Choosing Your Attitude: How Mindset Powers Success in Work and Life
Debra Searle, speaking to Team Sleek at the annual offsite in 2025
At the annual off-site, Team Sleek were lucky enough to hear Debra Searle MVO, MBE, speak about the power of choosing your attitude – and how a positive mindset can transform both your work and your life.
Debra is a professional adventurer and serial entrepreneur whose expeditions have taken her across the Atlantic, around Antarctica, up to the Arctic Circle and everywhere in between. She has launched five companies, published a book, presented over 40 programmes for the BBC and is a trusted corporate speaker. The film of her story – rowing solo across the Atlantic after her husband was rescued – is currently in development in Hollywood.
Sleek’s Founder, Jennifer Davidson, first heard Debra speak in 2013. The talk left a lasting impact, shaping both her outlook on life and the way she leads Sleek today. Here are a few of our key takeaways from Debra’s inspiring session.
WHY ATTITUDE MATTERS
Your attitude is one of the few things you have complete control over. You cannot always control circumstances, outcomes, or other people’s behaviour, but you can control how you choose to respond. A positive, proactive mindset can help you navigate challenges, keep relationships healthy, and see opportunities where others might see roadblocks.
The Debra Searle Story
Inspirational speaker and adventurer Debra Searle has lived this lesson first-hand. During her famous solo Atlantic rowing expedition, when she chose to go on alone after her husband and teammate was rescued, she faced immense physical and emotional hardship. Every day, she made a conscious choice about her attitude. She would ask herself: 'Do I want to feel miserable, or do I want to feel motivated?' Choosing motivation helped her push forward, even in isolation and uncertainty.
When the plan changes and you need to be decisive, envision the possibilities and the potential outcomes, so you are mentally prepared to respond well, rather than dwelling on the negatives. This helped Debra as she prepared for Andrew to leave the boat and gave her a sense of control.
The Power of Positivity
Research shows that a positive mindset isn’t just good for your mood - it delivers measurable results. People who actively choose their attitude experience impressive benefits across performance, wellbeing and even longevity. And the statistics speak for themselves:
31% greater sales
Up to 10 x more engaged
3 x more creative
31% more productive
40% more likely to receive promotion
23% fewer fatigue symptoms
39% more likely to live until age 94
Practical Ways to Choose Your Attitude
Choosing your attitude is about small, daily decisions as much as big, life-changing moments. Here are some ways you can apply it:
Start the day intentionally – set an attitude goal in the morning and decide how you want to show up.
Control your inputs – surround yourself with positive people and content that lifts you up.
Reframe setbacks – see problems as learning opportunities instead of personal failures.
Express gratitude – focus on what’s going well rather than dwelling on what isn’t.
Move your body – It boost your endorphins and energy, helping you feel more positive and focused.
Pause before reacting – a short pause gives you space to respond rather than react emotionally.
APPLYING THIS IN BUSINESS
In a business setting, your chosen attitude can set the tone for your whole team. Leaders who show resilience and optimism inspire others to do the same. Here’s how to bring it into work:
During crises - focus on solutions, not blame.
With clients - approach challenges with a ‘how can we make this work?’ mindset.
In team culture - encourage and recognise positive attitudes as much as good performance.
When innovating - keep an open mind to new ideas rather than defaulting to ‘this won’t work.’
WHAT ARE YOUR SMALL WINS?
There are simple ways to train our brains to focus on successes and shift both our own mindset and those of our colleagues. For example, start meetings by asking everyone to share a small win instead of defaulting to the usual chat about the weather or needing another coffee. These wins can be personal or professional, and once this becomes a habit, you’ll find yourself noticing more of them throughout the day - much like keeping a gratitude journal.
THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT
Like compound interest, small attitude choices add up over time. Each positive choice strengthens your resilience and shapes your professional reputation. Over months and years, this can influence career opportunities, workplace culture, and even your personal happiness.
FINAL THOUGHT
You may not control every situation you face, but you do control how you meet it. Choosing your attitude isn’t about ignoring challenges - it’s about giving yourself the best chance to overcome them with clarity, focus, and energy. But like anything, practice and consistency trains your brain to find the positives, until your small wins drive you into a new way of living.
Debra Searle (Left) and Jennifer Davidson (right)
To find out more about Debra Searle MVO, MBE, visit her website www.debrasearle.com or follow her on Instagram or LinkedIn.