LABOUR is roughly divided into two basic groups. The five per                                                                                         
cent w Ito own the business and the 95 per cent who work for                                                                                          
them. But what is it that sets them apart?                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
It has been validated that the top five per cent are not any                                                                                          
smarter nor were they any richer to begin with than the                                                                                               
others.                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
Of course some do inherit wealth and positions and many may be                                                                                        
better educated but research has borne out that to stay at the                                                                                        
top, one must possess five basic attitudes to succeed that                                                                                            
anyone car- copy and adopt.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                      
Think back to your younger days. Don't you remember somebody                                                                                          
close to you said "You're not smart enough to succeed", "You                                                                                          
can never make it in life because you're lazy, so don't bother                                                                                        
to try" or "You will never amount to much. You are born a                                                                                             
loser, just like your father".                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
These are some of the typical type of negative statements that                                                                                        
whether you like it or not could have inadvertently programmed                                                                                        
you for failure. Psychologists will tell you that these type                                                                                          
of comments are the stepping stones for a young adult to                                                                                              
develop a poor self-image and which is not conducive for                                                                                              
success.                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
The subconscious part of one's mind is like a garden. Thoughts                                                                                        
are the seeds that you plant in this garden. So if you plant a                                                                                        
negative thought you can expect to reap a negative result,                                                                                            
likewise plant a positive thought and the harvest will                                                                                                
bountiful. That is why we are always reminded to think                                                                                                
positive such as "I can and will succeed".                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
Of course being a positive thinker is not enough to ensure                                                                                            
success. We have to follow through with positive action, and                                                                                          
don't expect to achieve success overnight. Each time you                                                                                              
think, "I can' t" or "That's impossible", you are planting                                                                                            
negative seeds of doubt which are self-limiting and                                                                                                   
destructive. They keep you from achieving the plateau of                                                                                              
success that you might have otherwise have achieved.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                      
A positive attitude is only achieved by a constant and steady                                                                                         
flow of positive ideas. Cultivate and maintain this habit and                                                                                         
eventually you will grow strong willed character, continue to                                                                                         
cultivate that character and you will grow strong and powerful                                                                                        
as an old oak tree.                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
Five attitudes you need to achieve success                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
The driving force that propels individuals to succeed and stay                                                                                        
on the top are mental attitudes that you could easily acquire.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
1. They are positive thinkers: They expect to succeed more                                                                                            
than fail. Their general attitude is hopeful, optimistic and                                                                                          
enthusiastic. They are confident and are motivated by new                                                                                             
challenges and new horizons.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
2. They are ambitious: They have clear-cut goals and are                                                                                              
single-mind-ed about success. They visualise and realise their                                                                                        
failure.                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
3. They are doers, rather than to be done for: They plan their                                                                                        
work and they work to their plan. They don't wait for                                                                                                 
opportunities to come to the door they go out in search of                                                                                            
them and act on them immediately.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                      
4. Their success plan has a time frame that is specific: They                                                                                         
set a time for the achievement of their goals. This forces                                                                                            
them to move quickly, not hastily, so that they are ahead of                                                                                          
the competitors.                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
5. They refuse to accept failure and are determined to                                                                                                
succeed: They behave as if failure is not possible and never                                                                                          
give up once they are on a mission, using every means at their                                                                                        
disposal to achieve the desired goalsa. They are calculated                                                                                           
risk takers.