Is the news good or bad? The answer is it all depends. The "depends" means it depends on how you handle the bad news. For example, Arturo Toscanini was so nearsighted that while playing the cello, he couldn't see the music on the stand in front of him, so he had to memorize the music. One day, the orchestra leader became ill, and Toscanini was the only member of the orchestra who knew the entire score. He was called upon to conduct the program, and his performance was flawless. The audience became aware of what was happening and responded enthusiastically to what the young Toscanini had done. Later, many other chances to conduct orchestras followed, and Toscanini was on his way to establishing a worldwide reputation.

Many people consider Toscanini to be one of the greatest conductors of all time. He had remarkable musical and leadership skills. Example: When one of the featured artists was approaching a particularly difficult portion of the score, Toscanini would communicate through his eyes, body language and will that he knew that musician was going to do magnificently well. Performer after performer said they felt that sense of confidence and a rise in their own feelings when Toscanini brought the force of his personality to bear on them. This way, Toscanini helped his people to avoid mistakes and to perform the more difficult scores with great skill and technique.

Point: One of a leader's major opportunities and responsibilities is to anticipate difficulties and prevent problems with positive guidance.

Question: How good would Toscanini have been had he not been nearsighted? The message is clear: Take whatever happens to you, develop what you have left to the fullest, and I'll see you at the top!

The Attitude of Gratitude

This morning, as I was preparing to dress, I walked into the closet and chose among several pairs of slacks the pair I was going to wear. Then I did the same thing concerning a shirt and socks to match. As I was making my selections, my memory bank took me back to my childhood in Yazoo City, Miss. In those days, the Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog was the mainstay for many rural areas and small towns. I distinctly remember ordering a pair of slacks and, a few weeks later, ordering a sports coat. Much to my delight, the coat and slacks were a perfect match. In my mind, I had just gotten a big bonus because now I not only had a pair of slacks I could wear with other jackets and a coat I could wear with other slacks but also a suit in the bargain!

As I reflected on all of this, I chastised myself slightly for not expressing gratitude more often for all the things that have happened to me since childhood. With this in mind, I encourage you to develop a daily gratitude list. Try it for just a week, and see what happens. When you awaken in the morning, express gratitude for the fact that you did awaken and that you are in a house so you are not homeless. If you're in a bed, express gratitude for that. If the weather is cold or hot, express gratitude for a temperature-controlled room. Express gratitude for the clothes and shoes you will don soon and the breakfast you will eat.

Go down the list; you'll be amazed at how much better your day will start, and as is generally true, if the day starts right, it's got a good chance of going well all day. On your way home, why not express gratitude for the job you just completed? Develop that attitude of gratitude, and I'll see you at the top!

To find out more about Zig Ziglar and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. Subscribe to Zig Ziglar's free e-mail newsletter through [email protected].