Monday, October 15, 2007
Create Your Own Reality
In college we used to sell coupon books door to door, and we used to have a term, “Create your own reality.” This meant that as soon as someone broke a sales record, it changed our entire outlook on our job. For example: If the record was 20 coupon books in four hours and one day someone broke the record and sold 25, we were no longer happy if we sold 20. Why? Because we now realized it was possible t sell more.
Every day we were trying to create a new reality. The same story is true of Russian Olympian Vasili Alexeev. He was trying to break a weigh lifting record of 500 pounds. He had lifted 499 but couldn’t for the life of him, lift 500.
Finally, his trainers put 501.5 pounds on his bar and rigged it so it looked like 499pounds. Of course, you know the story. He lifted it easily.
Once he created this new reality, other weight lifters went on to break his record. Why, because they now knew it was possible to life 500 pounds.
The limits we set for ourselves exist in our minds. Sometimes, if we let our hearts do the talking and believe in our ability to overcome past perceptions, we can create another reality.
Every day we were trying to create a new reality. The same story is true of Russian Olympian Vasili Alexeev. He was trying to break a weigh lifting record of 500 pounds. He had lifted 499 but couldn’t for the life of him, lift 500.
Finally, his trainers put 501.5 pounds on his bar and rigged it so it looked like 499pounds. Of course, you know the story. He lifted it easily.
Once he created this new reality, other weight lifters went on to break his record. Why, because they now knew it was possible to life 500 pounds.
The limits we set for ourselves exist in our minds. Sometimes, if we let our hearts do the talking and believe in our ability to overcome past perceptions, we can create another reality.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
You Need to Ping All the time
Eighty percent of relationships is just staying in touch. “Pinging” is a quick, casual greeting that can be done in many creative ways. Once you develop your own style, you’ll find it easier to stay in touch with more people and in less time than you ever imagined.
Before there is substantive recognition, people you’ve just met need to encounter your name in at least three modes of communication: e-mail, phone call and face to face.
As far as content is concerned, there is the “ I just called to say I care” ping that is used for closer contacts. Let them know it’s been too long since you’ve spoken.
For people important to your career or business, favor the “value added” ping. Perhaps you want to recognize that someone has been promoted, or that the company had a good quarter. Send relevant articles, short notes of advice, or other small tokens that convey that you are thinking of them and eager to help.
Avoid pinging at holiday time when everyone is overwhelmed with mail. But do recognize people’s birthday.
Before there is substantive recognition, people you’ve just met need to encounter your name in at least three modes of communication: e-mail, phone call and face to face.
As far as content is concerned, there is the “ I just called to say I care” ping that is used for closer contacts. Let them know it’s been too long since you’ve spoken.
For people important to your career or business, favor the “value added” ping. Perhaps you want to recognize that someone has been promoted, or that the company had a good quarter. Send relevant articles, short notes of advice, or other small tokens that convey that you are thinking of them and eager to help.
Avoid pinging at holiday time when everyone is overwhelmed with mail. But do recognize people’s birthday.
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
