The A-Player Mindset: Why Attitude is the Ultimate Multiplier at Agility

Every high-performing company is built on the shoulders of its top performers. At Agility, we refer to these individuals as A-Players. They are the ones who consistently elevate our work, inspire their peers, and drive exceptional results for clients. They embody the mix of intelligence, grit, skill, and heart that makes our business thrive.

We have built a simple framework that defines what an A-Player looks like here at Agility:

• IQ (Intelligence Quotient): Technical Sales Acumen

• EQ (Emotional Quotient): Relationship Building and Client Chemistry

• AQ (Adversity Quotient): Adversity Intelligence, or Grit - Shout out to Ben Ewell for trademarking this!

• Performance: Revenue Generation and Deal Execution

• Attitude: Ownership and Positive Impact

• Communication: Clear, Compelling, and Credible

Obviously, all six matter, but I was recently asked to present on the Attitude component of this framework. As I have worked in this industry and with talented people across teams, I am more convinced that attitude is a major multiplier. This is the piece that can take talent and turn it into impact. It’s the difference between being good at your job and being great for your company.

Attitude: Ownership and Positive Impact

At Agility, A-Players approach every interaction with enthusiasm and professionalism. They take complete ownership of their work and look for solutions rather than excuses. When challenges arise, they don’t point fingers or blame external factors. Instead, they remain optimistic, focused, and determined to find a way forward.

Attitude is what carries us through downturns in the market. It’s what allows us to celebrate team wins even when the environment is challenging. It’s what fuels the curiosity to ask for feedback and the humility to embrace coaching. And perhaps most importantly, it is the spark that elevates every meeting, client call, and project.

Attitude is not about blind optimism or fake positivity. It’s about genuine ownership and the choice to see challenges as opportunities. It’s about bringing an energy that motivates not only yourself, but also everyone else around you.

What Attitude Is Not

Sometimes the best way to understand a value is first to see what it is not. Here are a few things attitude does not look like at Agility:

• It is not starting from a place of “why this won’t work.” Instead, it is asking “how can I make this work?” Yes, we must identify risks and problems, but that should never be our first or only thought.

• It is not the statement of the “that’s not my job” mindset. It is leaning in and asking, “How can I help?”

• It is not focusing only on what is going wrong. It is about adapting quickly and finding ways forward.

• It is not pretending or faking motivation. It is doing the harder work of finding your “why” and connecting that purpose to your daily actions.

• It is not dwelling on bad examples. In every career, you fill two buckets. One bucket is full of best practices that you adopt and carry with you forever. The other is full of things you will avoid at all costs. A-Players choose to fill the first bucket quickly and empty the second just as fast.

There is a famous Zig Ziglar quote that captures this well: “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” 

That is attitude in action.

Finding Your Why

When I had new folks start at companies I worked at, I would ask them to work on two things. First, write down their “whys.” Why do you come to work every day? (Personally, Professionally, and a larger future vision for yourself)  Why do you wake up and pursue your goals? What is your purpose?

Second, make a list of six positive things this job provides for your life and your family.

I share this because I had to do this work myself. At my first job in tech, after 5 years working for a non-profit, I finally had the chance to step back and define what the role gave me. Here was my list:

1. I no longer had to work three jobs. I could just work one.

2. I could provide for my wife so she could stay home and focus on her health after a chronic illness diagnosis.

3. I could use my strengths to help grow a business and be paid fairly for it.

4. I could learn from amazing people in a growing company.

5. I had real career opportunities and growth in front of me for the first time.

6. And yes, I got to enjoy the gym, discounted gear, fun social connections, food, snacks, and coffee that made the work environment enjoyable.

That exercise shaped my outlook. It reminded me that no matter the stress of a project or the frustration of a tough day, my job provided incredible value to me and my family. It anchored me in gratitude and ownership.

This is what I encouraged everyone at Agility to do. Find your why. Write down what this role provides for you. Keep it close and revisit it when the inevitable challenges show up.

Buckets of Experience

Earlier, I mentioned the two buckets: the bucket of best practices and the bucket of bad examples. This framework has guided me for years. Every job, every leader, every client interaction fills one of those buckets.

The key is not letting the wrong bucket weigh you down. We have all had managers, processes, or cultures that we knew we never wanted to repeat. Those are valuable lessons, but only if you quickly empty the bucket and move on. Carrying frustration or resentment slows growth.

On the other hand, the best practices bucket should always be filling up. These are the frameworks you adopt, the habits you repeat, and the behaviors you emulate. This is where attitude matters most. A-Players fill the right bucket on purpose. They are intentional about learning and moving forward.

Why Attitude Matters Most at Agility

Agility is a company that is growing and reaching a pivotal moment in time for our customers, partners, investors, and employees. That means we face uncertainty, change, and challenges every day. The people who thrive here are not just those with the highest technical acumen or the most profound industry knowledge. They are the ones who bring energy, optimism, and ownership into every room they walk into.

Attitude multiplies everything else. It makes IQ more valuable because it translates expertise into inspiration. It makes EQ stronger because relationships thrive on positive energy. It makes AQ more resilient because optimism helps people bounce back faster. And it makes performance sustainable because ownership motivates people to drive toward results.

Attitude is contagious. When one person brings it, the entire team is lifted. Clients feel it. Leadership sees it. And the culture of Agility becomes stronger.

Choose Your Attitude

IQ, EQ, AQ, Performance, and Communication are all critical. Here is my challenge to everyone reading this: take ownership of your attitude. Ask yourself, “What is my why?” Write it down. Make your list of six positives. And then ask, “Which bucket am I filling today?”

The more we fill our best practices bucket and lead with ownership and positivity, the more we elevate our own careers and the entire company. At Agility, that is what makes us A-Players.

Attitude in Action

We’re committed to being A-Players at Agility. That commitment not only drives Agility’s growth but also creates exceptional results for Agility clients. If you want to see what brand advertising in partnership with true A-Players looks like, contact Agility today and get started on a precision brand advertising campaign.