“Attitudes are nothing more than habits of thought and habits can be acquired.”
– Paul J. Meyer
Let’s consider during the lockdowns, constant washing, cleaning, and being isolated… what has your attitude been?
How about the attitude of the one or more other people you may have and continue to be locked down with – how has their attitude been?
Have you watched certain habits the other person or persons have now that you have been together more this last year than ever before in your life? Did you ever speak with them about these habits or not?
Now if you write down these questions and asked them to write out their answers – then swapped answer sheets – would they agree or disagree with your answers? Wonder how you would feel about their answers.
Our ship left the Port of Valdez, Alaska fully loaded with crude oil.
We were embarking on our voyage around Cape Horn and then up to the US Gulf or another US location. It was going to be a long voyage.
The common nickname for the Radio Officer – back in the day – was Sparks or Sparky. Since their living quarters were topside not far from the Captain or the Bridge they were a constant visitor for coffee on our Bridge watch.
On this long voyage we started to notice a few strange things, call them habits – maybe. First we noticed the coffee mug – your typical off white – heavier than most coffee mugs – his was never being washed or cleaned. You could see the coffee stains even building up around the outer edges of the cup.
Next we began to smell the sweat stained clothes. This was followed by heavy doses of a body not being washed wearing these unwashed clothes. A few days later his head was shaved off all his hair! It wasn’t even close to a neat haircut in fact it was a butcher job. There were at least a dozed wads of toilet paper on the razor cuts in his scalp.
By this time we were not the only ones in the 26 person crew to notice something not healthy was going on.
Here we have the one person in charge of all communication with the outside world and our ship clearly having some type of breakdown or something.
Yes, there is much more to this story. In fact, the rest gets into the area of an R-rated horror film. So we will save it for another day.
The point of this real life story is what habits did Sparky have that began to change to the point where it was so obvious things were not right? As the days went by, what attitudes were displayed by the other crew members as a result of this person and the resulting actions?
What might have been different if people had a different attitude?
As you consider your own lockdown habits and attitudes what might you consider changing? What would be the result if you did? Not the other person – no not them – YOU!
Give it some thought – post in the comments your answers – contact me HERE if you would like to discuss a plan to change your habits and your attitude.
Mitch Tublin is the CEO and Founder of Wenkroy International LLC a boutique consulting company with a main focus on adding value to people. Through Speaking, Training and Coaching lives are changed. My passion is to take people to the next level in their life and in their career or business.
