‘12 Optimist Secrets for Success’

by Past Governor Red Leighton

ü      Attitude is something you think about all day.  Being positive goes a long way to determine what kind of day it will be.  If you are pleasant and greet people with a hand shake and smile, it is amazing how well the day will progress.  When a person shows a positive attitude, somehow it is contagious and it is passed on to others.  Attitude is more important than aptitude.  There is very little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference.  The little difference is attitude.  The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.  People can alter their lives by altering their attitudes.  Opportunities are always ahead, but many times we are blinded by our own negative thoughts.

ü      Motivation is an incentive for an individual to accomplish a goal, such as bringing in a new member to join your Optimist Club.  When inviting a potential member, you can offer to pay for their first meal.  Upon joining the club, the cost of the meal will be refunded to the person who brings in the new member.  Desire is the key to motivation, but it is the determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal.  A commitment to excellence that will enable you to attain the success you seek.  Success on any major scale requires you accept responsibility…In the final analysis, the one quality that all successful people have…is the ability to take responsibility.  To motivate others you must communicate.  You can communicate by your thoughts on paper but you also must be in the people communication business as well.  Don’t take things for granted, presume too much, particularly with new people and thus mistakes are made.  Be sure to explain your projects.  Help people set goals for themselves.  Where they expect to be two years from now, five years from now, ten years from now and then try to help them achieve it.

ü      Desire: Once a person joins your club, they should realize the importance of participation in club activities.  Our main purpose is to help with the youth in your community.  Each member will soon have the desire to bring in new members and help 30 – 35 youth build their self-esteem.  Involvement in your community – Junior Optimist Club.  If you help enough other individuals succeed, you can’t help but succeed yourself.  The starting point of all achievement is desire.  Keep this constantly in mind.  Weak desires bring weak results, just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat.  No one ever attains very eminent success by simply doing what is required of him:  It is the amount and excellence of what is over and above the required that determines the greatest ultimate distinction.  Surrender to desire and gain energy, enthusiasm, mental zip and even better health.

~Nothing stops the man who desires to achieve.  Every obstacle is simply a course to develop his achievement muscle.  It’s a strengthening of his powers of accomplishment. ~ Eric Butterworth

ü      Enthusiasm: When you are enthused about your clubs activities and what your club has accomplished in the area where you live, a potential member will be excited about joining your club.  This is a great opportunity to show a potential member a brochure of your club’s activities.  A web site is advisable.  Use the Optimist Creed in Christmas letters.  Be proud of the Optimist Creed, carry it with you.  Fires can’t be made with dead embers, nor can enthusiasm be stirred by spiritless men.  Enthusiasm in our daily work lightens effort and turns even labor into pleasant tasks.  Today I will smile sincerely at all those with whom I come in contact.  Enthusiasm is a mental sunshine that keeps everything in us alive and growing.  Enthusiasm is a propelling force necessary for climbing the ladder of success.  Life is an echo, what you send out comes back.  What you sow, you reap.  What you give, you get.  What you see in others exists in you.

ü      Goals: Every club needs to set goals each year as to what they intend to accomplish.  By doing this, you will have to know how much money your club will have to raise to support your youth programs.  Goals can only be met with the cooperation of every board member, committee chairman and individual members working together.  Choosing a goal and sticking to it changes everything.  A new member can gain leadership experience.  Corporations love to see employees involved.  A winner is someone who sets his or her goals, commits themselves to those goals and then pursues his or her goals with the ability given them.  Work as a Team.  Don’t worry about getting credit as long as you’re helping your company.  The rewards will come.  Just have faith that you are presenting sound realistic ideas that will help your customers.  Above all, have faith in God and prayer.  It will help you over the rough spots of life.  I’m fortunate to be here.  Keep trying.  It’s only from the valley that the mountains seem too high. 

~Some men give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal; while others on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than ever before.~  Herodotus

~Man was created as a being who should constantly keep improving, a being who on reaching one goal sets a higher one. ~ Ralph Ransom

ü      Faith: We must use our God given gift of choice to choose happiness over sadness, optimism over pessimism, and victory over defeat.  I sincerely believe that if every family would the time for daily devotions and prayer, we could eliminate many problems we have in this country.  God writes opportunity on one side of the door, and on the other side of the door, He writes responsibility.  Today will use my abilities as God would have me use them.  To have faith is to believe the task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us.  God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into the nest.  Whatever happens, do not lose hold on the two main ropes of life—‘Hope and Faith.’

ü      Persistency: When you have a good prospective member in mind and you ask that person to join your club, the answer might be negative.  Don’t give up.  I can assure you, persistency can pay off.  It may take a week, a month or even a year.  In one instance, it took about 6 years before a good friend of mine joined our club.  It is a good idea to explain all the youth activities that your club serves.

  Wear a Just Ask Pin. The price of success is perseverance.  The price of failure comes cheaper.  Energy and perseverance can fit a man for almost any kind of position.  Today I will combine persistence with honesty and I will succeed.  There are four steps to accomplishment.

1.       Plan purposefully

2.       Prepare prayerfully

3.       Proceed positively

4.       Pursue persistently

ü      Consistency: Be consistent in your presentation and explaining the values provided by your Optimist Club.  Make sure you show the potential member our Optimist Creed.  Optimism is the determination to see more in something than one can believe.  You can not climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pocket.  Today I will begin to develop the habit of action by choosing to be a doer.  The doors of opportunity are marked ‘push and pull.’  If you consistently do your best, the worst won’t happen.  Consistency builds dependability.

ü      Honesty should not be a problem with any optimist.  Our parents taught us to always tell the truth and we carry this on through life.  When working with the youth, we can empathize the value of honesty.  The best preparation for tomorrow is to do today’s work superbly well.  Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of a creative effort.  Today I will remember that if I respond courageously in the face of adversity, my opportunities will be multiplied.  It is true that he, who does nothing for others, does nothing for himself.

ü      Sincerity is the ability to express ourselves in a way to make sure a prospective member understands the clubs values as well as their responsibility to the club.  Help others develop leadership.  Use an Interest Indicator.   I will eliminate distractions and place my tasks in order of importance or priority and I will work, work, and work!  What I do today is important because I am paying a day of my life for it.  What I do must be worthwhile because the price is high. 

·        Choose the way of life.

·        Choose the way of love.

·        Choose the way of caring.

·        Choose the way of goodness.

It’s up to you.  It’s your choice.

ü      Trustworthiness: When presenting our clubs values in the areas we serve, it is imperative that we promote honesty, sincerity and trustworthiness.  Our youth like to participate with men and women who will help them to succeed.  The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.  The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.

ü      Good Communication: All Optimist Clubs need to communicate with the Board of Directors, Committee Chairman and the leaders to make sure all members understand what is taking place in their club.  When this takes place, the club’s activities will progress smoothly.  Help others develop organizational values.  Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important.  Today, I will be more aware than ever of my language and the impact it has on those around me.  Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others can not keep it from themselves.  The most destitute person in the world, is the one without a smile.  Good communication is a must.  Not only when dealing with customers, but employees and family.  Learn to be a good listener.  Again, I say…Listen.

Another important trait to remember is, “Do Not Procrastinate!”