A Can-Do Attitude
A Can-Do Attitude
One of the greatest things you could do for yourself, your family and your boss, is to develop a CAN-DO Attitude.
A CAN-DO attitude is born of a belief that: Whatever needs to be done, can be done; and will be done.
A CAN-DO attitude can be contrasted to an attitude of self doubt or cynicism or pessimism
These three negative NO-CAN-DO attitudes are characterised as follows:
- The person who suffers from self-doubt believes that, "It could be done, but not by me".
- The person who suffers from cynicism believes that, "It could be done, but why bother?"
- The person who suffers from pessimism believes that, "It cannot be done."
On the other hand: The person who has developed a CAN-DO attitude has a tendency to believe that: Whatever my mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.
How to develop a CAN-DO attitude
Remember that any task is made up of its component parts. And its component parts can be further classified into two distinct sets.
- The CAN-DO portion of the job.
- The NO-CAN-DO portion of the job.
Let us examine the NO-CAN-DO attitude.
Whenever a task comes up, many people's minds jump, immediately, onto the NO-CAN-DO portion of the job.
Meaning: Their minds start to generate long lists of all the reasons:
- Why it can't be done.
- Why it shouldn't be done.
- Why we should not risk changing what we already have now, and
- How costly it would be to change.
Most people do focus too much on the NO-CAN-DO portion of the job. And if you focus on that, too much, then your mental brakes are applied and all forward momentum screeches to a halt.
On the other hand: A smaller number of people, on hearing the news of the same task, have their minds jump, immediately, onto the CAN-DO portion of the job.
Meaning: Their minds start to generate long lists of:
- How it could be done.
- How it could be funded.
- How it could be organised.
- How the benefits of the goals achievement would serve as a platform for an even greater achievement further in the future.
Some people do tend to focus on the CAN-DO portion of the job. And if you do focus on that portion, then your mental muscles are strongly stimulated and your forward progress is proportionate.
And here is a most interesting fact
Whenever you concentrate on the CAN-DO portion of the job, you will make some progress. And as you make your first bits of progress, then new, fresh factors, additional resources, that were initially invisible to you, come now into view:
New assets, new tools and new people will come to your aid. These additional factors could never have been predicted by you, nor could you have known of their existence from your original starting position.
Therefore, you must not wait until all the problems have gone, before you take positive action.
Don't wait until 'all the conditions are right', before you move. Instead, move first with what resources and information you do have in your possession and, lo, more and better tools will be made available.
It is as if invisible forces are working to help you.
There aren't really any invisible forces; it just feels like it.
The point is this: Make progress from where you are. Only as you make progress, does further progress become possible.
You always have a choice of two options
When you are faced with any challenge, you have a choice of two options:
- You can focus on the NO CAN DO portion of the job.
- Or you can focus on the CAN-DO portion of the job.
We recommend that you focus on the CAN-DO portion.
Make progress from where you are.
As you make progress, further progress becomes possible.
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Definition: Can-Do Attitude
In personal development, a can-do attitude is a state of mind with four must-have traits: it fixes on what can be done, not what is wrong; it keeps strong self belief; it acts at once with the tools at hand; and it treats each gain as proof that more progress is within reach. Lose any trait and doubt takes over.
Show CG4D Definition
- Fixes on what can be done and the goal, not on blocks
- Keeps strong self belief in success
- Acts at once with tools that are at hand
- Turns every gain into drive for more progress
Article Summary
When you fix your mind on what can be done, not what cannot, you spark progress. A can-do attitude turns doubt into ideas, draws in new help and keeps you moving. Start with small steps and each gain reveals fresh tools for the next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that frequently get asked about this topic during our training sessions.
What is a can-do attitude in simple terms?
How does a can-do mindset differ from self-doubt or pessimism?
What steps help me shift from no-can-do to can-do thinking?
Why focus on solutions rather than problems?
Does starting small really uncover new resources?
How can I keep a can-do attitude at work on big projects?
What benefits does a can-do approach bring to family and team life?
Thought of something that's not been answered? Ask Us Today!
Did You Know: Key Statistics
Gallup’s 2024 State of the Global Workplace study found that teams with high engagement are 18% more productive and 23% more profitable than low-engagement teams. LinkedIn’s 2025 Workplace Learning Survey reports that 64% of UK employers list ‘resilience and a positive attitude’ as their top soft-skill need, up from 51% in 2023.About the Author: Chris Farmer
Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.
Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.
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