by Kelly McCormick | Featured Contributor
I was hired as a last ditch effort to save a sinking ship of a business.
The client, we’ll call him Mike, needed to re-launch his company and fast. It wasn’t looking good. Mike was close to giving up.
Today we had our follow-up call. I was apprehensive. The outcome from our work could have gone either way.
1. What’s Your State of Mind?
SURPRISE! You could hear the excitement as Mike blurted out, “Kelly those marketing strategies really paid off. Not only did I meet the goals we set, I exceeded them!”
Wow. That was great news!
During our call, Mike also acknowledged how personally stuck he had been.
And I quote, “Wow I had so many negative beliefs and attitudes. I don’t know how you were able to get through to me.”
Yep. He was right. Our initial sessions were tough going.
In the beginning, many of my suggestions were shot down at the speed of light.
Even my business logic, and examples of client successes, slammed up against Mike’s stinking thinking.
I heard responses like, “Yah but. In this economy, it’s going to be tough to get these marketing ideas to work.”
Another popular Mike comeback was, “I’ve talked to other business people. They all say the same thing. Times are tough. There’s way more competition today and people aren’t spending money.”
2. Our Thoughts Are Real
From personal experience, achieving success requires a certain mindset.
But I’m not alone in my thinking.
Experts such as Quantum Physicist Fred Alan Wolf, PH.D., state that “thoughts are real and what we think really does matter.”
3. Why Limiting Beliefs Sabotage Success
I’ve seen it over and over again. Complaining attracts exactly what you fear, and it keeps you stuck.
Over time, Mike’s negative thoughts had turned into beliefs which became ongoing self-fulfilling prophecies. He was in his own way.
4. Listen to What You’re Saying
Most of us operate on auto-pilot. It takes a high level of self-awareness to recognize and change habits.
It’s great if you can have someone like me to identify any blocks to success, while helping to build and market your business. However you can also become your own observer.
Here’s the DIY (do it yourself) approach.
Simply tell yourself, “I will hear everything that comes out of my mouth.” It’s amazing how our subconscious responds to instructions.
Warning! Some of what you hear may not be flattering.
5. Change Your Thoughts to Change Your Outcome
Next, write down all of your negative thoughts.
Then do a re-frame.
Here’s an example of just one of the belief changes that Mike finally made:
– “Yah but. In this economy, it’s going to be tough to get these marketing ideas to work” was replaced with “People are going to eat this stuff up.” Mike had his own lingo.
In my book OutSell Yourself, in the chapter Open Your Mind to Success, there are other examples of limiting messages around success, money, clients etc. You’ll also find positive statements to replace them with.
6. Say It Like You Mean It.
When Mike started replacing his negative statements with positive ones, I asked him to put some feeling into his voice. This raises energy, which raises your mood and does so much more.
Saying something, and feeling it, sends an altered signal to your brain.
7. Re-wiring Your Brain’s Auto-Responses
Not to get technical, but consistently thinking different thoughts creates new neural pathways in your noggin.
Eventually the old pathways, leading to the negative beliefs, will die off.
Now positive thinking becomes your brain’s new default system.
8. Old Dogs Do Learn New Tricks
Mike ended our conversation with, “You know, even in this economy there are lots of businesses that are making money.”
WHAT!? That sounded like something I’d say. Oh I did say that…many times.
Hum. It looks like Mike heard me. And he decided to re-wire his brain to trigger ongoing positive thought patterns, which helped in reaching his goals.
Here are the results:
– Mike has tripled his income
– He continues to receive media attention
– Several new opportunities are opening up
– Plus, he found a terrific girlfriend (I didn’t help with that marketing endeavor or maybe I did? What the heck. I might ask him to include it in the testimonial too.)
9. Success Tips on Steroids
Rewiring your brain is part of a process for achieving success.
More tips are in this blog post, Kelly McCormick’s Tips to Succeed – No Matter What.
Please feel free to ask questions or share your ideas and comments.
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Kelly McCormick – Business Growth and Marketing Strategist
From her lawn chair in California, Kelly McCormick helps entrepreneurs and companies world-wide to increase business. She can help package and price your products and services to really connect with buyers. She also develops targeted marketing messages and strategies that get results.
But, Kelly doesn’t just talk the talk. She walks the walk.
Kelly applies a strong gut instinct, an education in psychology and sociology, and real world experience to build successful businesses. She has owned three successful companies of her own, the first at age 21! Kelly has also helped hundreds of other businesses to achieve more success.
Kelly is the author of a Top Ten book, OutSell Yourself: Ethical Business and Sales Techniques. In addition, she speaks about business, marketing and selling at national and international conferences, on-line and off-line events and in the media.
Kelly can help you to package and price your services and products in a way that really connects with buyers. She can also craft your marketing messages and strategies so that you stand out from the crowd. To talk about your business contact Kelly at www.OutSellYourself.com.
Connect with Kelly:
Twitter – Facebook – Google+ – LinkedIn – OutSell Yourself Blog
6 Replies to “Re-Wire Your Brain to Achieve More Success in Business”
Kelly McCormick
Hi Liz,
Thanks for sharing your insights.
I agree that “you have to do whatever you need to do to change.”
For me, being happy and feeling peaceful are priceless experiences. If I do slip into fear, the contrast of feelings is almost painful.
For that reason alone I make a choice to consciously change my thoughts, which in turn changes my mood and steers me towards positive outcomes.
So many people don’t realize that suffering is optional. And it’s okay to feel good!
Have a great day – Kelly
Liz McGee
Hi Kelly,
This is such a significant post because how you think and your attitude make all difference, no one knows that better than me. I’m someone that can get wrapped up in negativity if I let myself. I manage to snap out of it but I feel for people who just can’t.
Negativity can be poison to your business, and even your life. And if you find yourself being negative you have to rewire your brain as you say. It’s ften not as easy as it sounds, but you have to do whatever you need to do to change.
Your tips are helpful and motivating so I thank you. There are definitely days when I’ll need them 🙂
Blessings,
Liz
Kelly McCormick
Hi Carolyn,
Thank you for your kind feedback.
I agree, “The power of thought is amazing.”
When I wrote my book, OutSell Yourself: Ethical Business and Sales Techniques, I debated about whether it was appropriate to cover the topic of thoughts and outcomes.
Over time, I felt that I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t discuss how I’ve managed to do so well in business.
Also, when working with entrepreneurs and companies I saw it over and over again; a person’s attitude influences everything.
So when I wrote the final draft of my book, thoughts and outcomes got their own chapter!
On a personal note, it has taken two years to recover from a serious health issue.
During that time, I stood firm. I wouldn’t read or listen to any limiting beliefs about “projected outcomes”.
I decided early on that I was in charge of my health.
From day one, I declared that I would have a full recovery no matter what.
I aligned my thoughts to see perfect health, feel it and know it. And that reality has played out.
Btw, I’m writing a book about that experience. It includes information about what I did to consciously manage my thoughts, which assisted in defying the odds.
We are more powerful than we realize!
Carolyn Arnold
Excellent post. The power of thought is amazing.
Kelly McCormick
Hi Michelle,
You make a great point. “Do we want to change it (our thought patterns)?”
Some people say YES to living their best life, no matter what.
Other people make changes when their current situation becomes too uncomfortable or intolerable.
And then there are folks who live from a glass half-empty place, as if it was their destiny.
Life truly is a journey and we have more choices then we realize.
I am grateful that I woke up to the fact that I have a BIG say in how I’ll act and react to whatever comes my way!
Michelle Spear
Mindset is HUGE! Fortunately, we all have the ability to change the wiring. The big question is: Do we want to change it?
Comments are closed.