It?s All About Beliefs

Changing your mindset can have a significant impact on achieving your goals.

We've all heard about the power of positive thinking but does it work? How does your thinking influence your actions and get you the results you want?

Understanding Your Mindset

The Wall Street Journal recently published an article about the significance of our beliefs and the mental models, or mindsets that shape our behavior. According to the psychologists interviewed for the piece, we act and perform in accordance with the beliefs these models tell us is true.

Yet most of us have some flawed or erroneous beliefs, which in turn misguide our interpretation of our world. As a result, we see the world not as it is, but as we are ? and it's this flawed interpretation that drives our attitude and behavior.

For example, if you think something is not possible or out of your reach, you're probably not going to commit much energy and resources to accomplishing that goal. Whether it's gathering new assets, landing a big client, or simply getting out of the office at five o'clock, your thoughts influence your actions.

The bottom line is that our beliefs become our truths and reality. Henry Ford explained it best when he said, "Whether you think you can or can't, you're right."

What This Means to You

The professionals I work with are highly skilled and well-educated individuals with rewarding compensation plans. They also have mindsets that support or inhibit their ability to optimize their performance and results. Over the course of my career I've witnessed just how significantly these mindsets influence success.

As changes in the industry and your market occur, so do the demands on you and your business. No longer is skills training sufficient enough to ensure that you will accomplish your goals. Old habits die slowly because they are driven by an outdated mindset. And despite the efforts of many corporations and businesses, behavior-based training and monetary incentives don't have a lasting effect on performance. It's your mindset that needs changing and then lasting behavior change will follow.

Insanity is often defined as doing the same things over and over again, while expecting different results. If this rings a bell, it may be time to change your mindset so you can get different results.

Changing Your Mindset

In order to replace old habits though a change in your mindset, there are three steps you should follow:

1. First, begin by specifically identifying the results you want.

2. Then create and develop actions that will accomplish those results.

3. Lastly, examine your beliefs about those actions to determine if they are holding you back.

For example, a common goal among speakers is to be listed with several speaker bureaus. Many speakers have the credentials and experience to be on a list but don't take the steps necessary to make it happen.

Why is this right? They know the bureaus requirements so why don't they just get on with it? Do they believe they will be accepted for listing?

Beliefs that put a damper on expectations and behavior are like mushrooms - they thrive in darkness. Yet if you shine a little light on those beliefs, you'll develop a different mindset about the affluent market.

These questions are the light that can change your mindset:

1. What does my research say about the market for my speaking topics?

2. Do I know other speakers like me that are listed with several bureaus?

3. Exactly what are my obstacles to getting their attention? Can they be overcome?

No matter what your goal, saying you haven't done something before is not justification for not being able to do it now. Everyone has overcome adversity and accomplished things they never thought they'd do. Whether it's learning to drive a car, graduating college, or reaching an income goal, we all have our accomplishments. This is no different, and by questioning your beliefs, you'll find evidence that supports new beliefs about what you can accomplish.

"Seeing" truly is believing, and once you see that old habits and assumptions are holding you back from finding and working with several bureaus, you'll begin to use your talent and skills to make it become your reality.

Most dictionaries define a belief as a conviction that certain things are true, so if you want to achieve your goals, create a mindset made of beliefs that support the truth you want in your future.

Bob Lodie is a speaker, business strategy coach and consultant to financial advisors. He is author of Three Steps to Million Dollar Production and Personal Success from the Inside Out. He can be reached bob@boblodie.com or direct at 310-552-6064

---

Are You Inviting Misery into Your Life?

Often, I've come across individuals who, while in conversation, will... Read More

Mindfulness and Curiosity: Inspiring Affection

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious."... Read More

Power Talk: The Two Most Powerful Words In Language

I don't know about you, but for me, the technological... Read More

Strength Within

For the twelve hundred hostages, most especially Timur Kasumova.It's a... Read More

Accepting Change

Well I've finally done it...I turned my heat on. After... Read More

Instant Frequency Boosters: 10 Fast and Simple Ways to Raise Your Vibration

When you're feeling "low," or out of the flow, it's... Read More

Give Your Attitude A Little Altitude

Need a way to make your life a better place... Read More

Anger And Your Health

HOW YOUR OUTLOOK INFLUENCES HEALTH AND ABILITY TO CONTROL ANGERJane... Read More

Creating Positive Environments, Part 1: Using Art

One of our most active senses is sight. What we... Read More

Being Assertive

Many people find it extremely difficult to be assertive, whether... Read More

Anamchara - Beyond Positive Thinking

One of the most well known books ever written on... Read More

Your Dominant Thoughts - How to Take Advantage of Them

Self belief is a wonderful thing.I know from my own... Read More

How Important is Attitude?

We have often missed the mark because we believe we... Read More

You Have All The Resources You Need

You already have all the resources you need to accomplish... Read More

Why Motivational Posters Arent Cheesy!

I don't want to say people are basically negative but?..if... Read More

The Power Of Appreciation

As we enter this holiday season, and this time of... Read More

Are Your ANTs Taking Over Your Life?

One of the first things that I work on with... Read More

Positive Mind, Successful Life

It took me a long time to realise the benefits... Read More

Magic Mirror Exercise

Good morning I love you.This is a basic exercise, which... Read More

5 Proven Ways to Safely Make Positive Life Changes

One of the most important aspects of living a healthy... Read More

The Art of Thankfulness

With Thanksgiving approaching, I thought it would be especially appropriate... Read More

How to Change Any Belief

I have studied the idea of changing thoughts to create... Read More

Top Tips for the Temporary Move

Question: "It's only three months. Or six months. Or a... Read More

How to Build Rock Solid Self Confidence

You have probably noticed those people at work, school, and... Read More

Success Through The Way You Think About Yourself

If you think you are a loser, you train or... Read More

Get Out of Your Way!

We hear a lot these days about accepting responsibility for... Read More

Getting Over Your Fear Of Success

The fear of success is more common than some might... Read More

Positive Thinking - Make Good Things Happen- Turn Lemons into Lemonade

The Alchemists of old worked over many years, centuries, in... Read More

Success, the Only Option

One often hears people say they can't sketch because they... Read More

Your Mental Attitude is The Key!

As a being of thought, your dominant mental attitude will... Read More

Is Your Glass (Ceiling) Half Empty or Half Full?

The infamous "glass ceiling" is blamed for business issues for... Read More

11 Great Ways to be Positive about Change

Look for the positives!Seek them out - those little scary... Read More

How to Begin to Overcome Shyness

The one thing that is absolutely vital to overcoming shyness... Read More