PlusOne - Musings of a marketer

I thought I would post a short presentation I did a couple of years back on motivation. I think it is apt for many today who are business owners facing the many hurdles, and also for internet business start-ups, where the initial surge of enthusiasm can wane, and the isolation of working online means often there is not a workplace social structure to bounce ideas off.

The human brain is one of the strongest and most powerful tools we have available to us, as long as we know how to use it correctly.

Motivation is an energy source we have that drives us towards our goal or ‘dream’. Therefore in order to have motivation, we must have a clear goal to work towards. This does not mean we need only have one goal. We can have as many as we want.

For many of us, however, the problem is converting the dream into reality. How this is done is the point of this brief presentation.

We all operate under a reality. This reality is that which is around us every day. It is the normal stimulus that our brains receive that keeps us operating within the boundaries set by our observable reality. As a result, our lives are constrained by what our brains are told is normal, natural or automatic. Another term for this is habit.

A dream or goal for most of us is not normal or automatic. In order to make the dream become part of the norm, so that our minds see it as being normal and so will not reject it as being abnormal, we have to convince our mind that even though we are not yet doing it physically, the brain accepts it as though we are.

Because the way we are and the way we do things is our current norm, or our current habit, this is why change is so hard - habits are hard to break. The brain takes the path of least resistance and repeats what it knows as it takes more willpower to do something that is different.

Think of life like being a boat on auto-pilot. It is heading North, but you take the wheel and steer the boat East. It will go East as long as you hold the wheel. This is hard as the boat is programmed to go back to North, as it will as soon as you let go of the wheel. What we need to do is reprogram the boat to go to the East.

So we need to make the dream or the goal like an existing habit, in which case it will be easy. If the goal is big, or complex, then we need to make a number of smaller goals, and reach the big goal by taking steps.

How we do this is to create an image of the desired reality in our brain so strong, so normal, that our minds will see this as the new habit and it will become a path of least resistance. Another way of saying this is to use Constructive motivation and Imagery to paint a picture of yourself into the new.

The secret is that all meaningful and lasting change starts on the inside and works out. It is not imposed from the outside. This means we cannot make changes that are lasting just by changing the environment around us. We need to change from within and this will then mean we express this through changes in the world around us.

Part of imagery is to make sure it is experiential - that is make sure that you can see yourself doing it, not someone else. Its no use saying that you can see someone else jumping out of a plane with a parachute at 30,000ft if you cannot see yourself doing it. Therefore you must absorb into your mind an image of yourself doing something that is achievable by you.

So how do we help our brain to make the change? Through written affirmations. An affirmation is just another word for declaration. By writing it down, however, it means we can make it into a present tense, positive form that makes our brain think the goal is a reality. Why do we do this? Because the brain is most easily tricked by believing in the now, the only time frame which exists for it.

Also, by writing out our affirmations, we are moving them into an external reality and makes them tangible - it gives them a precision which cannot exist if they are kept within our mind.

However writing them down is only part of the process. The mind needs to be convinced that this new think is in fact real, and this only comes about through reinforcement and repetition.

So what we must do is say these affirmation daily – twice a day is best for the first week, then once a day as we see our lives are moving towards the reality. Remember, this is a game we are playing with our mind. We are retraining it to WANT to be like the affirmation, so things will happen that way.

After a while, maybe weeks or months, you will see changes in your life. You will be doing these things that you have been visualising and convincing your mind about.

Then it is time to step up to the next level of affirmations – on your way to achieving the bigger goals.

Ways to use your affirmations
You can have one affirmation or ten or more. The idea is to ensure that you say and mentally ‘see’ yourself doing it every day. Ways this can be achieved are:
PostIt notes around the house (on the mirror where you clean you teeth)
In your diary
On a tape or MP3 etc for listening to in the car, while jogging etc– (and repeating out loud)
In Outlook – put it as a daily recurring reminder!

KEYS FOR AFFIRMATIONS

1. BE PERSONAL – it has to be about you
2. BE POSITIVE – “I AM a…”
3. PRESENT TENSE “I enjoy doing…every day”
4. INDICATE ACHIEVEMENT “..so that I get…done”
5. NO COMPARISONS – it is you and your goals, not being like someone else.
6. ACTION WORDS – this tricks the mind into thinking you are actually doing it!
7. EMOTIONAL WORDS – proud, happy, satisfied
8. ACCURACY – be specific – not general
9. BALANCE – not too much expectation, small steps
10. REALISM – have a clear mental picture – it must appear real!
11. CONFIDENTIAL – this is only for you to see!

Sample affirmations:

• I am fit and enjoy swimming every day.
• When I breathe slowly I am easily able to relax
• I think before I act, and I choose wisely
• I feel strong when I resist smoking
• I have real personal confidence, and a very positive self-image
• At mealtimes I eat less and feel no hunger till the next meal
• I enjoy my work and come home satisfied
• I am an equal to all others. I have what it takes.
• I welcome and overcome all challenges by work presents me

If you have experience using affirmations, or would like to share some of your affirmations, they are welcome via comments