If you think you can't -- you're right
Date: Saturday, May 27, 2006 @ 12:29:50 GMT Topic: General
Brad Isaac's funny but true article at "Achieve-It". Indeed, "the reverse psychology approach (reverse motivation) to getting folks off their butts can be very effective".
10 Steps You Can Take To Guarantee Failure
In the hustle and bustle of this technologically packed world you may
decide you really don't want to achieve any lasting success in your
lifetime. Sure, you can find a lot of strategies and tips here that
can help you increase your success rate. But what about the people who
are perfectly happy not achieving anything? Is it fair that I keep
pushing and prodding if someone is content leaving behind a legacy of
debt and mediocrity? hmmm...maybe not. So this is for all the people
who want to have goals but not achieve them.
1. Make your goals vague - When setting your goals, use adjectives such as "more" and "some." Goals like "I want to make more money" or "I want to lose some
weight" virtually guarantee your progress will be minimal. Be as
wishy-washy as possible. And while you're at it, you might want to set
a goal of getting a job doing something.
2. Make your goals difficult to visualize -
A good way to do this is to keep changing your mind on the details of
your goal. If you are thinking a goal such as: "I want to own a red,
blue or yellow Corvette or just a Mustang", then you are definitely on
the right track. If you kept that goal planted firmly in your mind,
you are virtually guaranteed you'll never go above a used Hyundai.
3. Think and speak negatively about your goals - Try using words like "I can't" and "It's too hard". Goals such as "I can't get a promotion, It's too hard
to take on more responsibility" will certainly keep you at the bottom
of the food chain. If you can put it in writing or work up enough
courage to tell your boss directly, he or she will almost definately
avoid promoting you from that point on. Who knows, you might get lucky
and get fired! It's worth a shot anyway.
4. Avoid planning incremental steps -
It's likely that if you have made it this far you are already following
this rule already! Take a goal - even a specific goal like "I will
double my income by this time next year". Then simply leave it
as-is. Don't write down any tasks or steps you'll need to complete in
order to achieve it. Just consider the goal a wish and nothing more.
Creating a step-by-step plan will only confuse matters because it's all
too easy to take action on simple steps. Action in the direction of
your goal would lead to success and you definately don't want that.
5. Don't Do - Talk -
Because talk is easier than action, this step one of the easiest steps
for you to take. Try to fill up as much of your day with socializing
as possible. Talk about all the things you will do someday or that you were gonna do. Just make sure you don't mess it up by doing anything productive. Action is your enemy. Embrace your excuses!
6. Wait until you are motivated -
Let's face it, it's much too difficult to go jogging or open a mutual
fund account when you simply don't feel like it. So just wait.
Waiting gives you the peace of mind that someday, you might do
something. But not yet, the timing isn't right and you aren't
motivated anyway.
7. Don't set a date -
Setting a date when you expect to achieve your goal is too much
pressure. Who needs it? Definately not you if you want to avoid
progress. You know that goals with dates get done, so by not setting a
date you avoid making a commitment. You can keep putting off stuff.
Even though people may ask "When are you ever going to get around to
reaching your target?", you have a wild card. By not having a date,
you can put off actually doing anything.
8. List why it's impossible - Now we are getting into the mental game of failing.
This is quite possibly your greatest weapon against achievement because
it destroys hope and optimism. So as soon as possible, set aside some
time to create a long list of how impossible your goal really is. No
matter what your target is, I am sure you can come up with plenty of
reasons why it's impossible. Be creative, make up some if you have to
(i.e. "It's impossible for me to lose weight because I was kidnapped by space aliens and injected with a fat-serum.") Bonus: You get extra points if you can come up with an excuse using UFOs, ghosts or the Bermuda Triangle.
9. Don't research your goal -
You're the kind of guy or gal who likes to "wing it." Reading about
how others have succeeded achieving a goal similar to you is just a
waste of time. Instead of standing on their shoulders, they should be
standing on yours! Sure, they might have overcome unbelievable odds to
get from homelessness to CEO or 450lbs to a 180lbs - but they were
probably just "lucky" anyway. Don't read anything that promises to
help you get to your destination.
10. Think of anything except your goal - Here's another mental strategy that will put you on the fast track to failure. Think of anything
except for your goal. Why visualize success when there's plenty of
clouds, teddy bears, and TV reruns to think about? And while you're
at it, take action on these flights of fancy instead of your goal. I
know what you're thinking...you're thinking "I wonder if there are any
green teddy bears out there?" Now you're getting it! Focusing on your
goal for long periods of time can be difficult and challenging.
Thinking about unicorns is easy and fun. Take the easy path, that's
the only way you can fail in record time.
To conclude, I know
you might be a bit overwhelmed with all the work you have to do to
avoid reaching your goal. You might even think it's even more
work. Never fear! You can do it. Print out a copy and hang it on
your bathroom mirror. Post it in your office. Read it every day.
Internalize these principals and you can reach depths of failure you
have possibly never imagined!
Source: Achieve-IT!
(Thx KeelyNet for the hint).
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