Yes, But...

I regularly speak to large groups of people in seminars, talks and my Joint Venture Bootcamps. I know that, while I am speaking, my audience are internally talking to themselves at something approaching 600 words a minute. They're either saying to themselves, "Wow! I can do that! Yes, this is a great idea I can and will implement. That sounds exciting to me!" OR they are saying to themselves, "YES, it all sounds great, BUT..."

What we say to ourselves about opportunities, challenges or options that we are confronted with or offered, means a lot. How we interpret those inputs will determine to a very large extent how we react and what choices will result. Usually, we interpret our input by comparing it with the information we have gathered in our lives: our experiences, learning and exposure. It's almost like we scan our frame of referenc, looking for a fit. And this is the dangerous part, because if I hear the adjective, "Ex Wife", I might have a negative reaction based on my past experience and prejudge the person it is being applied to. If my ex wife was a demon, guess how I will tend to evaluate someone else's ex wife, IF I don't stand back and get objective?

If you've been educated to believe that all businessmen are bad and dishonest, it might be hard for you to succeed as an entrerpreneur. Your self talk will hobble, distract, sabotage and undermine your success, because your belief and business and your entrepreneurial aspirations will not be congruent. So we need to be very open minded, non-judgmental and objective about new information that we're exposed to. When you hear yourself saying, "Yes, BUT" or prejudging new information, it's time to give yourself a "Check-up from the neck up" and decide not to deny yourself the opportunity to positively benefit from this input.

One of the ways I have found to make this work well is to take a lot of notes or record the seminar, and to make the decision to be completely unemotional about evidence I receive that conflicts with my present belief system. I use this affirmation: "I know that I have a lot to learn and that not everything I believe is true, so I choose to be open to new options and opportunities."

Robin J. Elliott www.DollarMakers.com