'Attitude is everything'-do your words or actions define you? Published May 13, 2011 By Chief Master Sgt. Kari Sumner 349th Maintenance Squadron TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- We live in a world of catch phrases, sayings and quotes. Some even use those quotes, sayings or catch phrases as a mantra to define themselves. Let's look at some and see if we can figure out what those people are really saying. "It is what it is." Five words, yet when combined, can be very powerful. Is it really what it is? Have you decided to settle and accept things for what they are, or are you willing to take the risk, step outside of your comfort zone and look for a better, safer and more efficient way to meet your goals? We all use different thought processes to solve an equation; don't be afraid to pool the collective knowledge across generations of experience and expertise to meet the needs of your goal or the mission. "Attitude is everything." Add in a pinch of negativity and you're well on your way to your team falling apart. Ultimately, no matter what your career specialty, we all have a mission to accomplish. Arrive at work optimistic, ready to take on challenges. Pull from the strength of your teammates. Life can be challenging, frustrating, rewarding all at the same time. Trust me, I used to be the consummate pessimist, a glass half-empty kind of gal, but over the years I have come to look at things from different perspective. Think about your leaders. Who would you like to emulate? Are you drawn to the one that tackles problems head-on with a bit of a smile on his or her face, or the one that complains about every little task or requirement, computer-based training, the weather, the economy or everything. I think most will admit they are drawn to positive energy. "If you always do what you always did; you'll always get what you always got." This has got to be my favorite phrase. My path to chief master sergeant took me through three different career specialties. Along the way, I had great mentors who encouraged me to do more than the minimum. However, every step down that path was my choice. I chose to continue my education and get my Community College of the Air Force degree. I chose to complete all available levels of professional military education, including Senior Enlisted Joint PME. I chose to involve myself in wing, group and squadron projects, not because I felt it would help me meet a goal of making chief, but because it would allow me to be ready if the opportunity to reach that pinnacle came along. You can use this same phrase in correlation to fitness; "If you always do what you always did," i.e., sit on the couch eating a ton of junk, then "you'll always get what you always got," i.e., a greater chance of failing your physical training test, developing a moderate to severe medical condition, or worse. Always strive to be better and be ready. You never know when it's your turn. So which one are you?