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This past weekend served as a reminder to many of us of where we started, and how far we’ve come. Not just as a nation, but also as individuals.
We’ve come a long way - especially these past few years!
We’ve overcome many obstacles, streamlined our perspectives and priorities, and gained a clearer picture of what we intend to accomplish in our lifetime.
We’ve created amazing tools to help us be more productive, and learned how to use old ones in new ways.
We are nothing if not adaptable and innovative!
And, for many of us, we’ve come to a point where we’ve done most of the obvious things, acquired most of the necessary skills, and created most of the required habits for success.
Yet it hasn’t become as easy as we’d like.
We’re just not quite there yet.
So what’s left to do - or to learn?
Perhaps it’s time to look a little closer at some of the beliefs and habits that are the basis from which we operate.
We call these the “Shoulds.” We learn them from the time we can talk - from the people we respect. And they learned them the same way.
We should work hard…
We should be responsible…
We should not rock the boat…
We should act our age…
We should set a good example…
The list could go on for volumes, and get very specific. These beliefs are ingrained in us, and they play a part in every decision we make.
Many of them are very helpful to us, and truly reflect how we want to be.
There are some, however, that we accept without question and continue to operate from even when they become hindrances.
We’ve been reading Dr. Wayne Dyer’s new book, Excuses Begone!, which explains with great clarity how and why we adopt these beliefs, and how they can hold us back.
His methodology for examining and potentially changing them is very closely aligned with the Just Imagine That program.
In order to take a new, imaginative idea from inspiration to practical reality, we necessarily pass it through our Shoulds to make sure it aligns with them.
It only makes sense, then, that if we’re holding on to Shoulds that are not really in line with us as individuals, we will not get the results that work best for us.
Take just a few minutes to think about some of your Shoulds. Make a list of some of them that might not be true for you right now, even though they may have been in the past - and they may be for other people you know.
Just list some possibilities. We’re not suggesting you throw them out just yet…just consider if they are really in line with who you want to be, and what you want to accomplish.
We’ll look at the some ways to evaluate them later in the week.
Perhaps you Should. 
Just Imagine That!
P.S. If you’re in the Atlanta area, Diana is co-facilitating an interactive workshop based on Wayne Dyer’s book each Tuesday this month at the InterFaith Truth Center. Please consider joining us as we use his principles and methodology in working through our interference!
Tags: Awareness, Perspective, Preference
We’ve been talking about Noise this week - external and internal noise.
We talked about the challenges of being heard by your prospective clients above the noise.
Today, let’s talk about the challenges of hearing yourself above the noise.
In this noisy and busy world, we have become almost constant communicators. We spend much of our time either speaking, writing, listening and reading. We are surrounded by words from many sources.
Let me say here that I LOVE words! I love finding just the right ones to express exactly what I feel. I love word games…well, you get the point.
Words are wonderful!
However.
Sometimes they get in the way.
Since they are really symbols of things, they require translation. The word “happy” is not happiness, but just a symbol of that state of mind. When you hear someone say “I’m happy,” you must translate that into your understanding of the feeling they are expressing. Of course this happens automatically, and very quickly, and you don’t really notice the effort it takes.
It does take mental effort, however.
If, on the other hand, someone looks at you with a huge smile, you get the same information - and probably more - in a much more direct way. You immediately understand, and even feel, their emotion without translation.
When we take words out of the communication, we recieve it more directly - and with less effort.
You may know this, and can probably think of examples very easily.
What you may not know, is what we have discovered in our Imagination Lab. Many of our exercises are done in silence. And the result is a truly amazing increase in the creativity and clarity that partipants experience.
Even in group activities which require the participants to communicate with each other, such as preparing a meal together, become totally new experiences when words are not allowed.
Creativity increases dramatically - and, almost as a bonus, it’s also more fun!
The next time you are playing with your imagination, or looking to inspire creativity (especially with someone else or a group), try it without words. You might be surprised at the results!
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Awareness, Awareness Exercise, Imagination
Here in the US we are getting ready to celebrate the Fourth of July - Independence Day - the noisiest of all of our holidays. July Fourth is all about celebrating with loud marching music, firecrackers and fireworks as from coast to coast people gather together and honor the “founding” of the United State of America.
July Fourth is a great example of what can happen when a group of people is committed to an innovative idea. Back in 1776, the founding fathers were willing to be different. They were willing to take an idea and turn it into something real. And, most important, they were willing to take a stand for something they believed in.
And, because of this, they stood out from the crowd. They are remembered for their courage, determination and dedication. And they began a movement that changed the world as they knew it at the time.
So, how does this apply to you and rising above the Noise Factor? Well, I believe one of the keys to the founding fathers’ success is that they not only took actions, they took those actions based on a strong foundation made of bottom-line beliefs, like freedom, independence and basic human rights.
And when you have a solid foundation to stand on, choices about directions, priorities, and actions are easier to make.
So, what do you take a stand for? What is the foundation on which you have built your business? As you think about how your business offer is unique and how you can express that uniqueness, is there a basic ideal or vision that guides you?
Today, let’s take a look at your business foundation. Instead of thinking of actions you can take to stand out from the Noise Factor, let’s look at what you are actually taking a stand for.
First, read the following sentence and fill in the blank with the first thing that pops into your head.
Through my business, I _________________________________________.
Is what you put in the blank something that you believe in strongly? Is this really the foundation for your business? Or is it something you have adopted in response to today’s business climate and/or because of what others are doing?
Now, think about what you really want to take a stand for. What is it that you want your clients and customers to “get” about you and your business?
Sit with this for a moment. Then fill in the blank in the following sentence.
Through my business, I take a stand for ___________________________.
Every once in a while during the next several days, read this second sentence. Does it communicate what you want to give your clients and customers? Does it feel “good” to you? Can you easily relate this statement to what you are doing in your business?
If so, then this foundation is serving you right now for where you are in your business. And, as with all things, it may change as you and your business grow and evolve.
One more really cool thing…
When you consistently focus on the foundation on which your business stands, you naturally express those values in your dealings with other people, decisions are easier to make, and you get better results.
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Awareness, Awareness Exercise, Priority
One of the most popular myths we hold about buisness is that competitors are the enemy, and that marketing is a battle with them ~ one that we must win in order to be successful.
Traditional marketing is full of techniques to do just that.
That view is based on the belief that there aren’t enough clients to go around, and that we must be the biggest and best in our field.
After all, we’re taught from early childhood that being number one is all that matters. There’s no glory in second place. That’s a whole other subject, but it does explain why we have the mindset around competitors.
We have a bit different perspective, however. And it serves just as well, if not better, in creating success in your business.
We view others who offer competitive products and services as our partners. And mentors. And marketing people. And research associates. And we love them for all the help they provide.
That sounds a bit strange, doesn’t it? After all, we are competing for the same clients.
So, how does that work for us?
Obviously, we watch what they do to see what works and what doesn’t. That’s just common sense.
We take it a bit further, though. We actually applaud them for the marketing they do, and the presence they create, because they’re saving us a lot of time and money.
How so? They are out there educating our future clients on the features and benefits of what we offer. They are actually laying the groundwork for us!
Here’s the perfect example of this: When I became a Web developer in 1995, I was among the first wave. I learned the skills, and understood the potential of this new medium. And for the first 6 to 7 years, I spent most of my time educating potential clients about what I was offering. It was quite a relief me when so many others entered the field and began doing the educating for me! It allowed me to finally focus on doing what I started out to do.
To this day, I am thankful for all the competition, and my business has continued to thrive through all the ups and downs as the Web has grown and matured.
As more and more people entered the field, I was challenged to be creative in making myself stand out from the crowd, to learn new skills, and to grow in all ways.
I may look like just another Web developer to you, and certainly there are many who are more skilled, have more resources and knowledge. Yet I continue to be successful - and to grow.
I attribute much of my success to the beliefs that I hold about competition:
- there are enough clients out there for everyone
- my competitors’ success is good for me and them
- as long as I focus on providing service to the best of my ability, I will be successful
Take a new look at your competitors - view them as partners - and see how that fuels your success!
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Awareness, Imagination, Perspective
Welcome to Tuesday!
Calling all Creative Men and Imagination Women!
This week is all about making you and your business stand out from the Noise Makers. (See yesterday’s Grease for the Gears if you are wondering what we are talking about!) We are going to coach you on ways to use your creativity to find your unique offer and voice that will attract your customer and clients to you.
Cool, huh?
Now, before we get down to tools and techniques that will help you to stand out and be heard, we are going to spend a moment with you! That’s right, you! Today is all about YOU!
Why?
Because you and your innate, unique creativity are your greatest resources for building a successful business and a satisfying life. And, in order to be able to listen to yourself and to be aware of your creative thoughts and insights, you have to be able to hear them when they pop into your head!
So, today, we are going to show you a very easy technique to clear some room in your head to make way for creativity!
Here’s a little review of some concepts from yesterday plus a little more information to ponder before we give you a great exercise!
You are inundated all day, every day, with millions of messages and communications and external stimuli. You filter out most of these messages at an unconscious level.
Yet there are many messages that get caught in your conscious mind. They swirl around as a constant inner dialog that is talking at you from inside your head. To be able to get in touch with your creative thoughts and ideas, we need to make some room in that wonderful brain of yours and get it to stop talking for a few minutes.
The best way we know to do this is the Mind Dump (fondly and creatively named because it is a way to dump all those things out of your mind that are swirling around and talking at you!)
The easiest way to understand the Mind Dump is to just do it (all due respect to Nike)! So, grab some paper and something to write with and let’s give it a whirl.
When I say, “GO,” start to write whatever is in your head on the piece of paper in front of you. Write as quickly as you can. Write for a minimum of 10 minutes. Don’t edit. Don’t worry about making sense. No one will ever read this. This is just for you and you can do whatever you want with what you write when you are done. (Shredding is a great idea!)
Keep writing until you feel ready to stop. Then write for one more minute. Then stop.
Are you ready? Set…GO!
Don’t read this now – go ahead – write!
OK !!! Well done!
You have just experienced your first Mind Dump!
Now, is your internal noise a little bit quieter? Do you feel like you have some extra room in your grey matter? Do you think you will hear a creative thought when it pops up?
Good, then the Mind Dump has served its purpose.
One thing we have discovered…creative thoughts love it when you clear a path for them. They have just been waiting for the right moment when they knew they could get your attention.
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Awareness Exercise
We live in a very noisy world. Audible noise and visual noise.
Seems that we are constantly surrounded these days by messages - all vying for our attention. Standing in line at the bank or supermarket, surfing the Web, driving, at the movie theatre, watching tv, listening to the radio. . . everywhere we look there are businesses of some sort talking to us.
No, most of that’s not really new, and we’ve learned to tune most of it out. Yet it has has become more and more prevalent with technological advances.
And even more of this noise is being created since just about everyone we know has started a business of some sort. Starting a few years ago when many of us realized our “jobs” were not as secure as we had hoped, the “side” or “home-based” business has been growing exponentially. And on top of that, many people have recently become involuntary entrepreneurs. Friends, relatives, people we meet on the street ~ all of them want us to pay attention to their enterprise.
On top of all that, we have our own enterprise ~ whatever that may be. Even if it’s going really well, it is mostly likely requiring more of our attention. We’re having to learn new skills, apply new creativity, and generally keep ourselves visible among all the Noise.
Whew!
Where do we find the time?
Well, using our incredible adaptability, we’ve developed internal screening methods that keep us from feeling totally overwhelmed. We’ve learned how to “tune out” most of the noise. It’s necessary for us to train our focus on the things that are most relevant among the multitude of choices we have.
No longer do we go searching for new things. So many messages are coming at us, most of the time we simply screen the incoming for what grabs our attention.
This makes life a bit easier for us in our role as consumers.
 As business people, it can present challenges. How do we become heard above all the Noise?
How do we set ourselves apart so we are one of the voices that our prospects and clients actually hear instead of tune out?
We have to do something different. We have to make our message more compelling than the others ~ to the people we want to hear us.
Sounds like a job for Creative Man!! Or, Imagination Woman!!
Join us this week for some thoughts on how to get more innovative in your offerings, your presence, and your marketing, so you will stand out from the crowd.
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Business Relationships, Possibility
Have you been paying attention to your daydreams in the past two days? (If not, see our posts from Monday and Tuesday.)
 Have you noticed recurring themes?
If you tend to go down the same path often when you daydream, that’s probably a sign that you’re either trying to work out something complex, or that perhaps you’re just trying to escape the doldrums of daily life on a regular basis. Either way, it may be worth examining those themes to see if they have some tips for you that can help you resolve something.
Now, there are all sorts of daydreams. Some of them are about things on your to-do list, your daily schedule, etc. These daydreams may be helping you to stay oriented in your daily life.
And then there are those daydreams that leave you wondering… where have you just been? What was that all about? These are the daydreams that may have some creative clues in them that you might be able to consciously use.
Does it feel funny to think about using your daydreams? It sometimes does for me, too. Yet, if we spend up to 1/3 of our waking time daydreaming, can you imagine how productive we might be if we mine those daydreams for information and then put what we find to work?
The first step to putting the insights in your daydreams to work is to notice your daydreams. If you have been doing this the last couple of days, you probably have a pretty good idea of the times and places when your mind likes to set itself free and drifts off. The next time you enter a daydream-prone period, set the intention that you will notice that your mind is starting to wander.
Then, as you begin to drift, try guiding your thoughts as little. Think of an issue, a challenge, or just something that you’d like more clarity on. Focus on it briefly – just a few seconds…then let your mind go wherever it wants. Resist the temptation to “think” the issue or topic through logically - you’ve probably already done that a number of times, anyway. Just plant the seed, and see what comes up.
Imagine that you are an outside observer to your thoughts. I know, that sounds strange…and sometimes it’s not that easy to watch your thoughts without trying to influence them. It does get easier with practice, though.
So, give it a try, see what pops up, and let us know if you have positive results. We love hearing about the amazing results people find when they just let go!
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Awareness, Awareness Exercise, Imagination
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