Welcome to Effort and Attitude.org

What has happened to honoring effort and attitude?

Our society has become so "results" oriented, we are undervaluing "Effort" and today the word "Attitude" is more associated with "bad" than "good".

Sure, in life we are going to be judged largely by results whether in school, a job, or in the sports world. But "outcomes" are seldom within our control and measuring achievement strictly by "results" distorts values and often sends the wrong message. It can encourage cheating and cutting corners. If all a parent talks about with a child is making the honor role instead of doing his or her best, for instance, the child's goal becomes getting a particular grade rather than learning.

I'm a big believer in Arnold Patent's universal principle that "What you focus on expands" and that's where the "attitude" part comes in.

We can't control many of the bad things that happen in the world or in our own lives. What we can control is how we respond. We all face problems, some more daunting than others. But do we decide to look at the glass as half-full or half-empty? Spending time lamenting problems and blaming others serves no useful purpose. How can we get a "positive" outcome from "negative" thinking?

The power in changing our lives for the better is in staying positive in our thoughts and goals and concentrating our daily efforts on areas we CAN control. WE determine our own standards when it comes to personal accountability and the way we conduct ourselves as human beings. WE are in charge of our belief system of right and wrong, our sense of fairness and our ethical conduct.

It all starts with the effort we put into everything we do and the attitude we bring to facing life's challenges.

One of the lessons my wife and I are trying to pass along to our three sons is the importance of leading a responsible life. That personal integrity matters. That helping others is part of our mission in life. That part of our reason for BEING is for a greater good. We need to reinforce the notion that such beliefs are important.

This website is about honoring "Effort" and "Attitude", two vital ingredients to reaching goals and achieving excellence and personal happiness --- two areas that, we alone, control.

This website brings you stories that revolve around these beliefs including interviews with athletes, coaches and national figures on the values of sportsmanship, fair play, ethical conduct, effort and attitude.

I hope you enjoy it and will offer your own thoughts and ideas.

You can reach me at effortandattitude@gmail.com

The latest content is now at my blog site: SportsmanshipAndEthics.org

I'm also now on Twitter search " CWilsononsports "

Chuck Wilson

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Chuck Wilson is an international award-winning interviewer, reporter and sports talk show host who has spent more than half his career on national radio, including 14-years at ESPN. Sportsmanship, ethics and fair play have been core principles of Chuck Wilson's more than 33-years in sports talk radio. In 2007, Wilson was named one of the "100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America" by the Institute for International Sport. In December, 2009, Sports Illustrated named Wilson runner-up for "Best National Radio Host" of the decade.