Note: Today’s post is a guest contribution from Sal Greco.
If you haven’t come across Sal yet, it’s time you get acquainted with this bad ass, warm spirited, tell it like it is, surf his way to success, homeboy! He’s got a great outlook on life that always comes across as ultra-authentic. Here goes…
“Check yourself, before you wreck yourself”… Besides a corny saying you might blurt out to your friends, what does this phrase mean to you?
To me this statement can be used as a mantra. When used correctly you can help provide yourself with the necessary adjustments to conquer the world.
Failure = A Bad Attitude
A bad attitude leads to negative affirmations or negative self speak. Jacob has referred to this in past videos, about a small annoying little voice in your head that plays an antagonist role in anything you do.
It is a bad attitude that will lead you to failure 100% of the time. You might be saying to yourself, that you have a good attitude, and you have failed before, even though you were as positive as a small child holding balloons. I am not talking about not succeeding at a specific event, I am talking about complete failure. The kind that comes along with giving up. The kind that ends a lifestyle dream of yours. This can only happen if a bad attitude wins out.
Here is the common scenario: You have a big idea planned. Apart of you thinks it can do great things, and then there is a little small part of you that says, “are you kidding, no one is going to believe this from you,” or “that idea sucks, it has been had before, you are nothing special.”
Then you start to procrastinate on your idea. The voice in your head starts getting to you, and prevents you from furthering your conquest. One day, you are surfing the web, and then BAM… Someone has done it. Your own idea has already been fulfilled by someone else and it hits you in the face so hard, you contemplate giving up.
That exact situation was from personal experience. I had a great idea, and my bad attitude (which was really disbelief in if it could work) ended up pushing me toward inaction, which lead someone else to take action, and me sitting there in the dust, wondering if anything I do will ever achieve a level of greatness I am searching for.
I am very thankful that this one incident did not bring me all the way down, because I was able to turn my attitude around. The realization of “hey, at least I know I have good ideas,” led me to believe in myself once again, and take the world on once more.
Winning = A Good Attitude
Before I move on and discuss how a good attitude leads to winning, lets quickly go over what an attitude is. No need for an actual definition, just simply put, an attitude is your belief in something that provides you with a frame of mind. Therefore, if you have a positive belief, deep down in your core, then your frame of mind will reflect that, thus producing positive actions from yourself. Now moving on…
Anyone who has accomplished great things has done so with the right attitude, fueling the right frame of mind. I mean, do you think George Washington’s self doubt would of helped the revolution effort against England? Or do you think Martin Luther King Jr. had negative vibes about desegregating races? NO. Both George and Martin, both had dreams (visions) of a desired outcome. Their belief was so strong, so real, that their attitudes led their actions to create a new country, and end segregation.
I am not saying you need to lead a revolution with your attitude, but think about your own little world that surrounds you. The world you live in day to day. The people you come across, the jobs you do, the places you go. Whenever a situation arrises in which you have the power to act on an opportunity, then is the time to “check yourself before you wreck yourself”.
Checking Yourself!
If you are going into a meeting with your boss to negotiate a raise, “check yourself”. If you are having a meeting with important people about a project you are launching, “check yourself”. If you are about to sign a client, “check yourself”. If you are about to invest in something, “check yourself”! What the check means, is asking yourself, “is this attitude right for this situation? Do I have any self-doubt? If I do, am I really just hallucinating it? How could I turn this attitude around?”
There is good reason why professional athletes listen to music before events. To get their minds right. You need to do the same. Put yourself in an empowering state before you conquer your next major event.
Listen to hype music if that makes you feel good. Listen to calm jazz tunes, if that helps you focus. Maybe you could do some push-ups before your next board meeting to get your blood flowing. Perhaps you could youtube famous speeches and get inspired for your big presentation coming up.
It is this empowering feeling, this positive attitude, that will put you in the right frame of mind. From this state, your confidence will be spewing out of your pores, your focus will be laser targeted, and your achievements will show that you definitely “checked yourself,” before you had any chance of “wrecking yourself“!
Surfs up,
Sal
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23 Comments
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Very timely post Sal – only yesterday I left work very annoyed and anxious over a long and complicated email that someone had sent through at the 11th hour. The temptation was to respond, quickly, and dismiss everything they had to say. I didn't do that though – I left and thought I'll deal with that next week. This post has reminded me that when I do sit down to deal with it I should 'check myself' before I do – thanks!
That's AWESOME Steve, I am glad this post had some effect on you. Yea for sure "check yourself" when you get back to the office and get into that email. You definitely do not want to say something you would regret. That was really good that you decided to not respond right away because you were heated. Sometimes we really just have to take ourselves out of the moment, and look at it from another perspective.
Surfs up Steve!
My dude! Thanx so much for sharing Sal!!
Anytime and all the time your welcome dude!!! See you in NYC perhaps…
4shooooooooooooooooooo!!
Hi Sal, what you've shared is a magical mindset and man we can fully relate.. thanks for the encouragement and look forward to reading more of your passion – stay in touch!!
Thanks man, stay tuned, the best has yet to come… Keep kickin ass yourself too!
Sal, I disagree with you on one point. I think people should lead a revolution with their attitude. Revolt against all that hampers us and brings us down. Revolt against the forces that want to stand in the way of our vision. If your vision is worth fighting for, stand up for it and "check your self"!
Absolutely dude… I don't think we really disagree. All I meant by that point was stressing, even if you are not leading a country revolution, to look at your own battles day to day in your own surroundings.
Definitely fight for your vision. Of course if it is worth fighting for. There are definitely also times though when you should know not to fight, but to work your way around…
So what is your vision right now dude? Need any revolutionary help?
Great post Sal! I really enjoyed it, keep up the good work my friend.
@Jonathan, thanks bro!!! Yes, it all comes down to attitude. That swagger can lead you through great things…
@Sal from a Sal to Sal, thank you Sal!!! You too man, Quixli is looking on fire right now!
4 year plan… Hell yea.. I bet you do it in 2… What do I get when you do it in 2????
As long as you have a vision, create a system for reaching it and do not let anything stop you… ESPECIALLY NOT YOURSELF… Then you can do it all my man!!!
I am sure I have plenty ideas for you dude, thats what I am.. "an idea man" Hit me up through my contact page, we can skype sometime soon. I always enjoy hearing new stories and ideas for success!!!
Surfs up,
I agree Jonathan, attitude is paramount & attitude itself will be nothing without optimism – that's the key to everything. x
Channelling Meg Ryan in when Harry met Sally…
YES YES YES YES YES….oh for the love of mike…Yes. Amazing how just a simple shift in attitude can change around an entire situation. Sometimes right before your eyes…
Caution…it only really works for those who stop blaming others and take some responsibility for themselves. True, sometimes someone else has a bigger influence on a particular situation, but untimatly, you have complete and totally control of YOU.
BooYa…hee hee…
HELL YESS DAWN, I freakin love the intensity here…
You 112% HAVE GOT TO take full responsibility for your actions. I was actually really down yesterday, and I found myself blaming other people… "if so and so would just… or If this guy could only…."
When things are out of your control you still have to take responsibility and realize that your moods can be changed by you.
Haha, even this morning I was not feeling well, I knew that I seriously had to force myself to eat, just to get out of a bad mood. Had I not eaten, the mood would of only gotten worse.
Now I checked myself, and back to some wreckage!!!!
Oh Sal…this is a topic I am all to familar with…
My ex "how can you be so damn happy when our lives are so shitty"
Well…I just CAN…
Way to get yourself in Check!
IMHO you’ve got the right ansewr!