Road Map For Life #9 is about Belief Systems
Share your comments regarding any wisdom you have acquired during your life journey that focuses on how to review and update one’s belief systems.
01/07/2009
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Why is it that we seem to be so compelled to take our opinions from others? We are conditioned early in our lives not to trust our own beliefs; not to trust our own knowingness. Our belief system is handed to us from our parents, our siblings, our friends, teachers, co-workers, bosses – nearly everyone else we come into contact with. But there may come a time in our lives when our beliefs conflict with our knowingness.
Does trusting our own knowingness come with age? With wisdom? With experience? If so, is there anything that young people really can know without having experienced it themselves?
If so, where is that point at which we know? When we’re 20? 30? 50? 80?
I’m all about connecting with our inner knowing. Maybe it starts with defining that inner knowing – the collection of all the wisdom we’ve accumulated over the years and either discounted because it didn’t fit with who we were or accepted because it did. I wonder if we get to a point in our lives that we’ve accumulated enough inner wisdom – a critical mass, maybe – that makes it easier to trust both what we know and that we know.
Wayne Dyer talks about the distinction between what we believe and what we know. He says that beliefs are external; they are given to us throughout our entire lives. They may or may not coincide with what we know, which is internal and comes from our soul.
Perhaps you were raised in a family that was Catholic and Democrat and loved the Yankees. Is it just understood that, like everyone else in your family, you, too, will be a Catholic Democrat who loves the Yankees? There’s certainly nothing wrong with that, but if you believe those things just because everyone else in your family did, then you’re taking your opinions from others without listening to your own inner knowing about what fits you.
Want more information about knowingness and belief? Pick up my book The 100% Factor (www.100percentfactor.com) where this article is from, or drop me a line and we’ll start a conversation (jodee@bocksoffice.com).
Comment by jodeeb — 02/05/2009 @ 6:45 am
When I begin work with my clients during the Marketing and Branding Strategy Training Session™, we discuss their strengths. My thoughts are that their strengths are their Belief System which includes Talents, Knowledge, Skills and Characteristics.
As we talk, ask them about their talents. The question usually comes up about what a talent really is. I consider a talent, something you feel you have been good at doing since birth. Take a minute to write down a couple of things you feel you are talented at doing. What comes to mind right away?
What knowledge do you have? Some have told me this is a tricky question.”Should I write down my experiences, education, or training?” I say “Yes!” My definition of Knowledge are all the things you have learned. It can be that Marketing Degree, or those sales training workshops you took.
When I talk to my clients about their skills, we try not to limit it to business skills. Some say they are a skillful writer, or presenter, or softball coach. You can use these skills in business in creative ways.
The client, who said they are a skillful softball coach, used that skill to coordinate her networking partners to refer more business to each other. The same skills she used with her kids softball team, can be used to motivate her business team.
Comment by Tom Gosche — 02/10/2009 @ 9:43 pm
I almost forgot Characteristics!
Let’s face it, people buy from people they know and like, especially if all other factors are equal. Think about your last big purchase. Did you shop around trying to find the best price? Did you get the best price or end up purchasing from someone who was very helpful and you ended up liking.
Maybe you are like me and my clients who always ask for referrals before they purchase something. Do you notice you do not shop around as much when you are referred to someone? They are usually pleasant and knowledgeable about the product or service and you want to purchase from them.
What are your characteristics? What do people think about you?
Comment by Tom Gosche — 02/10/2009 @ 10:12 pm
Do What YOU Believe
I have been doing some amazing connecting lately. I recently connected with Jennifer Allan on BlitzTime. When we first talked we only have 5 minutes during the “Blitz” and we realized we had the same idea behind the way we approach our clients.
Jennifer’s approach is “Sell with Soul” (www.SellWithSoul.com): “One of the central messages of Selling with Soul is that you will experience the most success when you stay true to who you are instead of trying to become someone you’re not.”
I have the same feeling about the Marketing Strategy we SHOULD do. “I should do this, I should do that…” but since you are not comfortable, you don’t. I am not saying you sit back and wait, but there are things that you can do and if you do them consistently, you will grow.
Jennifer recently wrote to her database:
“…A while back I set a goal to join the National Speakers Association (NSA). The NSA has some hoops they make you jump through and I’ve been diligently working toward completing their hoop-jumping requirements. To the point of being rather stressed out about it. So during my chat with Tom, I asked him what he thought of the NSA.
Well, Tom asked me some rather pointed questions about why I wanted to be a member and I realized, with a forehead-slapping moment of clarity, that I was doing just what I advise against… putting effort into a marketing activity that I don’t really understand or embrace or even much care about. Not to criticize the NSA, but for various reasons, it’s probably not the right place for me to be.
Whew. The decision to abandon my pursuit of NSA worthy-ness really opened up some mental doors for me. I won’t bore you with the details, but it’s a very good thing.
So… what are YOU doing to market yourself that doesn’t make much sense to you… that wouldn’t “work” if used on you… that doesn’t ring true with your soul? Seriously, give it some thought. Maybe even write down those thoughts (and share them with me if you like).”
I ask you the same thing…
Comment by Tom Gosche — 06/08/2009 @ 7:07 pm