Attitude is Everything Rev Ed: 10 Life-Changing Steps to Turning Attitude into Action

Books Review

"It isn't how much you know about maintaining a positive attitude that's important," writes Keith Harrell, formerly one of IBM's top training instructors and now a popular speaker, trainer, and consultant. "It's how well, and how consistently, you put that knowledge to use." In Attitude Is Everything, Harrell teaches 10 steps for "an attitude tune-up" that "turns attitude into action." Some of these steps are identifying the attitudes that hold you back or propel you forward, reframing bad attitudes, building supportive relationships, and seeing change as opportunity. Harrell weaves his personal stories into the book, such as turning the disappointment of not being drafted by the NBA after college (which he had fully expected) into skillfully landing a job with IBM, even though he didn't have the qualifications and they weren't hiring at that time. In each section, he discusses an attitude concept, illustrates it with anecdotes, and teaches specific strategies for integrating it into your life--all in an easygoing, friendly, and motivating style. For example, the "Your Attitude Tool Kit" chapter opens with Harrell being notified in junior high school that he had to go to speech therapy for his stuttering, as he had for six years, and using affirmations to cure his stuttering on the spot. Then he teaches nine "Attitude Tools," explaining each one and showing you how to put it into action. --Joan Price --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Harrell, a former IBM sales trainer turned motivational speaker, puts the shine back on the shopworn mantra that positive thinking leads to success. A former college basketball star who redoubled his determination to use his "natural born abilities" after he was left behind by the pro team drafts, Harrell enlisted a cousin who was working for IBM to coach him--in dress code, interview technique and more--until he was ready for an informational interview at Big Blue. Not long afterward, Harrell was hired and began rising through the ranks, becoming one of the company's most sought after sales instructors, despite resistance from his bosses and working for less prestigious divisions. Once he began training employees, Harrell knew he had found his calling. His 10-point program expands on the key principle espoused in the title. It's a simple approach, bolstered by Harrell's relentless optimism: this will be a good day because everything I do and say will make it one. For example, when he learns that he'll be stuck in an airport for two hours, he gets something to eat, calls his grandmother and talks to another passenger, instead of fuming about the delay. All too often, the author believes, we allow a ready set of negative mindsets to come into play. Among his "attitude tune-ups," his evaluation of specific negative words and thought processes are especially helpful. This persuasive manual will be most valuable for individuals who wish to change their outlook toward life and work, rather than managers hoping to change their style. 15-city TV satellite tour; 50-city radio tour; 15-city print satellite tour; 5-city author tour. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.