After
competing unsuccessfully in the 1974 Olympic decathlon,
Gold Medallist Bruce Jenner took a life-size picture
of the winner of the event and put a photo of his
own face over the face of the winner. In addition
to following his usual training program, he viewed
the picture of himself as the winner each day. He
won the next Olympics in 1976.
Knowing
what you want in life — having specific goals and
updating them regularly — is a major key to success.
However, while traditional goal setting engages your
left brain with specifics and action steps, what do
you suppose your right brain is doing? Daydreaming?
Humming background tunes?
Generally
speaking, your right brain deals in images, emotions
and creative pursuits like music and art. However,
a major talent of your right brain is its ability
to see what you want in its entirety — already completed!
It then goes to work discovering what is missing and
needed to make the goal real in your physical world.
Thus, a powerful way to enlist your right brain in
the goal-setting process is to make it the trustee
of "end results."
Distinguishing
End Results from Goals
An
end result is often slightly different than its companion
goal. For example, if your goal is to earn an MBA
degree, the end result of that goal is probably not
the piece of paper with its official seal (unless
you have a very strong desire to frame and display
it and feel good every time you and others see it
on the wall). The end result is more likely the wall
of the corner VP office on which you’ll hang the certificate
once you land the new job for which the MBA qualifies
you.
See
the difference? The MBA is sort of a lifeless concept
(and probably associated with lots of hard work and
sacrifice), while the image of the new job is exciting
and compelling. Focusing on the MBA could generate
negative feelings and slow down goal achievement.
Focusing on the end result creates all sorts of positive
emotions and speeds up goal achievement.
The
major criteria of an end result are that it must 1)
generate extremely strong feelings, and 2) be something
that can only happen if and when you reach your stated
goal.
To
effectively link your goals with end results, keep
these three principles in mind:
1.
Select an end result that you really want and have
strong feelings about.
The
more strongly you want something, the easier it is
for your subconscious to create the desired result.
For example, if you want to earn a specific amount
in commissions or bonuses, identify the end result
of that effort — something you really want and can
put energy behind that can only be purchased, obtained
or experienced if you earn the specified amount of
money. Your end result might be recognition, new clothing,
a new car or boat, a nicer place to live, or the ability
to donate of a sum of money to your favorite charity.
2.
Focus on the end result rather than on the steps needed
to achieve it.
Start
by using your left-brain to develop a well conceived
action plan designed to accomplish your goal. This
kind of planning is necessary, and you will want to
continue using it. However, once that plan is in place,
shift your focus to the desired end result (the recognition,
car, house, boat or whatever you’ve chosen). This
incorporates the right brain way of thinking and problem
solving and can lead to creative new ways of achieving
your goal.
3.
Obtain or create a tangible picture of your end result.
Visualizing
something with strong emotion is a powerful tool in
achieving results. Even if you are very skilled at
seeing pictures in your imagination, obtain or create
some physical symbol of your end result — a clear
image that you will see over and over again in the
same way. If outside factors such as interest rates,
the economy or other people’s attitudes predict a
negative outcome for you, it is crucial that you have
this tangible picture to keep your attention focused
on your desired outcome.
Represent
your end result as precisely as possible. Use photographs,
travel brochures, postcards, gummed stickers and/or
hand-drawn sketches. Make your picture bright and
colorful. If you want to buy a red car, be sure to
have a picture of a red car, not a blue one. If you
want to sell five homes, assemble photos of the homes
and place a "sold" sign in front of each
one. Complete at least one picture — or create several,
each showing your end result in a way that triggers
strong feelings each time you see the pictures.
Put
Yourself in the Picture
Place
a photograph of yourself in the picture. This strategy
gives the picture
immediacy and gets the message to your subconscious
that you want this result. If your goal is to double
your sales this year, create a picture of you at the
company banquet receiving an award. You can do this
by getting photos of past award dinners and putting
your picture in place of those being honored.
Script
the Picture
Somewhere
on the page, write affirmations appropriate for the
end result you want. Here are some samples:
•
I am proud to be on stage receiving the plaque
for being number one in sales in my company for the
year _______. (Fill in the blank.)
•
I am thrilled to have qualified as a member
of the Million Dollar Club on or before _______. (Fill
in the date.) I get excited every time new clients
see this acknowledgment of my expertise.
•
I am grateful to my husband for having kept the family
going while I developed my career. I can’t wait to
show him our savings account, with enough money to
allow him to quit his job and find something he really
enjoys doing.
Display
the Picture
Look
at your end-result picture daily. Display the picture
in a prominent place, such as on the refrigerator,
bathroom mirror or closet door. If you have people
around you who are not positive about what you are
doing, keep your picture in a private place, such
as a folder or three-ring binder. Look at it just
before you go to sleep and as soon as you awaken,
when your subconscious is most available.
Take
some time with this important process. Enjoy choosing
your end result and making your tangible picture.
You are not just making a "picture book."
You are the architect designing your future, and the
end result is a major part of the blueprint.
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Lynea
Corson-Hadley, Ph.D., is an expert in helping
others break through blocks to reaching their goals
in all areas of professional and personal life. She
is president of Life Skills Unlimited, publishers
of sales, health and educational materials; an international
speaker and trainer; and coauthor of the book, The
Secrets of Super Selling, from which this article
was adapted. Corson-Hadley was one of only twelve
people in the U.S. to qualify for the 1985 President’s
Honor Club with Success Motivation Institute, the
world’s largest personal development company.
Focus
on End Results