Ice Chip #71
“(K)notty Word” Lessons from the World Cup
As I watched several of the games in the World Cup, there were many examples of “(K)notty word” choice. Let me share some with you:
We can’t allow early goals.
They don’t want to fall behind again so early in the match.
He couldn’t have done any better with that free kick.
They aren’t focused in the offensive third.
The defense can’t allow that much space.
The keeper didn’t cover the near post as he should have.
Sound familiar to any of you football fans? (Yes, in the rest of the world outside the U.S. it is called football.)
Simply shifting the words to have them mirror the desired outcome would go something like this:
Our defense needs to be strong early. No early goals.
They want to be level in the first 15 minutes of the match.
He has the skill level for that ambitious free kick.
Focused passing in the offensive third will give a better result.
The defense needs to reduce the space.
Cover the near post. Remember basic positioning.
Football at the World Cup level is a stunning example of empowering communication resulting in phenomenal results. Think of the great saves by the keepers, as well as the lightening bolt shots by the strikers, and the magnificent runs by the midfield stars. All of these are based on empowering self-talk by the creators of the “magical” plays. They believe they can and will do what they create in their mind. “What would happen if? Could this work?”
Great skill comes from diligent practice.
The more you work on heightening your awareness of the “(K)notty words”, the more success you will have with creating empowering messages and self-talk.
Your mission for this week; if you choose to accept it is to maintain a vigilant focus on eradicating the words: “don’t” and “should”.
Focus on what your alternative will be. How many new ways can you describe how you want to accomplish your task. Tell yourself what you want to have happen. Let yourself know what you could do.
You have enormous capabilities.
Just think about that for a moment.
Keep your focus on what you want to create, and attract the result by using empowering word choice as your strategy and model.
Remember the Ice helps you attract the live you want through empowering word choice.
Have a phenomenal week.
Empowering Regards,
Bob
Ice Chip #70
This week's lesson in re-framing comes from a local television advertisement designed to keep young people off "meth". There are three scenarios in the ad.
The first is a firefighter finishing up fighting a fire. "We want our young people to be strong like a warrior", he confidently says. "We don't need meth."
The next is a young lady speaking about the value of spending time with family members. "We don't need meth." she offers in a matter of fact tone of voice.
The final scenario is a teen-aged boy playing basketball with his friends. He looks sternly at the camera and states: "We don't need meth."
So how would you restate the message?
The challenges with articulation are all around us. In turn they give us numerous opportunities to empower our articulation.
Remember the Ice is focused on helping you articulate your message with a strong sense of purpose and a high level of congruency.
Enjoy your journey.
Best regards,
Bob
(Comment on re-framing the message: Stay away from meth.)
Ice Chip #69
In the CBS show The Mentalist, Simon Baker plays Patrick Jane, an independent consultant with the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI), who has a remarkable track record for solving serious crimes by using his razor sharp skills of observation.
On a recent show, Patrick was closing in on the killer and the script made it very easy to see where this was heading.
Kirk, the second place salesman at an exotic sports car showroom was determined to be the “top dog”. Unfortunately, he let his greed get in the way, and attempted to poison his competition. When the struggling, yet up and coming, Kendra saw him altering the chemistry of the “top dog’s” lunch, she became his reason for being the lead suspect for her murder. Kendra was no threat to Kirk’s position, except now she had an inkling of Kirk’s plan to eliminate Cameron – the number one salesman.
Patrick and his CBI mates were closing in on Kirk. Once again, here was a prime example of how the script for a television show mirrors real life with respect to how people communicate.
Kirk was explaining how he “wasn’t the one” and that Patrick and his cronies were making a mistake – while he shook his head “no”— that there was “no problem” with them being on the second floor of the massive showroom; nearing the red Ferrari that had the mark of impact when Kendra had been hit by the sports car. His physiology gave him up. His lack of empowering word choice contributed as well.
Observing any word choice and physiology disconnect, is a key component of Remember the Ice.
The Mentalist is a great show with interesting story lines. The script writers draw upon their vast assortment of life experiences and imaginary incidents; yet when it comes to the spoken words and physiology attached, there is a plethora of incongruency and an abundance of dis-empowering word choice.
Fiction mirrors Reality.
The challenges with articulation are all around us. In turn they give us numerous opportunities to empower our articulation.
Remember the Ice is focused on helping you articulate your message with a strong sense of purpose and a high level of congruency.
Enjoy your journey.
Bob
Ice Chip #68
Remember, I'm a secret to be shared.
Joe Stumpf is a nationally recognized coach in the lending and real estate industry for the last 26 years. In his June 2007 article in Mortgage Planner magazine, entitled: Are you Referable? Six Ways to be More Attractive to Potential Partners, he lists effective techniques to develop habits to focus on strengthening to become more referable.
Here are his 6 Habits:
1. "I have developed the habit of thinking about and talking about the one-word purpose of my business--referral!"
2. "I have developed the habit of asking for and expecting referrals only after I have delivered value."
3. "I have developed the habit of communicating to clients that the most valuable skills I provide them are: my consulting skills, my negotiating skills and my skills overseeing all the transactional details."
4. "I have developed the habit of asking my clients what value they have received from me."
5. "I have developed the habit of sharing my purpose (printed on the back of my business card) with each person I give my card."
6. "I have developed the habit of using the "Referral Rejection Dialogue"after clients say they don't know anyone to refer to me."
What I would like you to focus on is the script for the "Referral Rejection Dialogue" from Joe Stumpf.
I've found part of asking for referrals includes the risk of "rejection." Nobody likes rejection. However, it is possible to confidently convert a rejection into a future referral opportunity using the Referral Rejection Dialogue.don't know anyone right now" or "If I hear of anyone, I'll let you know" or "No, I don't know anyone," use the following dialogue.please don't keep me a secret.Try it. You may find that "rejection" never felt so good!
Here is how it works. The next time you ask for a referral and your client says: "I
You: Thank you for thinking about it. Would you be comfortable if I check back with you in a few months to see if anyone comes to mind?
Client:Sure. That would be fine.
You: In the meantime, the next time you're in a conversation with someone who mentions they want to refinance their home to lower their monthly payment,
Client: You can count on me to do that.
This seemingly simple dialogue is powerful because in just two sentences you've turned a "rejection" into permission to contact the client for referrals and you've planted the suggestion to keep you in mind when they hear of someone looking to reduce their monthly payment.
From a Remember the Ice perspective, there are some issues to look at.
The request in the last sentence of the "You" segment actually has a disempowering request.
"Please don't keep me a secret". This of course translates into: "Please do keep me a secret."
A direct contradiction of your desire.
What would happen if this was changed to: "....want to refinance their home to lower their monthly payment, please mention me."
Or: ....please remember I'm a secret to be shared.
Remember the Ice helps you attract the life you want through empowering word choice.
And make sure to "Just Do It!"
Best regards,
Bob
Ice Chip #67
They call it "Alaska's little Switzerland"
I hope you enjoy these photos of the trip to Valdez and back. The splendor of the Chugach and Wrangell St. Elias mountains is quite spectacular. And then you have the 360 degree view of mountains embracing the Village of Valdez.
Here are some of the pictures we took along the way. Hope you enjoy them. It is a privilege sharing the majesty of Alaska with you.
Chugach Mountains on the way out of Palmer, Alaska at 6:30AM (5-28)
Matanuska Glacier at 7:15 AM on 5-28.
Click the link for a short video of the spectacular vista.
Glacial view near Valdez on the Richardson Highway around noontime.
Valdez harbor on a Friday afternoon.
Click the link for a 360 degree view of the mountains surrounding the harbor Friday evening.
Saturday morning reflection on the way out of Valdez. Beautiful area.
A majestic Eagle surveys the situation.
Reflection of Wrangell-St. Elias mountain range on Saturday afternoon.
It was an amazingly beautiful trip. Happy to share the photos with you. And again I apologize for the premature email on Sunday.
Hope you had an empowering word choice week, and look forward to sharing more about Remember the Ice with you.
Best regards,
Bob