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Why the Elephants Don’t Run?
by
Jim Donovan
A number of years ago, I had the rather unique
experience of being backstage in
Madison Square Garden, in New York,
during the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. To
say the least, it was a fascinating experience. I was
able to walk around looking at the lions, tigers,
giraffes and all the other circus animals. As I was
passing the elephants, I suddenly stopped, confused by
the fact that these huge creatures were being held by
only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no
cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at any
time, break away from their bonds but for some reason,
they did not. I saw a trainer near by and asked why
these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there
and made no attempt to get away.
"Well," he said, "when they are very young and much
smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at
that age, it's enough to hold them. As they grow up,
they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away.
They think the rope can still hold them, so they never
try to break free."
I was amazed. These animals could at any time break free
from their bonds but because they believed they could
not, they were stuck right where they were.
Like the elephants, how many of us go through life
hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something,
simply because we failed at it once before? How many of
us are being held back by old, outdated beliefs that no
longer serve us? Have you avoided trying something new
because of a limiting belief? Worse, how many of us are
being held back by someone else's limiting beliefs? Do
you tell yourself you can't sell because you're not a
salesperson?
Particularly in starting or running a business, we are
cautioned not to take risks, usually by well intentioned
friends and family. How many of us have heard, "You
can't do that?" These are the dream stealers who, due to
their own limiting beliefs, will attempt to discourage
you from living your dreams. You must ignore them at all
cost! I am not suggesting that you should not seek
advice from qualified individuals and mentors, but that
you avoid like the plague, being swayed by the limiting
beliefs of others, especially people who are not in
their own business.
Challenge your own limiting beliefs by questioning them.
If you begin to question a belief, you automatically
weaken it. The more you question your limiting beliefs,
the more they are weakened. It's like kicking the legs
out from under a stool. Once you weaken one leg, the
stool begins to lose its balance and fall. Think back to
a time when you "sold" someone on yourself. We are
selling all the time. You have to sell your ideas to
your spouse, your children, and your employees - even
your banker. Maybe, as a child, you sold Girl Scout
cookies or magazine subscriptions to raise money for
your school team. That was selling too!
Once you realize you are, in fact, a capable
salesperson, you have weakened that old belief and began
to replace it with a new, empowering one. Look for
references to support the new beliefs you want to
cultivate. As in the example of the stool, you want to
reinforce your beliefs by adding more and more "legs" to
them. Find people who have accomplished what you want to
accomplish, discover what they did and model their
behavior. Remember back to times in your past when you
were successful and use that experience to propel
yourself forward. If your challenge is in sales, read
sales books and listen to tapes or attend sales
seminars. This is a critical area of your business. One
that cannot be undermined by limiting beliefs.
There is a technique called "fake it until you make it"
that works well. I am not suggesting you live in denial,
just that you begin to see yourself succeeding.
Visualize your successes. See yourself vividly in your
minds eye making the sale and reaching your goals.
Affirm, over and over, that you are succeeding.
Write your affirmations daily. Of course, make sure you
take the appropriate action. As it says in the Bible,
"Faith without works is dead."
Remember that your subconscious mind does not know the
difference between real and imaginary. Before you go on
a sales call, take a moment and mentally rehearse the
scene, just like actors and athletes do. Tell yourself,
"I'm a great salesperson." Do this over and over,
especially just before a sales call. See the sale being
made. See and feel the success. You will be pleasantly
amazed at the result. Don't take my word for it. Give it
a try. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
It has been said throughout history that what ever you
believe, with conviction, you can achieve. Don't be like
the poor elephant and go through your life stuck because
of a limiting belief you were given or developed years
ago. Take charge of your life and live it to the
fullest. You deserve the best!
Courtesy: Muslim Bhanji (muslim_bhanji786@yahoo.co.uk)
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