Have you ever adjusted the focus on a pair of binoculars? You turn the little dial slightly to the left or right until the picture becomes crystal clear. You need to keep your adjustments tiny because if you move the dial dramatically, you’ll never get a clear picture. The same is true when it comes to attitudes. If you attempt to make a huge change in the way you think, it usually only lasts a short while. But if you make little attitude adjustments on a regular basis, over time you develop the kind of winning attitude that can help to take you where you want to go. Great attitudes are attractive. In fact, having a great attitude can take you pretty far in life. …

When bad things happen to you, are you surprised? Or did you think it was bound to happen sooner or later? If you often fight negative thinking, a recording in the back of your mind might play things like, “I knew this would never work out,” or “Of course I didn’t get that promotion. I’m a fraud and everyone knows it.” This negative type of thinking about your worth and your capabilities can prevent you from aiming higher in life. It causes you to imagine a future filled with setbacks and heartaches—a mediocre life that doesn’t come close to what you’re capable of. It can also kill the confidence you need to build a successful life. If you often feel down, suffer anxiety, lack confidence …

Have you ever brought someone onto your team when you knew it was a bad idea? Maybe red flags may have alerted you that something wasn’t quite right, but you ignored them. Rather than listening to the little voice telling you to be careful, you gave that person the benefit of the doubt. Seeing the best in people is a great characteristic, but it can get you into a lot of trouble if you’re not careful. Trust can be tricky. Many people make the mistake of giving away trust too quickly. They think that it’s the right thing to do, but trust always needs to be earned. How is trust earned? You can learn a lot about a person by examining their track record. When …

Have you set any goals for 2016? If you did, you may have noticed that your motivation to achieve these goals has already started to dwindle. It’s maddening, isn’t it? They’re great goals and you really want to reach them! The good news is there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of achieving those goals. For one, make sure your goals are concrete enough. Saying, “I want my business to grow,” is too vague. You need to break that goal into specifics that will help you take action. Second, make sure your goals are realistic. There’s nothing more deflating than realizing that you’ve bitten off more than you can chew. That being said, even if you already announced a grand …

Are you ready to have your best year? Whenever people ask me what I think the coming year will bring, I always respond that it’s going to be my best year yet. And I believe it! Why is this important? Because what we believe has the power to unlock our potential. Potential is an interesting word. Potential speaks of what you can do, but haven’t done yet. It refers to how far you can go, but haven’t gone yet. We all have potential, but that potential means nothing if you don’t bring it about—it requires action on your part. You were born with natural gifts and tendencies, for example, but without training and practice, you won’t achieve your full potential in those areas. Potential is …