Views from The Growth Coach�
May 2007
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Greetings!

As the trees blossom and the grass begins growing again I couldn't help thinking about what a big impact thesse small changes make. It's truly amazing and applicable to your daily actions. Enjoy the changes!

Incremental Changes, Extraordinary Results
 
Growth Coach Website

My ten-year-old daughter has been taking piano lessons for about five years now. As most kids do, when she gets bored with practicing she will play one of the pieces she has already learned as fast as she can, making the same mistakes over and over. I tell her to slow down and play it carefully and she responds with the dreaded question: "Why?" Being a parent, I have the two standard answers: "Because," and "Just do it." But, I'm also a coach and I need to take the time to actually tell her why it's a better approach. Here's the adult version:

We've all heard the phrase "Practice makes perfect." But, what is it about the act of practicing that yields the desired result? Part of the answer lies in the process of learning the right combination of movements. Children learning to ride their bicycles are a great example. They seem to struggle for the longest time, trying to balance and to overcome their fear until one day they suddenly get it. Now they can repeat the activity over and over, building muscle memory.

Recent research supports that process. Our nerve fibers, neurons, are covered with an insulating material called myelin. As an insulator it prevents electrical impulses from leaking out of the nerve and keeps the signals sent between the brain and muscles strong. But, over time, the myelin interacts with the neuron and gets thicker as the neuron is repeatedly stimulated, enabling the neuron to become more and more efficient. So, as we develop muscle memory, as we link vision and intention to what we do, our ability to repeat those specific muscle movements is enhanced.

And so it is in business. Most of us are not born with the ability to crunch the numbers or build customer relationships. We've learned to do that over time. So, when you discover that there is something that doesn't come easily to you, why would you expect to change your behavior overnight? My clients have often heard me refer to taking baby steps. Far from being a derogatory term, it's probably the best way to develop a better practice, a good habit. Think of it in terms of degrees of change in the right direction. As you move forward, simply move toward your goal one degree per day, a small incremental change. You will discover that in three months you will have turned 90 degrees, a complete turn to the right.

Make the question not "Why?" but "Why not?"


Focus on Sales
 


People are continually surprised by results that don't meet their expectations. The opportunity was there, I know how to sell and I did everything right, so why didn't I get the sale? If we think about this in terms of the sales memories we've created over time, we've probably got a lot more failures than successes to remember. We are practiced at failing. The key to success lies in being able to block out those negative memories and focus on the positive experiences we've had, to practice those activities and enjoy success.


Networking Tips
 


Spring is a time of new growth, so grow your network. If you've been attending the same networking events for the past year, make a commitment to attend one new networking opportunity each month. Remember, if the people there are like you, you'll never meet unless one of you tries something new!


We've been published internationally!
 

Money Monkey Link
I'm very proud to have been published in a great new eco-friendly book. The Money Monkey is a collection of tips, techniques and advice on how to become an entrepreneur and 25% of all profits go to The Red Cross. I've contributed an article called "The Seven Deadly Business Sins".

For a limited period you can get the book at a discounted price by following the link below:

The Money Monkey book



If you have ideas for future issues or questions on this one, let me know. And, if you think of others who could benefit from this information, click on the "Forward to a friend" link below.

Wishing you progress in every step you take,


Dave Ferguson
The Growth Coach

Phone: 847-968-2468
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