Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude!

When I got my first promotion, I was the youngest person in the department. I felt like a square peg in a round hole and always felt I had something to prove. My dad always taught us if we wanted something, work hard at it, and so I did.

I was always among the first to get to work and the last to leave

I made sure I learnt everything about my section and made a point to train my staff to be vigilant and do things the way I thought was best. It took a while for my hard work to pay off, but it finally started to.

I was always thinking of ways to improve my section and made every possible effort. I taught by example and, by actually training my staff, my section was the best in the office.

I felt really proud of myself, having been self-taught for most aspects of my job.

Little did I know that whilst being so ambitious, My staff was seeing me as a tyrant, as my focus was first on work and last on people’s feelings.

I really never considered anyone’s feelings. It never even crossed my mind. I was so driven to succeed that all I saw was how to get my work done better, faster and beyond scrutiny.

Never did anyone tell me this to my face

Eventually, I heard people talking about my attitude. They spoke about how I felt like I knew everything and made a point of it.

Never did anyone tell me this to my face. I was so hurt and annoyed. How dare they say negative things about me? What was I doing except ensuring that my section performed at optimum?

I spoke to one of my managers and, although she didn’t say it out loud, I gathered that others had become very intimated by me and didn’t appreciate my attitude.

Simultaneously, I was doing some studies in human resources and eventually I understood that people are just as important as the work.

Slowly, and with God’s help, I started to be more human in my approach to the job. And I know that change happened, for which I’m glad (you see my dad didn’t teach me this part)!

I really did have to change my attitude, because it was keeping me back not just from promotions, but from becoming a good leader and a good example for Christ.

God takes interest in all areas of your life

I’m so glad God takes interest in all areas of your life, it reminds me of one of my favorite passages of scripture:

Proverbs 3: 5-6 – “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain our paths.”

You may not get it right the first time. But, as long as you keep trusting in the Lord and putting Him first, no matter what area of your life may be in need of an intervention, God will get to you! He will make your path straight and plain.

Keep trusting Him today to make every area of your life a testimony of His amazing love and grace toward us.