New Home Sales Training & New Home Sales Management Blog - Myers Barnes » change

A Simple Plan to Change Your Life

Myers Barnes — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:24:49 +0000

You want your life to change. That’s good. However, a lot of people wish their lives were different, but wishing doesn’t make it happen. Working at it does.

Most people aren’t willing to leave the soothing comfort of familiarity. They fear the unknown, so they remain safely anchored in Humdrum Haven.

But if you have reached the point where you are ready to pay the price to change your life, how do you do it?

For real change to occur, two things must happen. First, you must alter your thinking. Second, you must endure the pain of self-discipline.

Change begins in the mind. It starts on the inside and works its way out. The Bible states it simply: As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

All those scattered thoughts that skip across the landscape of your mind gradually crystallize into the person you are becoming. They control the actions you take and configure the lifestyle you’ve chosen.

The way you think determines your belief system, which evolves into the consequences and memories you have today.

To think differently, you need to put new information into your mind. The best way to do that is to read an hour every day. That’s what I’ve done for years. As a result, the new information I’ve absorbed has overcome my old … and sometimes self-destructive … thoughts.

When your thinking changes, so do your actions; and when your actions change, so do your outcomes.

Your brain is like a giant computer. It unloads what’s been been fed into it. When you watch TV shows, listen to radio and music, read books and magazines — all of the information you’re taking in from these different sources is fed into your brain. So, if you want to change the way your mind thinks and alter the way your life is going, change your brain food.

Input the positive. Overcome the negative.

The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Zig Ziglar says to “focus on the good, the clean and the positive.”

Hang out with uplifting people. Listen to informational CDs and podcasts. Read inspiring books. Absorb the right information and your life changes. Before you know it, you have become a product of that programming.

Then, once you start thinking differently, take action. Do what you know needs to be done, when you have to do it, whether you feel like it or not. That’s discipline.

Alexander Hamilton is quoted as saying, “Men give me some credit for genius. All the genius I have lies in this: When I have a subject in hand, I study it profoundly. Day and night it is before me. I explore it in all its bearings. My mind becomes pervaded with it. Then the effort which I make is what the people call the fruit of genius. It is the fruit of labor and thought.”

There’s the key … labor and thought. Wishing won’t change your life. Working at it will. Believe differently. Be disciplined. It’s that simple.

How To Make A Change

Myers Barnes — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:23:56 +0000

The only way to make a change is if you feel some degree of pain. That may not sound motivational, but until the pain of remaining the same outweighs the pain of making the change, that’s when you will change.

So how do you make that change? You have to do what you have to, when you have to, whether you feel like it or not. This concept by Elbert Hubbard, American writer and Philosopher gets to the root of how to make a change. It’s discipline.

If you want to change a behavior you have to do things that you don’t want to do when you don’t feel like doing it, whether you like it or not. Otherwise you spend your life in one of two zones, the pain of discipline or the zone of regrets. Do you want to look back at your life and say I wish I had done? What zone are you going to live in?

Stuck in a rut? Chew on this

Myers Barnes — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:24:30 +0000

In 1870, a young man named Thomas Adams was trying to find a cost-effective substitute for rubber. He began experimenting with the sap from the Central American chicle tree, but every attempt to convert the sap into rubber failed.

He became so frustrated, he threw a piece of the sap into his mouth and began chewing. He liked the taste. Instead of continuing along the same road to rubber, which he felt would keep producing the same discouraging results, he changed direction. Adams used the sap to create the first mass-produced chewing gum in the world. The original name was Adams New York No. 1, but we know the gum today as Chiclets.

It’s natural to get frustrated .. tired … disillusioned in today’s housing market. You remember all those awards and top-salesperson-of-the-year plaques you won in the past and you wonder … what happened?

The short answer is “life.” Life happened. Life with all its uncertainties, challenges and unexpected twists. It rocks your boat and shakes your foundation. What can you do?

To begin with, forget the past. Ignore the awards on your wall. They can be anchors to your past and visual reminders of how sales used to be.

Then do what Adams did. Chew on your problems, chart a new direction and change course. Every day should be viewed as a new beginning … a new zone to explore. That zone isn’t the past or even the “just present” because as soon as you blink, the present becomes the past.

The zone you’ll be inhabiting is the future … the time ahead that’s filled with prospects, expectations, opportunities and your destiny. And the best part? The future comes at you one day at a time. You can handle that.

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Psychology of change Factor #6: Pessimist or Optimist

Myers Barnes — Fri, 14 May 2010 14:16:24 +0000

Change doesn’t just happen. It takes effort to alter a behavior or situation in your life. I’ve been discussing the psychology of change recently. I’ve covered the first five steps: Dissatisfaction, Discipline, Attitude, Environment, and Locus of Control .

Now, I’d like to take you through the sixth step on the change ladder: Pessimism versus Optimism.

You’ve heard it ad nauseum: Do you see the glass as half empty or half full?

The Optimist sees the glass as half full. This is a positive viewpoint that the glass is filling up, not being drained of its contents. With this mindset, you see all things as possible. There is no failure, only lessons learned, which leads to pursuing new opportunities. Each step is a move forward.

The Pessimist is looking in the other direction. Because the glass is not filled to the brim, it’s on its way to becoming empty. The pessimist is the person who plays the devil’s advocate, finding the opposition to your vision. This is the individual who responds with, "I’m just being realistic." The reality here is that if you believe in negative outcomes, they become a foregone conclusion. If you want to achieve something remarkable, you have to think remarkably.

Once you are committed to making a positive change in your life, start with a positive outlook. Believe that you can achieve. Know that mistakes will happen and you can learn from them. A misstep can potentially lead you in a different and better direction!

Optimism makes you rich and pessimism makes you poor, not just in the wallet but in life.

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Psychology of change Factor #3: Attitude–New Home Sales Management Training

Myers Barnes — Tue, 04 May 2010 16:29:56 +0000

We’ve looked at Dissatisfaction and Discipline as the first two factors in the psychology of change. The next rung of the ladder deals with Attitude. Do you have the mindset to accept this undertaking? Are you embracing the desire to change or merely accepting it? What is your energy level? Attitude is key to successfully executing the change you’ve identified as worthwhile because (a) you’re dissatisfied enough with your current situation to want to make the change; and (b) you’re prepared to discipline yourself to take the necessary steps.

But where is your head at? Is it a case where maybe your doctor has advised you to quit smoking, lose weight, or reduce your stress levels? Has your boss recommended an "attitude adjustment"? Are you taking charge of your life or just taking orders? Consider this step carefully because if your attitude is in need of adjustment, you cannot succeed in your quest for change.

Look at the position of each letter of the word "ATTITUDE" in the alphabet:

A = 1
T = 20
T = 20
I = 9
T = 20
U = 21
D = 4
E = 5

Then add them up. I wonder if it is a coincidence that the letters of the word "attitude" add up to 100? If your attitude is 100%, you will be successful.

So, how is your attitude adding up these days? Are the odds of successful change stacked in your favor?

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Psychology of change Factor #2: Discipline–New Home Sales Management Training

Myers Barnes — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:35:30 +0000

The first step on the ladder of change is dissatisfaction, which I wrote about in my last post. Now, let’s take the next step toward achieving a positive outcome.

The second factor is Discipline. Here’s where wishful thinking becomes purposeful action. Discipline drives you to do what you must and when you must, whether you feel like it or not. Discipline gets you to the gym on a rainy Sunday afternoon. It’s what forces you to pick up the phone and call prospects every day. Discipline is that little drill sergeant in your head that says, "Drop and give me 20" when you’re ready to cave in and devour that slice of cheesecake or say "yes" when you really mean "no".

And it’s not a new concept. Over a century ago, Albert Hubbard defined discipline as, "The ability to make yourself do the things you should do, when you should do them, whether you feel like it or not."

Discipline, combined with dissatisfaction, is the free will to choose your pain. Stay at a job that is frustrating and unfulfilling or make the effort to find new opportunities and endure the rejection involved in finding the right match.
The decision to change happens in an instant. What follows is a process that requires the discipline to see it through to the end. Discipline is the difference between "quitting" for a month (which is a pause, not a change) and quitting for good!

You will spend your life in one of two pain zones: The Pain of Discipline or the Pain of Regret. If you choose discipline, recognize that the pain can go on for a while but there will be a positive outcome on the other side. Then ask yourself how long you will experience regret if you don’t change.
Put them on the scale. Discipline weighs ounces. Regret weighs a ton!

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Why It’s Easier to Destroy than Change an Organization-New Home Sales Training

Myers Barnes — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:18:59 +0000

Why does Walmart exist? Because other companies could not understand or chose not to fulfill the ever-changing needs of the public. The same can be said of many, many other organizations and companies that are now on their way to the dustbin of history. Why is this so? Because it’s easier to destroy or re-create an organization than change it and we are all in the crosshairs!

Can’t see the video? Click here to view it on YouTube.

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Your Life as Art

Myers Barnes — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:19:06 +0000

When you are born, you’re a blank canvas, without fears or beliefs. You build your system as you go, with the influence of family, friends, teachers, colleagues, and even some vague acquaintances. This is your life tableau, an artful compilation of the people, places, and events that have shaped your beliefs, inspired your passion, instilled your fears, and motivated your success.

So what happens if that painting isn’t quite the artwork you hoped it would be? Do you stop looking at it? I hope not, because that means you’ve given up on the possibility of finding more joy, success, and opportunity.

Go back to this mural and add more brush strokes. Change the way you put the colors on the canvas. That brush could add the stroke of brilliance you need to be inspired to achieve greatness in your life.

Think about it this way. It’s likely that your parents and family programmed you, your peers influenced you, your teachers taught you. Look at that chain as the colors in your palette. What do you want to change? Whom do you want to listen to? Who should you ignore?

Changing your life tableau is a matter of altering your mindset and perspective. To do that, you need to first understand what causes you to make decisions, to feel emotions (fear, love, excitement, surprise, anger), and to react. Shed the negative thinkers like a used-up brush that’s lost its bristles. Refresh the colors in your palette that have dried up or lost their lustre.

Then display this new objet d’art to the world and reap the praise and positive energy that comes back to you.

Myers

Stay Tuned for More New Home Sales Training and Real Estate Insights from Industry Expert Myers Barnes.

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Just Ask A Fool What He Thinks

Myers Barnes — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:51:17 +0000

Do you want to know a guaranteed way to kill your creativity? Tell other people about how you plan to make a daring change by establishing and achieving personal goals. It’s amazing how the small thinkers of the world will succinctly explain to you how your ideas and plans will not work just at the crucial time when you need encouragement to go forward from your "comfort zone" and into the unknown.

Here are 25 of the most common responses from friends, relatives, and office workers who are envious because you are on your way to becoming something they can only imagine. When you hear them, remember this proverb: A man who wants to lead the orchestra must first turn his back on the crowd.

1. Great Idea! Let’s form a committee to go to work on it.
2. Let’s think about it for a while.
3. Don’t get your hopes up too high.
4. Let’s discuss it some other time.
5. It will never work. / What if it doesn’t work?
6. Why not leave well enough alone?
7. That’s not in our job description.
8. That’s not how we do things around here.
9. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
10. We tried it a while back and it didn’t work.
11. It will create more work for everyone.
12. If we do it, they may wonder why we didn’t tackle it
sooner.
13. The competition does it that way.
14. The competition doesn’t do it that way.
15. Let the competition try it first and see if it works.
16. That’s not my job.
17. The boss will never go for it.
18. Hold on. We’ve got to run it by legal.
19. What! Where did you come up with that idea?
20. It’s too late to fix it now.
21. That’s the kind of idea that could cost you your job.
22. It’s not in our budget.
23. Who will we get to do it?
24. It will take a long time to get it off the ground.
25. Why do we have to push things? Let’s not rock the
boat.

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The Top-Ten Strategies For Dealing With A Dead Horse – Myers Barnes

Myers Barnes — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:52:52 +0000

A friend of mine recently gave me The Top-Ten Strategies For Dealing With A Dead Horse. I first thought it was hilarious, and then realized it was a commentary on change.

According to the book, here are your options for dealing with a dead horse.

1. Buy a strong whip.
2. Change riders.
3. Appoint a committee to study the horse.
4. Appoint a team to revive the horse.
5. Send out a memo or email that the horse isn’t really dead.
6. Put someone in charge to find "the real problem."
7. Harness several other dead horses together for increased speed and efficiency.
8. Rewrite the standard definition of a live horse.
9. Declare the dead horse as the "way it’s always been done."
10. Promote the dead horse to a supervisory position.

Honestly, haven’t we all seen every one of these solutions enacted at our workplaces and our personal lives? In reality, of course, there’s only one way to deal with the problem of a dead horse and that is to dismount.

There is boiled-down wisdom in the proverb, "There’s no use beating a dead horse." It’s not going to go anywhere. You can’t revive it. It’s only going to get worse. All you can do is to walk away and let it rest.

Often, we have a hard time doing that because our dead horse is familiar to us. We’ve been riding it for a while and grown accustomed to it. To leave it behind would mean to go in another direction — to make a change in life — to abandon something we’re comfortable with and venture into the unknown.

No one said you have to love change to be successful, but you do need to accept it. Change is the substance for growth. Sometimes you must tear something down to be able to rebuild or leave something behind to be able to move ahead.

Change offers you the opportunity to redirect your outcome — and your income.

Keep selling,
Myers
Myers Barnes Associates, Inc.

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