Ice Chip #144
Happy New Year!
For those of you who have been fans of Remember the Ice, I want to say thank you for your support and desire to Re-Frame your message with Empowering Word Choice.
Next week most of us will be set on making some resolutions. One article I came across suggested that 95% of the resolutions made are forgotten and suffer no follow through – usually in the first 30 days.
So.
Here is an alternative.
Recover from the holidays. Get your game plan in place for paying off the credit cards you took to the limit.
And, consider making your resolution on February 1st instead.
The 31 day “stay” of feeling bad for giving up on following through, will allow you to seriously consider some New Years Resolutions.
Personally, I have been a proponent of making ONE resolution for the past three dozen years. I like picking a significant goal and sticking with it for the rest of the year and beyond. (Some times I make them in the middle of the year as my life dictates.)
Here are two of my favorites:
#1
On September 15, 1983 I was working as a Counseling Psychologist for a Community Mental Health Center in our satellite office in Pinckneyville, IL. After 5 straight hour long sessions with clients, I was looking forward to a quick 15 minute break before my next session. I went to the front door of our small office and just took in the view of the Thursday afternoon. The phone rang and my secretary at our main office in DuQuoin (just 20 minutes away) told me my next session had to reschedule.
I decided to take a short walk to rejuvenate myself. Fortunately I spied a Dairy Queen just up the road a few hundred yards and decided that would be my goal. A simple treat from the DQ.
I would treat myself to a little something for me. I ordered a small cone dipped in butterscotch. MMMMM.
The break was a tasty one. More importantly, it was the beginning of a tradition – a resolution – and something I have kept up for 10,331 days (as you read this).
It has become my DQ Moment.
Those first 10 – 12 days I did enjoy the cone from the DQ, and also realized I would need to increase my workouts unless I added some other outlets for that special time for me.
Quick point of clarification:
The DQ Moment on a daily basis is more about taking time to relax, enjoy a sunset, take in a view of Denali, a round of golf, write my books, root for my favorite Boston sports teams, enjoy a beer with the guys while talking football, a walk or jog, etc.
It is about the act of responding to a desire to do something just for myself, to recharge my batteries.
So even though it was “begat” long after January 1, 1983; the decision was made to do a Little Something for Me– everyday – and it has been accomplished.
#2
On Tuesday July 23, 1991 at 10:07AM, I walked into that convenience store on Northern Avenue in Phoenix, AZ and saw a sign above the cash register: Don't forget the ice. I changed the sign toRemember the Iceand the result was amazing for his ice sales. It was just the tip of a paradigm shifting iceberg for me.
I developed Remember the Ice some 7463 days ago and I have been eradicating the “(K)notty Words” ever since.
These two resolutions have been very powerful and impactful.
Take some time to compose a very special resolution; and consider starting in February after the holiday “dust” settles. I look forward to hearing about your success through-out the year.
Empowering Regards,
Bob
Ice Chip #143
Merry Christmas!
Remember...
You will have the opportunity to purchase many items that take a popular Alkaline product...
known as: BATTERIES
Just make sure to avoid these messages:
Enjoy your holidays as we get ready to embark on a prosperous New Year!!
Empowering Regards,
Bob
Ice Chip #142
Empowering Word Choice
When you Google “empowering word choice”; 7 of the top 10 responses bring you to a page that focuses on Remember the Ice! Huge thank you to all of you who have helped make Remember the Ice the #1 response for this search phrase.
This past summer, wrote a blog about Paradigm Shifting. He describes himself as a “Certified coach and owner of a coaching practice that focuses on helping men and women become great choice leaders.” Here is the content of his post:
Paradigm Shifting
I discovered the book "Remember the Ice and Other Paradigm Shifts" by Bob Nicoll several months ago and purchased it. I thought the concept of empowering word choices to enhance your communication sounded interesting since I am a coach, speak to many people, wanted to start a blog, and aspired to move into public speaking.
The book begins with the story around the title "Remember the Ice". The story is simple, yet powerful and proves how a simple shift in word choice can make a huge difference. The book then moves into eliminating key words from your vocabulary that include “Not and the Hit List Six” all within the first chapter. The book has nine chapters that range from "Learning How You Learn" and "Empowering vs. Disempowering Word Choice" to "Framework of Rapport" and "Circling the Situation" (or shifting personal paradigms).
I started practicing the concepts in the book by eliminating the words "try", "not", and "should" from my vocabulary. OK, eliminating "try" was fairly easy. Instead of using the word "try", I now commit to the task.........For example, "I will try to make the meeting" is replaced with "I will make the meeting". Making this small change commits you and it is done.
Eliminating "should" was also fairly easy when I understood that "should" never happened....... For example, "I should have gone to the meeting" is replaced with "I missed the meeting". Again, making this small change has me take ownership and do something about it.
The most difficult word to eliminate for me is "not". This includes the words "don't", "can't", "won't".........you get the idea.
I am amazed how many times I say this, even today. Instead of saying (or writing) what you don't want, say what you want. Saying what you want is an empowering alternative, according to Bob Nicoll, to saying [the opposite]. I totally get it and I still find this a challenge, even though I have improved.
At first, I would find myself pausing when I wanted to use "try", "should", or "not" in the middle of a conversation. This pause would trigger my brain to think of another way to say what I wanted to say.
Of course, this behavior generated some strange looks when there was about 15 to 30 seconds of abrupt silence during the conversation with my eyes wandering around wondering how I would replace these words. After the pause, I continued, and changed the entire sentence or thought. If someone asked if I was feeling OK (and it did happen), I would tell them what I was up to.
I can tell a huge difference in my speech and my coaching by using the concepts in the book. I have even brought these concepts into my coaching sessions and asked clients to eliminate "try", "should", and "not". My clients have stated that the shift was powerful and increased their confidence as well improved some of their relationships (including their relationship with themselves).
The author, Bob Nicoll, calls himself a Chief Paradigm Shifter and I believe him. This little book has had a big impact on me and I bet it will for you too. I would highly recommend it.
You can get the book on Amazon and I also encourage you to check out Bob Nicoll's website: http://www.remembertheice.com/
Thank you so much Randy for your comments. If you would like to review Randy’s blog, here is the to his post.
There is still time to give Remember the Ice and Other Paradigm Shifts as a Christmas present! Just click here and place your order!
Or click here for a 30% savings off the Ice Tray of books – 10 copies!
Happy Holidays from Remember the Ice!
Ice Chip #141
Really???
These are typical examples of cluttered and confusing word choice.
By the way, on the second picture, the question is:
Do they sell wood? Yes or no?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is Power in the Clarity of your Articulation! TM
It is the basic fundamental principle of Remember the Ice.
Happy Holidays to one and all!
Empowering Regards,
Bob