. A scientist at NASA, Kent led the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Project. Despite having a doctorate in physics and developing software to detect extraterrestrial life, Kent faced a significant challenge: he was blind.
Kent referred to his blindness as a "trivial condition," minimizing its impact on his work and life. By choosing his words carefully, he controlled the effect of his blindness. This mindset allowed him to excel, earning his doctorate and thriving in his exciting role at NASA.
Imagine how powerful you could be if you viewed obstacles as mere inconveniences, refusing to let them destroy your chances of success. By controlling your words, you can transform your life and achieve incredible things.
How Are You?
How often do you get asked, "How are you?" Probably a lot. We often overlook the importance of this question because it has become a routine part of our day. However, the way you answer this question can significantly impact your mood and outlook.
Each time you answer this question, you engage in a form of self-talk that can influence your day. Try asking yourself right now, “How are you?” Your answer can be negative, mediocre, or positive. It's best to choose a positive response. Even if you don’t feel great, saying you are can help you start feeling better.
Consider Sally’s story. She often felt tired at work and answered honestly when asked how she was, saying she was tired. This response reinforced her belief in her tiredness, making her feel progressively worse throughout the day. Her tiredness even affected her coworkers, making them feel down as well.
One day, after a particularly exhausting day, Sally checked her lottery ticket and discovered she had won $10 million. Despite her earlier exhaustion, she was suddenly full of energy, jumping out of her chair, calling friends and family, and celebrating her good fortune. She probably didn’t sleep that night due to her excitement.
The question is, where did Sally find the energy to celebrate? The answer lies in her mental state. When she focused on feeling tired, she felt worse. But when she focused on something positive, like winning the lottery, her energy surged.
This story illustrates the power of your mental state. If you focus on positive feelings and responses, you’ll feel better and more energetic throughout your day. So next time someone asks, “How are you?” remember to answer positively and see how it transforms your day.
Section : 3
Heaven Helps Those Who Act
Associate with Positive People
In this world, there are two types of people: toxic people and nourishing people. Nourishing people are those friends who always encourage and support you. They are positive and believe in your ability to achieve your goals. These are the people you should keep close.
On the other hand, toxic people are always negative and complaining. They drain your positive energy and ruin your mood. It’s best to avoid being around them.
Smokey is a great example of a nourishing person. He worked in sales in the funeral home industry for 45 years. Despite what you might think, being surrounded by death didn’t make him a negative person. Smokey has a very positive attitude.
He believes that people are like sponges; they soak up whatever is around them. If they are exposed to negativity, they become negative. Conversely, if they are around positive people, their attitude will be positive.
Although he is constantly surrounded by death, Smokey avoids negative people whenever he can. He understands that to maintain a positive attitude, you need to choose your friends and associates wisely. Keeping positive people in your life is crucial for sustaining your own positivity.
Confront Your Fears and Grow
Sometimes, when we are close to achieving our dreams, we encounter obstacles that scare us. These obstacles may seem insurmountable due to our fear, but often, they are simpler than they appear. To succeed, you must be ready to face your fears and do things that make you uncomfortable. Fear is part of the journey, and you can't reach your dreams without overcoming it.
When you want to try something new and fear holds you back, take a moment to understand the source of your fear. Confronting and overcoming fear is essential for personal growth and success. If you back away from something you truly want due to fear, you lose more than just an opportunity; your self-esteem and chances for growth diminish. Don't let fear define your life. Be brave and move forward.
Here’s a story about a woman who learned to overcome her fear. Dottie was a high school teacher for 32 years, but her dream was to work in show business. She chose teaching because it was a secure career path. Despite this, she continued to write and sing songs, keeping her dream alive.
One summer, Dottie decided to resign from her teaching job to pursue her dream of becoming a performer. However, fear soon set in, and she went back to teaching. Her passion for music never faded, and six months later, she retired for good, determined to face her fear of rejection.
In her 50s, Dottie ran her first musical show. In her 60s, she released her first album and performed in bars and clubs in New York City. Dottie’s journey shows that it's never too late to confront your fears and follow your dreams. She lived her life to the fullest, proud and happy with her career, despite starting later in life.
By confronting your fears, you open the door to new possibilities and personal growth. Embrace the challenges, and let your courage lead you to success.
Get Out There and Fail
In the previous chapter, we talked about the importance of challenging ourselves to grow. Trying something new can be daunting, but it's essential to be brave and face whatever outcomes come your way.
Failure is part of the process. Most people who have succeeded before us have faced numerous failures. That doesn’t mean we should quit or hesitate. If you have a dream and truly believe in it, you need to keep trying—even if it takes one attempt, ten attempts, or even a hundred attempts.
Take the story of Jack and Mark, for example. They co-wrote a book and aimed to get it published within three months. They sent their manuscript to various publishers, but each time, the answer was no. They didn’t give up after the first few rejections. They tried 33 times and faced repeated rejections.
Most people would have given up, but Jack and Mark persisted. Eventually, they sent their book to another publisher, who said yes. Although they didn’t achieve their goal in three months as planned, they succeeded after three years.
Their persistence paid off, and the book they published became a massive success. It's the famous "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series, written by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen. Their book is now a well-known series found in bookstores everywhere.
The key takeaway is that failures and rejections do not define your future. Your attitude and determination do. Embrace failure as part of the journey and keep moving forward. Each setback is a step closer to success.
Conclusion
Now that you understand the importance of maintaining a positive attitude, it's time to put the lessons from this book into practice.
In the first part, you learned how your mindset shapes your results. By focusing on positivity, you'll attract positive experiences into your life.
In the second part, you discovered the power of positive language. Even simple things, like how you answer the question “How are you?”, can significantly impact your day.
In the third part, you explored the importance of taking positive action. You learned about the value of surrounding yourself with positive people and stepping out of your comfort zone to grow.
This book offers essential tools for achieving success. By believing in the power of a positive attitude, you can transform your life. Begin by controlling your thoughts, words, and actions.
If you aspire to achieve remarkable goals, start by cultivating a positive attitude. Don’t wait or hesitate—embrace a positive mindset and take action towards a brighter future.
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