| "Mindstorming" | | | | away from you, which is depressing enough on its |
| Fully 95% of your emotions are determined by the | | | | own. When you turn the problem into a question |
| way in which you talk to yourself or what is often | | | | focused on "How" (solution-oriented) rather than |
| called your inner-dialogue. How you talk to yourself | | | | "Why" (excuse-oriented) you immediately start to |
| will account for most of what you do or don't | | | | feel more positive. Don't you? You become energized |
| accomplish in life and how you're liked and perceived | | | | and you begin to get creative. |
| by others. Since I'm assuming that by reading this | | | | 3) List the Question at the Top of a Blank Page |
| newsletter you're a person who strives to be his or | | | | Simply writing out the question is powerful in and of |
| her best, it is of the highest importance that you | | | | itself. You begin to retake control over your life and |
| seek to understand how you can utilize this | | | | what's happening to you. As the saying goes, "When |
| inner-speech to your advantage. | | | | you're feeling listless, make a list!" |
| Most of us tend to spend our days focusing on what | | | | 4) Produce Twenty Answers to Your Question |
| we don't want. We experience inevitable problems | | | | Come up with twenty answers or possible solutions |
| and/or setbacks and become emotional. We tend to | | | | to your question. Keep in mind that the first five or |
| get frustrated, angry and discouraged. Sound like | | | | ten will most likely only take you a few minutes. The |
| anyone you know? | | | | next ten or fifteen will be difficult and probably take |
| We must keep in mind, however, it's not really what | | | | you twice as long. The last five answers should take |
| happens to you that's important, but how you react | | | | a long time, often taking you much longer to do than |
| to what happens to you. Most of us react to a | | | | all the other fifteen combined. But it's here where |
| temporary defeat by using our self-talk to ask | | | | you'll often get your best, most inspiring and creative |
| ourselves negative questions. | | | | answers. |
| And when we ask ourselves negative questions, | | | | A good analogy is weight training or exercising in the |
| what type of responses should we expect? Negative | | | | gym. When do you get the most benefit from doing |
| ones of course! | | | | an exercise with weights or on the cardiovascular |
| Many of us for instance in the profession of sales | | | | equipment? Is it in the first few reps or minutes of |
| might ask ourselves, "Why can't I get better leads?" | | | | your routine? The middle? Or in the last few reps or |
| When this question is proposed to our subconscious | | | | minutes in your routine? It's in those last few reps or |
| mind, how is it likely to react? It's likely to give us an | | | | minutes when you don't even know if you can finish, |
| answer like, "I don't get better leads because my | | | | but you stress and strain and get it done. Isn't it? |
| company doesn't spend enough on quality leads or | | | | Studies have shown that your mind "muscles" grow |
| my manager gives all the good leads to the | | | | in the much the fashion...the stress and strain tears |
| experienced salespeople who don't even need them." | | | | down the current tissue and then rebuilds itself bigger |
| When you're getting negative answers like these, | | | | and better. |
| how might that affect your attitude? Are you likely | | | | And once you've got the twenty answers, you can |
| going to be energized and excited or down and | | | | take some of those answers and mindstorm them as |
| depressed? | | | | well. For instance, if one of your answers to the |
| I want to share a technique that has transformed | | | | quota question was..."I can manage my time better." |
| the way I look at any problem I encounter and I | | | | You now take this new challenge and list it at the |
| believe it will for you as well. Its' called the | | | | top of another page as..."How can I manage my time |
| Mindstorming Technique and I learned it years ago. | | | | better?" |
| Following are the steps to using the technique: | | | | 5) Take an Answer and Immediately Act On It If |
| 1) Identify Your Challenge or Difficulty Most of the | | | | one of your answers to the quota question was to |
| time 80% of the solution lies in clearly defining the | | | | set more realistic goals, then get on with it! The |
| problem. | | | | sooner you take action on the answers that you've |
| When you don't really know what's wrong, you can't | | | | uncovered, the more likely you are to carry through |
| fix it. Many times you'll find that there are multiple | | | | with the implementation your solutions. You'll find that |
| challenges, but there are usually one or two that will | | | | you're able to carry the momentum of your |
| stand out. 20% of your problems are causing 80% | | | | enthusiasm from finding your solutions into |
| of your heartache. You may for instance be having | | | | accomplishing the steps to solve your problem. |
| arguments with your spouse and you've felt | | | | Remember, "Action will take you out of doubt and |
| depressed lately, but you realize that those problems | | | | doubt will take you out of action!" |
| stem from the fact that your sales are low and | | | | 6) Work on it Everyday |
| you're having trouble meeting quota. | | | | If you performed this mindstorming exercise |
| 2) Turn the Problem into a Solution-Oriented Question | | | | everyday, five days a week, you will have 100 |
| The quality of your life is mostly dependant upon the | | | | solutions to your top difficulties in your life every |
| quality of the questions you ask yourself. If you | | | | week. 100 solutions multiplied by 50 weeks in a year |
| want better answers to your problems, ask yourself | | | | is literally 5000 answers to any problems you're |
| better questions. All you need to do is insert the | | | | facing. Will this affect the way you talk to yourself |
| word "How" in front of your problem. For instance, | | | | and view your daily challenges? What if you only did |
| the problem of not being able to make quota now | | | | half of that? Over 2000 answers to life's difficulties! |
| becomes..."How do I make quota next month?" | | | | Habits are hard to break...good ones and bad ones. |
| Most people respond to the problem of not making | | | | It's harder in the beginning to create good ones, but |
| their quota by asking themselves, "Why can't I make | | | | use this method and you'll start to see only |
| quota?" This question will not only elicit blaming and | | | | possibilities, not problems! |
| criticizing, but it will take the control over the solution | | | | |