Let me begin with two things I am absolutely positive of: attitude is not everything and motivation does not work.

“What? How can you say that? You lie! You are a bad man! I buy books by motivational speakers all the time! I go to hear motivational speakers whenever I get a chance. I listen to motivational tapes and am the biggest and best customer of Nightingale-Conant and Career-Track. So what do you mean attitude isn’t everything and motivation doesn’t work?”

Well, let me prove it to you. If you are the kind of person you say you are, listening to motivational speakers and reading motivational self-help books, then answer these questions: How is your life? Are you rich, happy, healthy, and successful? No? Well there you go, that stuff doesn’t really work, does it? (By the way, if you really are rich, happy, healthy, and successful, then congratulations. But I promise you motivation is not what got you there.)

Don’t you just hate that? You are caught. Don’t feel bad. I used to be just like you. I have read literally thousands of motivational, self-help books. I have also listened to at least that many motivational, self-help tapes. I have been to lots of meetings and heard the high-powered, high-priced motivational gurus (some of whom good friends) say all those things about feeling good about yourself and how you have to be positive every waking moment. I have lis¬tened to them tell the masses to just have a good attitude and any¬thing will be possible. I would sit on the edge of my seat and eat it up until I would nearly swoon with the idea that if only I had the right at¬titude, my life would be okay.

Listen, I have had a good, positive attitude all my life and I have had more crap happen to me than you can imagine! I had a great atti¬tude and went bankrupt. I had a great attitude the whole time I had problems in my business, my marriage, with my money, and my health. That wonderful, positive attitude of mine did not keep one thing from happening to me.

So regardless of what any of the books, tapes, and speakers say, attitude is not everything. I know that is a lot to swallow since it flies in the face of what everyone else says and everything you have ever heard. Like you, I have seen books out there telling you attitude is everything. You can find coasters and T-shirts and even buy a cute little rock to use as a paperweight that says, “Attitude is Everything.” You can even get little coins to carry in your pocket to remind you of the same sentiment. You can buy posters to line your walls. It makes the suckers feel better and lines the pockets of the manufacturers. And it is still a lie because attitude is not every¬thing!