The House With No Back Door
by Linda Larsen, CSP
© Copyright 2000

Have you ever wondered how some people seem to accomplish so very much in such a short period of time, while others appear to have difficulty deciding which sandwich to order for lunch? And how is it that those super achievers also leave the impression that it is downright effortless for them? They produce, produce, produce and, I might add, reap fabulous rewards for their output.

I believe it boils down to this: It's about the difference between "feeling" like doing something - and "doing" something. In other words, it's about squaring off with your "feelings" grabbing them around the collar and declaring, "I DON'T CARE WHETHER YOU FEEEEEEEEL LIKE IT OR NOT.....YOU'RE DOING IT! I AM COMMITTING! YOU HAVE NO OPTION!"

Oh, I can hear some people whimpering...."But, I have to respect my feelings. I have to listen to them. I have to let them guide me. I must trust them."

To which I say, "Get over it!"

Your feelings, many times, will take you down the path of least resistance. Your feelings - MOST OF THE TIME - come directly from your thoughts. And if you are sitting around thinking, "I can't do that. I'm not smart enough to pull that one off. I wouldn't begin to know what to do first," then believe me, your feelings will be pretty crummy and debilitating.

So what do you do? COMMIT! BIG TIME! Decide what it is that you want to accomplish. Create a picture of what it will be like for you (in all domains of your life) when you accomplish this. Imagine that picture in your mind and fully associate with every aspect of it. Feel what it will be like when you are there. Smell it, taste it, hear it, see it and experience it. Talk about some good feelings!

Then - state what you are going to do - right out loud - to as many people as will listen. When they ask you, "but how are you going to do that?" if you don't have a plan all laid out yet, simply reply, "I'm not sure yet. But make no mistake, I want this badly enough that I will figure what to do and I WILL make it happen."

What you are doing there, metaphorically, is sealing off your back door escape route. You know the one. The one that you slip out after you have changed your mind about something you kinda, sorta, thought that you might do, if all the stars lined up right and you felt like it. Seal it off, my friend. Set up the dynamics so that you will either do what you said you would do, or you will be humiliated beyond belief if you don't.

As you know, we are basically motivated by only two things: The pursuit of pleasure - or the avoidance of pain. And it is reported that we will do more to avoid pain - than we will to achieve pleasure. Can you begin to see how this strategy might serve you?

Here's a personal example. For the longest time I wished I had some articles that I could submit to publications around the country. Wished? Oh please. Wishing is a very weak, insipid plea for someone to simply hand you something that you are not willing to work for. It is NOT the stuff of producers, contributors and people who can make a positive difference in the world. I knew I needed something stronger.

I decided to create an online publication entitled LLL's PowerTips. The plan was that twice a month I would send out a practical, powerful, pithy idea for subscribers to focus on for the next few days. I thought that if people signed up for it, it would force me to actually sit down and write at least two articles a month.

And wouldn't you know it? They did sign up! There are now over 3,000 subscribers who basically said, "I'm expecting this article to show up every Monday morning. Don't let me down!"

Gulp.

Do you see what I did? In effect, I super glued my back door shut! And please know this. I did not know in advance how to do this thing. No. I simply concluded that I would figure it out as I went along.

I now have over 80 short articles that, not only are getting published, but they became the script for a new book and the idea for another audio program. My business is growing, people are receiving help in achieving their goals and aspirations, and I'm seeing myself as someone that I can count on. All in all - a pretty nice arrangement.

Please know that I am NOT talking about burn out here. I am talking about high leverage activities that will get you where you want to go.

So, decide what you want, make a plan, commit 100%, seal off that back door and take daily consistent action. You will be successful!

Word count: 844

Tag line: Linda Larsen, CSP, helps individuals think strategically, communicate effectively, and celebrate success. She is an international keynote speaker, trial consultant and author of the book, True Power, and the best selling audio program, 12 Secrets to High Self-Esteem. She can be reached at www.lindalarsen.com or 941-927-4700.

 

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