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Positive Mental Attitude

Throngs of books line the shelves . From business to self-help to parenting, the idea of positive mental attitude (PMA) permeates our culture. Everyone has an angle on how to improve your PMA and how it benefits you and the people around you.

These people are correct. Certainly , PMA is critical to advancing in life. Lack of motivation breeds a lack of energy, which, in turn , creates a lack of action. Lack of action is a seal of doom on career advancement. This is particularly true in a performance-based career such as information technology (IT).

PMA Is Not a Panacea

PMA is not a panacea. It does not, in and of itself, produce anything. In fact, although I certainly do not knock those who write, promote, and sell PMA books and seminars, I am also a pragmatist. Without a go-forward plan, the rah-rah high that is achieved at many such seminars is lost within weeks or even days because of a lack of direction.

Few things are as unmotivating as being hyped to action and having no place to put that energy. You leave an event, excited about your life prospects, but you suddenly discover that you have no plan of action. The effect is a slow disillusionment with your previous excitement.

PMA and a Plan

The goal of this book is to foster the PMA needed to create action, coupled with a plan that has achievable steps in a particular area. I have covered why IT is a great career. In coming chapters, I provide tools and a plan of action to put those tools to use.

In this chapter, you will discover attitudes that lend themselves to success. The concrete plan of action that is used both to create your toolkit and to put it to use will bolster this attitude, providing an outlet of action for the energy.

This is the type of PMA I enjoy. I call it "PMA with a plan." It provides a means to achieving the objectives and goals that created the PMA to begin with. It becomes a self-feeding energy. You will find, as you move through the creation of your toolkit, that concrete steps do more to foster a positive attitude than any high- powered coaching can.

Beware: Two Pitfalls of Attitude

For the job seeker/career move, attitude is not everything, but its role must not be diminished. Certainly, it can provide a leg up on the competition. However, it cannot overcome unrealistic expectations or huge skill deficits.

Unrealistic Expectations

Unrealistic expectations typically come in the form of salary requirements and ideas on how quickly one should advance in a role. The myriad of certification and training advertisements has done little to control this. Radio and print advertisement routinely tote the message of "high salary" in no time, after completing your certification program.

Although this might have been true in the talent-hungry 1990s, a backlash I call "certification cynicism" has infected the hiring attitudes among many companies. Newbies, those who entered the industry during the technology talent gold rush, have discovered that companies are paying little credence to their certifications and placing the emphasis on proven experience.

It is not that I dissuade anyone from going after a degree or certification to bolster their career chances . Believe me, both are positive. What I am trying to dissuade is the expectation by the prospective employee that degrees and certifications are going to create opportunities in and of themselves .

Skill Deficits

Your attitude can open a lot of doors. If yours is properly placed, it can serve you well in overcoming any skills deficit that you might have. Although companies are hesitant to hire unproven talent, a consistent application of positive work ethic and a willingness to take on new projects without immediate gratification the expectation of a bonus or pay raise for each new skill developedcan open doors that were previously barred shut. When an employer discovers someone who is willing to, in fact, request new projects, he will respond. If that employee can proactively develop new solutions while enhancing his skills, management will reward him.