If there’s a Magic Key to success, it’s this:
Dr. Maxwell Maltz, the author of the remarkable book Psycho Cybernetics, says the mind cannot tell the difference between an action that is real and one that is vividly imagined. This is not just a theory to have fun thinking about; it is a real skill that will accelerate your progress toward what you consider success. It will help you in every situation.
Picture this: You are scheduled to be a presenter to one hundred executives. Your audience will have just finished dinner and drinks and may be getting sleepy. Since you have had little public speaking experience, your attitude is less than positive. Simply thinking about the event brings on sweaty palms, dry mouth, butterflies, tense muscles, and shallow breathing. You begin to ask yourself: “Why should these people listen to me?” “How can I get their positive attention?” HELP!
THIS TOOL IS YOURS TO USE NOW. MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU.
Find a quiet place where you can be alone.
Close your eyes.
Take deep breaths and slowly exhale. Feel the stress leaving your body.
Now focus on the situation you want to meet with confidence.
Tell yourself that you are confident and have the ability to do it successfully.
Imagine going through the process and seeing successful results.
The time has arrived. You hear your introduction. Your heart skips a beat as you walk to the microphone. Your fear has turned to excitement and you feel as if you own the world.
You Act as if you are totally fearless.
You Act as if you have exactly what your audience wants to hear.
You Act as if you speak to crowds likes this frequently.
You Act as if you speak from your heart and don’t need notes.
You Act as if you own the company.
Professionals in every sport imagine success before they perform. ‘Act as If’ is used by successful sales people, managers, parents, and people in all walks of life.
“Formulate and stamp indelibly on your mind a mental picture of yourself as succeeding. Hold this picture tenaciously. Never permit it to fade. Your mind will seek to develop the picture and make it real.” — Norman Vincent Peale – The Power of Positive Thinking