| Many people get really anxious when studying for the | | | | will feel when they pass the PMP exam. And how |
| exams such as the PMP (Project Management | | | | good it will feel, pinning on the little gold badge. |
| Professional) or CAPM (Certified Associate in Project | | | | Tell them to imagine how wonderful and proud they |
| Management) and so their anxiety works against | | | | will feel the first day they step back into their place |
| them. The reason that they are anxious is largely | | | | of work as a PMP, to give the good news to their |
| because of their fear of failure. We could say that | | | | boss. |
| their belief in the likelihood of their failure is stronger | | | | Tell them to imagine that they're being interviewed in |
| that their belief in their success. In order to find a | | | | the future by a reporter from a big magazine, |
| way out of this mess, it helps to know a little of | | | | because the magazine wants to print a feature article |
| how the mind works. | | | | on their successes. |
| Everybody wants to be successful. Of course it could | | | | Tell them to imagine how good it feels to be so |
| be argued that some people obviously want to fail in | | | | successful in life. |
| life - but that means that they want to be successful | | | | Once they believe that, it will start to happen. |
| in failing. And so when they eventually DO fail, they | | | | Your energy ends where you have your focus |
| succeeded in achieving their life's main goal. And that's | | | | Now, coming back to this statement. It sounds "New |
| a level of success that few of us achieve. | | | | age", but it's not. A long time ago I practiced karate |
| When aiming for a goal, it is very important to | | | | for a while. This is a very relaxing sport, which seems |
| concentrate on the successful outcomes of your | | | | to be largely concerned with smashing things. I was |
| task, rather than on the goal itself. For example, if | | | | trying to break wooden planks, but with no success. |
| you are studying for the PMP exam, you should | | | | My understanding of the "formula" was: |
| focus on what you intend to do once you have your | | | | Strength + technique + tough hands = (whatever |
| certification, rather than just on having letters after | | | | you like/don't like) smashed to bits. |
| your name. You should concentrate on the benefits | | | | I had the strength and the tough hands; in fact I |
| after the goal is achieved, because your energy ends | | | | could hit the plank repeatedly without hurting myself |
| where you have your focus (I'll come back to this | | | | too much, and the technique appeared to be right |
| later). | | | | too. |
| For example, suppose you are playing soccer and | | | | But then, as a result of some research, I started |
| you have to take a penalty kick. | | | | really believing that I could break the plank. |
| If you concentrate really hard on taking the kick, you | | | | So now my formula became: |
| will become anxious and may kick the ball badly. | | | | Strength + belief + technique + tough hands = |
| The trick is to imagine that you have just scored the | | | | (whatever you like/don't like) smashed to bits. |
| winning goal. Imagine the crowd cheering -- actually | | | | So I focused and my mental and physical energy on |
| hear them in your mind -- and hear them calling your | | | | a single point on the plank (and pictured it breaking) |
| name. Imagine how good the success feels, and how | | | | then hit it really hard. But I still couldn't break it. |
| proud of yourself you feel. Imagine the other soccer | | | | Then some time later I met a really sweet girl, who |
| players running up to you and hugging you and | | | | had an incredible knack for smashing things, let me |
| congratulating you. | | | | into her secret. |
| If you do this, then you will relax and actually score | | | | She said, "Your problem is that you are focusing on |
| the goal. | | | | the plank, but that's were your energy ENDS, |
| Because if you can truly make your mind believe that | | | | because your energy ends where you have your |
| you can truly make something happen, then your | | | | focus. If you want to break the plank, you have to |
| mind will do all that it can to make it happen (this is | | | | focus on a spot 6 inches BEHIND the plank." |
| explained by "expectancy theory"). | | | | So once my focus (or goal) was to reach a spot |
| So if you say to someone "study hard, and try hard | | | | behind the plank, my energy ended 6 inches behind |
| to pass the exam," that is a waste of time because | | | | the plank, rather than on it's surface. I would like to |
| they are already doing that, and concentrating more | | | | say that I was able to smash the plank on my very |
| on the problems will make them anxious and doubt | | | | next attempt. That was not the case, because I was |
| their abilities. | | | | still training my mind to accept the new focus. But |
| It is much better to get them to focus beyond the | | | | only a few days later I was able to smash it. |
| end result. Tell them to think about how good they | | | | |