Recently I read the book Switch: How to Make Change When Change is Hard. Written by Chip and Dan Heath, two brothers who have thought a lot about why we do the things we do, Switch categorizes our two decision making forces as the rider and the elephant.

The rider is the rational part of us. The rider knows that it's not best to eat five scoops of ice cream a day, smoke, or spend money on things that you don't necessarily need, but the rider has limited willpower.

The elephant is the emotional side of us. It's bigger than the rider, and although the rider can guide the elephant places, often the elephant will win out. It wants that ice cream (or any sort of instant gratification), and it wants it now, in the moment.

If you want to make a change in your personal, financial, or work life (really anything), you have to appeal to both your rider and elephant, and really mean it.

Here are some steps that the Heath brothers lay out to get both the rider and the elephant (the whole you) on board when trying to make a change in your life.

Direct the Rider

1. When you decide you want to make a change, look to your past experience with changing things (or other peoples' experiences) to see what has worked. For example: When were you in a situation where you were able to cut back on your spending? What helped you be successful in the past with that? The Heath brothers call this looking for bright spots.
2. Think in terms of specifics, rather than the large picture. In our classes, we discuss smart goals. Don't just say you're going to cut back on spending, say how. For example: I am going to eat out for lunch only two times a week rather than four times a week. I will pack my lunch the night before.
3. Know where these changes are taking you so you can remember why this change is worth it. For example: Because I am packing my lunch, I will save $25 a week. Over the course of three months, this will be enough money for me to buy a plane ticket and take the vacation that I have been wanting to take.

Motivate the Elephant

1. Like we said before, having your rider decide to make the change isn't enough. Make the change real moving forward. Post a picture of your vacation destination that you are saving for on your computer screen or wall. Appeal to the emotional side of the elephant.
2. Break it down so your goal doesn't seem huge and overwhelming. For example, buying a house can seem inaccessible to you at this time, but there are a lot of steps you can do to get yourself in a place where you are ready to buy a house, like working on your credit, meeting a homeownership counselor, etc.
3. Make successful change a part of your identity. Have faith in yourself as someone who can achieve goals and can be diligent about saving money or whatever your goal may be.

Shape the Path

1. Once you commit to a change, make it easy for you to stick to it. For example, if you plan to make your lunch more, get ingredients to make lunch that will be desirable. Schedule in time in your evening or morning to make lunch so that it actually fits in with your schedule.
2. Make it a habit. When you make a change and it becomes a habit, then you don't have to think about it anymore.
3. Once you've made one positive change in your life, look for other ways to keep improving. Success is contagious! Why not keep challenging yourself or your loved ones to move forward?!

For more info about Switch, check out the Heath brothers' website.

To get help making a positive switch or change in your life, come see a financial coach at Innovative Changes! You can call us for an appointment at anytime: 503-249-5205.

By Talia Kahn-Kravis

Photo by Brittany Hock