act as if Archives - Debra Kasowski

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“Act as if! Act as if you’re a wealthy man [or woman], rich already, and then you’ll surely become rich. Act as if you have unmatched confidence and then people will surely have confidence in you. Act as if you have unmatched experience and then people will follow your advice. And act as if you are already a tremendous success, and as sure as I stand here today – you will become successful.” Jordan Belfort, The Wolf of Wall Street

You have heard all the catch phrases – Think Positive, Reach Big Goals, and Live Big. It is great to think these great thoughts but if you don’t believe that you will achieve what you are thinking positive or reaching for, you will take actions that will end up sabotaging your success. How you think and feel impacts the actions that you take and ultimately your results would it not make sense to put yourself in the frame of mind to think positive and feel that your goals are being achieved.

Several years ago, when I was introduced to this concept I was interviewing a guest for one of my products and she said that her grandmother told her that when she walked into a room where she did not know many people that she should “act as if” she did and soon enough she would. Now let’s say you walked into a networking event and knew no one, what would you do? Would you high tail it out of the room because you were afraid someone would learn your name? What does a person who knows others do? Chances are you would gradually work your way to a table of people or a group of individuals and introduce yourself and at least say. “Hello”. Once you do that you are no longer strangers. The person or people you are speaking with may even introduce you to others.

Think about who you want to be, what you want to do, and what you want to have. Who do you need to show up as to do so? What knowledge, skills, or abilities do you need to learn to step into the person you want to be? What experiences would prepare you for your role? You have probably heard the phrase, “to get what you never had, you need to do what you have never done.” Stretch out of your place of comfort. When you are in your comfort zone, you are coasting through life and going with the flow. The only intention you have is that you are not putting in any work than the basics because you do not want to disrupt anything. Therefore, that space is called the comfort zone – you are comfortable so why tip the scale.

Name a time you stepped out of your comfort zone to achieve a goal. What did it feel like when you reached the target? I am putting it out there that you were on cloud nine. Even though you were nervous and excited with anticipation, you took the leap of faith anyway. You trusted and believe in yourself. After all, what do you have to lose? Everything fell into place just as it should.

When you start to “act as if”, you need to first see yourself being, doing, or having what you are focused on achieving. Act as if it is currently happening in the present moment. What does it feel like. Describe what you are hear, seeing, or smelling, touching, or tasting (depending on what is you are doing) in detail. Be as specific with every detail. Start believing it. Practice doing this for 15-20 minutes daily – repeat until you have achieved your goal. Once you see it, feel it, and believe it, start taking the actions you need to move toward that goal. Positive thoughts alone without action are simply thoughts that make you feel good.

If you catch yourself in negative thought patterns or self-limiting beliefs, start by noticing the thought. By bringing the thought to your awareness, you can now determine if you will keep thought or reframe the thought into a positive. For instance, if you are repeatedly telling yourself that you are going to fail at delivering your presentation and you did not prepare for it, chances are you will be creating your reality. Now if you plan and prepare, as well as reassure yourself with positive words that you will deliver a great presentation, you will. The thoughts you think and word you say have a great impact in the actions you talk and the results you will get. Choose wisely.

“Act as if everything depended on you; trust as if everything depended on God.” St. Ignatius of Loyola

We would love to have you subscribe to the Success Secrets newsletter on my website at www.debrakasowski.com where you’re going to get us free MP3 download 10 Surefire Strategies to Power Up Your Productivity and Performance. I would love to hear about this podcast has impacted your life. E-mail me at Debra@DebraKasowski.com. Thank you for listening to The Millionaire Woman Show where we talk about leadership, business, and human potential to help you live rich from the inside out. Subscribe to The Millionaire Woman Show. Share it with Your Friends. Give us a 5-star rating!

DEBRA KASOWSKI, BScN CEC is an award-winning best-selling author, transformational speaker, blogger, and Certified Executive Coach. She has a heart of a teacher and is certified in Appreciative Inquiry and Emotional Intelligence. Her writing has been published in a variety of print and online magazines. Debra Kasowski International helps executives, entrepreneurs, and organizations boost their productivity, performance, and profits. It all starts with people and passion. Sign up the Success Secrets Newsletter and get your free mp3 download today! www.debrakasowski.com

When you go to a networking event or social event, are you going there with intention to meet someone, build a relationship, and potentially introduce them into your business? When you go to an event, don’t stand there like a dear caught in headlights. Go and introduce yourself. I know it can be intimidating when you are not use to doing so. The more you step out of your skin into who you are meant to be, it will be amazing the connections and referrals that you will actually have.

Tips for Intentional Networking:

Act as if everyone in the room is someone you know. I learned this from my friend, Christine Cashen. She said that her grandmother had taught her that whenever you walk into a room if already you already pretend that you are knowing everybody you will feel comfortable.It is easier to start introducing yourself to other people because soon enough you will know everyone in the room. That’s a fabulous tip!

Have your business cards with you so you can introduce yourself and be able to pass it on. Do not make that your first intent. Taking your business cards to and event is not like playing blackjack. It is not like seeing how many cards you can deal out. Give your card to people you connect with. These are people you feel have an alignment with or connect to.

Mark or make notes on the back of the card. Ask for permission to send out your e-zine. That is how relationships are formed.

The biggest thing is your Follow-up! Are you going to follow-up with a phone call or whether it be with your e-zine and connect with them to continue that relationship. Whether it be through email, phone call or in person, you want to continue to nurture the relationships around you.

Go with an intention. How many people do you want to meet? What type of people are you thinking of wanting to connect with? Perhaps when you are in conversation you can say this is what I am looking for and this is some of the people I am looking to connect with. Maybe they will know of someone and refer you. Maybe they will refer you to someone. You never know where your connect will be.

They say there are six degrees of separation. In this new world of connectors, I am finding it three, four, or even one spot difference. It’s amazing how small the world is when you connect with like-minded people.

Your influence will continue to grow!

Have a great day and Be Rich from the Inside Out!

Episode 105 – Start Acting as If

Are You Intentionally Networking?