Posts Tagged ‘decision’
Healthy Benefits of Indulging
Monday, November 28th, 2011
Are you like me? Feel like you ate the entire Thanksgiving table by yourself? With groaning belly, your little internal voice scolds, “I shouldn’t have done that.” Then the guilt kicks in, you beat yourself up and promise to never do it again. But it’s OK – really! See, it’s actually good for you! Here’s why…
Too much of a good thing can be wonderful!
― Mae West
It’s commonly called “indulgence” and is most often looked at as a negative kind of thing. People who indulge themselves are viewed as lazy, greedy, and selfish. In striving to maintain our self-image as good and decent folk, we deny ourselves things we truly desire, both big and small. The more we refuse to acknowledge these things, greater importance gets attached to them and we have to work all the harder to not indulge. Talk about stressful! That’s right – the stress of NOT doing something can be more harmful than doing it (in moderation of course).
Now, suppose for a moment that instead you denied those little voices telling you that to indulge in something is bad, and gave yourself permission to enjoy. Oooo – there now, doesn’t that feel good? Not only do you have that little reward, but you have a few other things going for you. Firstly, people who take time to do something for themselves are shown to have an increased sense of self-worth and accomplishment, because you know have the ability to reap the reward of your work. Secondly, when you admit to a weakness or desire and let go of judgment over it, you find that thing has much less hold on you going forward. Finally, by being honest with yourself, you are building a true and realistic image of yourself rather than a false one based on ideals.
Keep in mind however, that any indulgence should be safely within the bounds of your lifestyle and kept under moderation. Making a conscious choice to enjoy life’s little pleasures should never pose a serious danger to health and well being.
That being said, the next time that voice says “You shouldn’t do that,” feel free to answer, “Oh yes I should! It’s good for me!”
How to be Instantly Creative For Greater Profits
Saturday, November 28th, 2009
Don’t think you are creative? Well, think again! The fact is, most REALTORS are quite creative otherwise they would never last in this very demanding, ever changing industry. It’s not the lack of ideas that’s the problem; it’s just a matter of using the right process to access them. And here’s one of the most powerful methods there is to turn on your inner Thomas Edison and tap into the creative well of others too…
Harvesting Great Ideas via Bubble Charting
The quickest way to turn off your creative flow is to try to make a list of ideas. Why is this so bad? Because by its very structure a list has an enforced priority (i.e. 1st item, 2nd, and so on…), which causes your mind to evaluate ideas rather than just let them come out. Ideally you want a way to capture your ideas as quickly as they appear without interruption or judgment getting in the way.
Bubble charting is a very simple mind-mapping method I learned in a writing class 25 years ago that has absolutely transformed how I generate ideas and organize my thinking. It is so powerful that I use it many times each week to help me run and grow my business. Here’s how it works:
- Take a blank piece of paper and draw an oval in the center. Then put the name of the topic in this oval for which you want to generate tons of ideas;
- For each idea you think of (never mind if it’s any good or not –remember, no judgment at this stage of the process) simply put it anywhere on the page and draw an oval around it an arrow from it to the central topic oval;
- When you have ideas that relate to other ideas just do the same as in step 2. above except draw the arrow so it connects the two ideas.
When you are done, your page might look something like this:
In the real world however, if you are using pencil and paper, or a white board, it is more likely to look like this:
It’s not about being “pretty”, rather getting as many ideas (good, bad or otherwise) out as quickly as possible. While paper and pencil or white board is fine for bubble charting exercises, these mediums don’t make it particularly easy to edit, share or even store your creative work. Thankfully there are tools available that make the bubble charting process much easier and even “pretty” when you are done!
Bubble Charting and Mind-Mapping Tools
I never thought a computer-based mind-mapping tool could ever replace the ease and free flowing nature of paper and pencil —boy, was I wrong! After using some of the tools mentioned below my bubble charting / mind-mapping capabilities have exploded with additional speed, ease, sharing and storage for future use…
- MindGenius – (www.MindGenius.com) this is my absolute favorite mind-mapping tool, and unfortunately it is the most expensive (over US $200). This is a PC based software that you download and install. Once you get the hang of it you will be able to generate bubble charts and mind-maps at lightning speed. By exporting your mind-maps as images or PDFs you can easily share them with others.
- MindMeister – (www.MindMeister.com) similar to MindGenius but is Web-based instead and much less expensive (there is even a free version). However, this particular solution is a case of “you get what you pay for” as it is a bit clunky and slow when generating mind-maps —not a good thing when ideas are flowing like the Mississippi.
- LovelyCharts – (www.LovelyCharts.com) this is a very elegant and well designed Web-based flow charting and diagramming solution that can easily be adopted for bubble charting. In fact, we use this in my company when bubble charting ideas for our students. And with a free version, the price is right.
- Virtual-WhiteBoard – (www.Virtual-WhiteBoard.com) this is the least elegant of these tools since you have to literally draw your bubble-charts manually. However, what makes this particular solution unique is the ability to have real-time collaboration among different people each of whom can add to the bubble-chart with everyone seeing the results. Once again, there is a free version of this service to try out.
- MicroSoft Office 2007 – both Word and PowerPoint give you the ability to create “smart charts” that resemble bubble charts.
The above are just a few examples of the many computer-based mind-mapping tools that are available to you. However, the key to using a computer-based tool to help you bubble chart or mind-map is that you don’t want to think about how to use it during the process. With this in mind, MindGenius is the hands-down winner. You simply type your ideas, and it creates the mind-map for you.
Whether you bubble chart / mind-map with a pencil and paper or use a sophisticated software tool, you can greatly enhance the results by inviting more people to the party…
Throw a Brainstorming Party to Generate Tons of Ideas
By adding more people to the brainstorming process you will have access to ideas, solutions and strategies that you could not even imagine otherwise. But like everything else, there is a process to get the most from your group brainstorming without it turning into a fat-chewing session:
- Gather a group of friends & associates who truly want to help you (30 minutes max)
- Assign one person as the “Recorder” (i.e. will create the bubble chart as the ideas are voiced)
- Provide plenty of beer / wine and pizza (lower inhibition lubricates the creative process —just don’t allow anyone to drive home under the influence however!)
- Give the rest of the “rules” to your group:
- Keep a rapid fire pace
- No editing or criticizing! (nothing shuts down a brainstorming session faster than this)
- The more “out of the box” the ideas are the better.
You want to make the above process fun and fast-paced. By doing so, you and your group will likely generate more ideas in just a few minutes than you could do by yourself over six months! And remember, not all the ideas will be good. In fact some will be quite awful. That’s okay, because you can always edit the ideas and select the best ones after everyone goes home.
Speaking of “ideas” here’s a clever one that one of our students came up with to use social networking to help him brainstorm an idea. He simply went on Facebook and started a “contest” for all his Facebook friends to come up with the best ideas for a particular problem he was working on. In short order, the ideas just came flying in and he didn’t even have to buy beer or pizza.
Innovative ideas, when properly implemented, is what typically sets one person apart from the rest of the pack. Using the methods described above you will have an endless supply of great ideas to choose from. And once you have them the only thing left to do is brainstorm how you plan on putting them into practice…
NOTE: Mr. Internet®, RUSSER Communications, its staff and officers receive no compensation whatsoever from any third party vendors (unless he/they are directly involved with the creation and/or improvement of a vendor service or product), and make no recommendations as to the suitability of the products or services mentioned in this article. Always thoroughly investigate any product or service before trying or purchasing.
Mr. Internet is the alter-ego of Michael J. Russer, an internationally recognized Internet speaker, trainer, author, and strategic consultant to the real estate industry. He’s dedicated to helping real estate professionals leverage their people skills into profit on the Internet. Send your Internet questions to help@askmrinternet.com or you can visit his Website at http://www.russer.com
This article is reprinted in its entirety from the November 2009 issue of REALTOR® Magazine by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright © 2009. All Rights Reserved other than mentioned above. Mr. Internet® is a registered trademark of RUSSER Communications
Who is Your Leigh Anne Touhy?
Thursday, November 26th, 2009
My wife, son and I saw what has to be one of the best Thanksgiving movies in a long time. “The Blind Side” starring Sandra Bullock (in one of her most compelling roles ever) is based upon the true story of Michael Oher, the 2009 1st draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens NFL football team.
This story is a real tear-jerker (my wife did most of the crying 
) that described how a wealthy white family in Memphis, TN took in a homeless and rather large black teen with a very troubled past as one of their own.
Michael’s life could easily have ended tragically like so many of his Memphis ghetto peers, many of whom never live to see their 30th birthday. Yet because of the open hearts of the Touhy family (especially Leigh Anne Touhy, the mother) he was given a chance for a better life. It wasn’t easy. He struggled mightily in school to raise his GPA from .9 to 2.65. And, he had to learn how to focus his considerable size & strength to realize his full potential as a lineman. As it turns out, Michael Oher’s talent as an offensive lineman was as big as he was.
None of these things “just happened”. It took one person, Leigh Anne Touhy, to open her heart and see the possibility of a much better life for someone who had every reason to doubt it. And from that seed of possibility sprang a mighty oak of a life and story that now affects the hearts of millions…
A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.
William Arthur Ward
We all have unrealized possibilities and it would be great if we each had our very own Leigh Anne Touhy to believe in us and show us the way. I suspect there are not that many Leigh Anne Touhys in the world. So for most of us, we are going to have to be our own true friend that sees our possibilities and helps us realize them. At least with a friend like that, you know they will never leave your side…
Getting Things Done!
Friday, June 5th, 2009
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress Free Productivity
This book gives a practical and achievable solution to one of modern society’s biggest conundrums: how to stay focused in an increasingly complex world where everything vies for our attention every minute of the day.
The author David Allen succinctly provides the reader with a step-by-step strategy to gain control of our business lives so effectively that whole networks of “GTD” groups have formed. This is the perfect Rx for the typical Ritalin-deficient real estate salesperson with the only side affect being success and wellbeing. (***** Five Stars!! – reviewed 6/5/09)
Freedom From Fear and Worry
Friday, May 29th, 2009
Remember the old Janis Joplin lyrics “Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose…”. Man, if there was ever a time where this applied, this would be it. (Historical Anecdote: while in high school I lived 110 miles from Woodstock and was invited to go –I said “Nah, I’ll go to the next one.”)
Think about this for a moment. As you read this 77 year old GM just filed for bankruptcy, the US economy recorded its steepest rate of contraction in five decades, some of our best economic prognosticators say we will see hyperinflation at the same level as Zimbabwe (currently at 231 million %/yr), North Korea is getting really good at growing mushroom clouds, the Taliban is about to join the nuclear club and invite all their terrorist buddies, Israel is just itching to turn Iran into a glass parking lot, California is so indebt it has to close most of its state parks and oh yes, let’s not forget about swine flu predicted to come roaring back with a vengeance. Did I miss anything?
Now, you have a choice. You can choose to focus on “what may happen” and go out of your mind with worry and concern. Or choose to realize that everyone one of us really have “nothing to lose” and are already quite free …
Imagine being free from worry. Imagine being free from the grip of fear. Think of all that you could accomplish. Think of how much more energy and enthusiasm and creativity you would have.
In fact, you can be free from the worries and fears. You can be free from them in an instant if you choose. For worry is your own creation. Fear is nothing more than a response you have chosen. Freedom is sweet, and energizing and powerful.
Ralph Marston
We can’t control what happens around (or to) us. We have total control however, of how we respond. Constant worry and fear is just our primitive brain’s way of “preparing us” for the worst. It causes us to constantly be on guard and brace for impact. Whew! That’s an exhausting way to go through life, and completely unnecessary. No one can predict what is going to happen in the next few years. We can say with absolute certainty however, that every person has inside them the ability to chose to cope and adapt to just about anything life can throw at us. And that is the one thing we can never lose.
Decisions Get You What You Want
Monday, September 15th, 2008Duh! Seems like a self-explanatory statement, doesn’t it? Well, yes – but there’s more to it than you think. We all like to think that our decisions are well thought out, calmly considered, completely rational and totally logical courses of action. But, being honest with yourself, deep down inside aren’t most of your decisions based on what you want to have happen anyway? The emotion is what triggers the decision, and all the calm rational logic is merely justification for that course of action.
Ruled By Emotional Decisions?
Yes, we are. Emotional triggers apply to almost every decision we make through the day, and we are making
decisions constantly. Why did you listen to that particular cd? Or hit the snooze button again? Or buy Cheerios instead of Wheaties? The snap answer is actually the truest in this case: Because you felt like it. As long as you have previous experience with a situation, you have an emotional basis, or what we often call a “feeling”, “hunch”, or “intuition” that triggers your decision.
Now, don’t feel defensive or foolish. Everyone has these triggers, it is the way the human mind is wired. In fact, the best sales people and managers in the world actually rely on these feelings (whether they know it or not). The trick is how to access these triggers in other people so they make the decisions you want them to!
Typical Decision Triggers
Check out this article How to Trigger a Yes Decision from Anyone by Russell Granger. He explains amazingly well how and why these triggers do in fact work. I won’t go into all the detail he does, but you can use this information to help you map out your personal contacts to elicit the exact decisions you desire. The seven primary triggers Mr. Granger identifies are:
- The Friendship Trigger - Activates trust and agreement through bonding
- The Authority Trigger – Activates acceptance through expertise
- The Consistency Trigger – Motivates consistency with past actions
- The Reciprocity Trigger – When you give, you get
- The Contrast Trigger – Structures contrasts to make one approach better than another
- The Reason Why Trigger – Emotional reasons to make decisions and actions
- The Hope Trigger – Instills positive expectations that persuade agreement
Triggering the Right Decision
Think about the circumstances under which you make contact with your target market. How do you first introduce yourself? What specialized information can you present to aid the customer? How do you position your marketing approaches? What calls to action do you have on your site? What irresistible offers do you present? Do these things, when you are in your target market’s shoes, trigger not just AN emotional response, but THE emotional response you want to drive your business?
Probably the most important trigger you will want to focus on is The Authority Trigger. I have been preaching for years to establish a niche market and become a recognized expert in it, and here is yet another reason why. As Mr. Granger points out, why do you accept and fill a prescription without question from your doctor? Because your doctor is a medical expert and you are not – you automatically trust your doctor’s authority and make the decision to accept his advice.
However, all the other decision triggers can and should be used in your customer contact strategy. Once you make sure you are properly positioned as the regional authority within your niche, turn your attention to the rest. If you are not good with words, are unsure how to approach the task, or just plain don’t have time, find a good virtual copywriter or marketing specialist to help you out. Once your potential customers start making the decisions you want them to, you will get what you want, and you will be glad you did!
