Milton Berle said, "I'd rather be a could-be if I cannot be an are; because a could-be is a maybe who is reaching for a star. I'd rather be a has-been than a might-have-been, by far; for a might-have-been has never been, but a has-been was once an are."

What a profound statement that embodies attitude, choice, and a journey towards success. The old clich"? "attitude is everything" is true with regard to our choices and our success.

So, what is the meaning of "success' Is it happiness? Prosperity? Balance in life? Overcoming Obstacles? What makes a successful person? What is it that they do that translates their efforts into "success'

The meaning of success is clearly different for different people. For some, the definition of success may mean overcoming a specific hurdle in their life. For others, it may mean reaching a particular goal they have set. Even though the definition of success will vary, successful people do leave clues that can help those of us who are trying to find our own "success". Jeff Keller (Attitude is Everything) says that success is a matter of having a positive attitude and applying motivational principles on a daily basis.

I've always been a big believer in having a positive attitude. I'm certain that my children grew tired of hearing the quotes such as, "Happiness is a state of mind." And, "Happiness is a decision you make. It is a choice, something to be practiced." This may seem very idealistic and perhaps, Pollyannaish and na"?ve. Maybe so, but there is a lot of truth to it.

Of course, I realize that there are some people who are annoyed by this type of mindset. Hern Albright once said, "A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort." That's a little bit of fun, right?

So, Success Habit #1: Make up your mind to be happy! After all, "Happiness is a decision you make. It is a choice, something to be practiced."