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Posts Tagged Awareness
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
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
Isn’t it amazing that when we are daydreaming, our brain is as active – maybe even more active – than when we are concentrating and forcing our attention on something? It almost seems counter-intuitive, doesn’t it?
Well, popularly accepted statistics say we use only 5 to 7 percent of our brain. Have you ever wondered what the rest of your brain is doing? Some researchers theorize that a portion of that “unused” part is actually a HUGE file cabinet that stores everything we have ever learned, observed, read about, experienced, etc.
We have ready access to certain things that are stored in those files because we have formed mental habits (known as neuropathways) that pull out frequently used information when we are consciously problem solving. The rest is tucked away until we access it.
What if daydreaming is our brain’s way of accessing those files? Now – that would be a great tool!
And one that operates on a very different principle that the conscious problem solving techniques we have developed through trial and error.
When we are looking for a solution to something, we usually plug it into our problem-solving formula and “work” on coming up with a solution. When we daydream, we let go of working on something and give our minds the space to wander through our mental file cabinets…sort of like doing a Google search when you want more information or some new insights!
Are you willing to give your daydreaming search engine a try?
Here’s a simple experiment:
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Today, when you think of something you would like to “solve,” take a breath before you go into your usual problem-solving mode.
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Close your eyes and imagine you are typing the topic into the search box of your favorite search engine.
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Mentally hit the GO button.
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Open your eyes and go on with your day.
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When you find yourself coming back from a daydream (You won’t have to wait long! Remember yesterday’s newsletter? You may actually spend about 1/3 of your time daydreaming!) think about the search instructions you mentally typed in and see what pops up!
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Jot down anything that sparks your interest or feels good when you think about it!
Well done!
Now - here’s one more really great feature of your internal search engine. Daydreaming gives you access to what you know that you know AND what you don’t know that you know…
Pretty cool way to use more of your brain, huh?
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Awareness, Possibility Exercise
We all daydream, most of us quite often during any given day. The question is, how do you react to your daydreams? Do you see them as distractions to your focused and productive brain time – as a waste of time? When you notice yourself daydreaming, do you immediately “bring yourself back to reality?”
There’s some very interesting scientific research that shows that daydreaming is much more prevalent (perhaps as much as 1/3 of our waking time), and much more productive than we’ve ever imagined.
This research suggests that daydreaming, or mind-wandering, is actually our mind’s “default state.” When we are not focused on outside stimulus, like when we’re doing tasks that require little attention, out mind naturally wanders.
That’s not too surprising, is it?
What is very interesting, though, is that the same research shows our brain is actually working harder in the areas of complex thought (like problem solving) when it’s daydreaming than when our thoughts are focused on tasks and outside stimuli.
Sounds like maybe we have access to some (internal) resources that we may be overlooking.
Just for today, let’s do an experiment:
Keep a pad near you, and pay attention to what’s going on in your mind. Without trying to influence it, just notice all the times you “disconnect” from what you’re doing and where you are.
When you’re showering, getting dressed, driving, doing laundry – any of the mundane tasks that you do without a lot of conscious thought – pay attention to what your mind is doing.
Each time your mind wanders from what’s in front of you, jot down a word or two about where it goes, unless you’re driving, of course.
We’re going to be talking about ways to harness this natural resource on our blog this week.
So, let’s start with just noticing any patterns in your daydreams – themes and recurring thoughts. You might be surprised at what you’re really doing all day.
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Awareness, Awareness Exercise
On Tuesday we talked about substituting “I want…” with “I prefer…” and how that can change the energy around how you feel about what you’d like to have.
And that’s really good for your internal conversations, and in many other applications. In daily practice, though, sometimes it can be a bit awkward for conversations with others. Not everyone will immediately understand your meaning when you put it that way.
For example, if you see a new car that you’d like to have, and you say to your friend, “I prefer that one.” Sounds just a bit strange from the outside, doesn’t it?
So what do we do, go back to “I want that one?”
Well, I’d prefer not to, because it seems to keep me in a place of wanting - and what I’m telling myself is that I don’t have it - I’m lacking something.
So, here’s another substitute that works in conversation, without the negative side:
“I’d love to have that.”
Go ahead, let that sink in for a moment.
Think about something you “want”, and say, “I’d love that.” “I’d love to go to the beach this summer.” “I’d love to be driving that car.”
Now, here’s a bonus feature that comes standard with this substitution: You can also use it when you’re asking someone else for something…
Think about the difference between: “I want you to help me” ~ and ~ “I’d love it if you helped me.”
Hmmm.
Feels better to me, and to the other person. Try it for a day, and see what you think. Could change any number of things, for you and those you talk to.
Just Imagine That!
Tags: Awareness, Awareness Exercise, Perspective, Relationship
How many times a day do you suppose you say “I want (something)?”
Looking into a future time and imagining that we have something different than we have now is something we do almost without thought. It’s very much ingrained in our training, and in our culture. (How would advertisers ever sell anything if they didn’t convince us to want something we don’t already have?)
We all know the pitfall of that line of thinking, and yet, it’s very difficult to get away from.
I mean, really, look at all the cool stuff that’s out there ~ all the stuff that makes our lives easier, or makes us feel better…I could write a book about that - but that’s really off the point.
The point is - what you say day in and day out, you hear ~ and ultimately believe.
So, when you say “I want…”, you hear “I don’t have…”
That’s why most of the affirmation gurus all tell us to stop saying “I want…”, and start saying “I have…”.
Good advice. Here’s the thing, though. When I say I have something that clearly I don’t, my internal editor jumps up before I can move on, and says, “No, you don’t!” I suppose if I did this often enough, for a long enough time, I could convince myself it was true ~ maybe. I’m pretty practical, though, and “faking it until I make it” really takes a lot of effort for me.
And, another thing: if someone else is listening when I say I have it - well, we don’t want to go there 
SO…
I found a solution ~ ~ a way to stop saying “I want…” without lying to myself (and without getting those funny looks.)
I simply substitute, “I prefer…”
Let that sink in for a moment. Think of something that you don’t have yet, and say it… “I prefer a new . . .”
Doesn’t that feel better? There’s no lack there. In fact, the message I get from it is, “I’m ok with what I have. I’d prefer something else, if anyone’s listening.”
Certainly does change my perspective! How about you?
What do you prefer? Give it a try, and Just Imagine That!
Tags: Awareness, Perspective, Preference
Happy Tuesday !
When you read the title above, did you automatically fill in the blank? Do you remember the story of the Little Engine that overcomes a seemingly impossible task while repeating “I think I can, I think I can?”
I have to admit, I had forgotten all about the Little Engine until I ran into a “grown up” version of the moral of that story the other day. I was cleaning out old post-it notes that I had tucked under my computer keyboard when I stumbled across one of my favorite sayings – “If you think you can or you think you can’t – you’re right !”
When I first heard that saying many years ago, the cleverness of it struck me, and sparked my curiosity. Now, years and many lessons later, when I came across that post-it note, I smiled and remembered the Little Engine and his mantra, “I think I can….I think I can…”
How about you? Do you think you can? Or, when faced with a challenge, is your first thought “I can’t!” Are you aware of what you are telling yourself inside your head?
Well, one way to figure out what is going on inside your head, it to listen more closely to what you are thinking and saying.
So, are you ready and willing to do a little experiment today to increase your awareness of the power of the words can and can’t?
OK! First, fill in the blank in the following sentence with the first thing that comes to your mind.
“I CAN’T _______________.” (No editing – just write down the first thing you think of.)
Now, sit for a minute with how that feels.
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Now take whatever you wrote in the blank above and plug it into the following sentence.
“I THINK I CAN __________.” Now repeat this outloud to yourself (quietly works just fine) at least three times.
“I THINK I CAN _________. I THINK I CAN ________. I THINK I CAN ______!
Now, how does that feel? Do you feel lighter? Do you feel possibilities starting to come to you? Do you feel the beginnings of a smile on your face?
Remember, whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right! So why not go with CAN?
You might as well go with the option that opens up possibilities and comes with a smile…..
Just Imagine That !
Tags: Awareness, Awareness Exercise
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