So I was having a conversation with a friend, and we began talking about how to best engage someone in conversation. This is something of utmost importance to all of us. Whether we are looking to strike up a conversation with a member of the opposite sex; or we are in sales trying to capture clients.
One thing we agreed upon is that the person we choose to engage with has to be given the pedestal. That is, we have to be more interested in them, than in presenting ourselves. We each have a deep burning desire to be appreciated, to be interesting to others, and to be loved. Showing our complete attention & interest to someone gives them a high sense of well-being. This leads to associating those wonderful feelings to us.
Now, initially, the strategy that seems to hold the highest value is a question based one. That means asking with a sense of curiosity and interest. This can be as simple as asking "Where are you from?" During my heftier telemarketing days I had a knack for selling anything under the sun, because of this simple strategy. Questions work because firstly, we feel obligated to respond (cultural habits); secondly, we like to feel important.
Adding a bit of sincerity to the questions themselves also tilts results in your favor. Tonality is an even bigger factor in communicating than words themselves. As I have mentioned before communication is universal in function. That is to say that the effective way to communicate to others is usually a great strategy to use on yourself. Asking yourself specific questions in the right emotive tone can compel you to take action - as would be the case with the buyer you sell, or date you make.
Angel Armendariz
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Why Should You Engage in Deliberate Practice?
“The champions in any field are those who devote the most time to what performance experts call deliberate practice. Hard work is fine. But for it to be genuinely effective, the work needs to be directed. Deliberate practice is an activity designed to help you improve a specific skill or performance, to enable you to reach for goals just beyond your level of proficiency, to provide you feedback on results, and to build a program that allows for high levels of repetition.”
- James M. Citrin, The Dynamic Path
The artist in all of us; creates through the forward tension of our ideal existence and our current states. This unique tension creates desire, the fuel that compels development. Deliberate practice is no more than strategically and meticulously developing your capacities that will create that ideal existence.
Faith enters the picture of such creative intentions. One would not invest valuable time into deliberately developing, honing, and refining their abilities if they did not have a high level of faith or belief in the realization of their ideal. There is nothing worse than hard work without direction. Without direction and purposes existence is stifled, our will diminishes. Our will is strengthened with deliberate practice that overcomes resistance. The famous dictum of Nietzsche tells us this - Will To Power.
Power is only felt with the overcoming of resistance. Think of fitness for example. The athlete's "high" comes from the endorphins released upon exertion, i.e., the use of our will to overcome physical resistances. The feeling of our own power, is thus the feeling of pleasure. This is so for the obstacles we overcome in all aspects in life. The individual who has overcome more resistances is usually an individual with more power & confidence.
Contrary to cultural myth, great accomplishments are not attained by lucky, chosen, or gifted people. But, by those who have, like James Citrin says, habitually tended to deliberate practice. We like to believe that the lack of resistance, tension, and obstacles would produce pleasure of orgasmic proportions. Yet when analyzed from most all perspectives, from cellular growth, to intellectual accomplishment we see the divinity of challenges that feeds life into our spirits, and thus gives us a greater capacity of enjoyment and pleasure.
Angel Armendariz
- James M. Citrin, The Dynamic Path
The artist in all of us; creates through the forward tension of our ideal existence and our current states. This unique tension creates desire, the fuel that compels development. Deliberate practice is no more than strategically and meticulously developing your capacities that will create that ideal existence.
Faith enters the picture of such creative intentions. One would not invest valuable time into deliberately developing, honing, and refining their abilities if they did not have a high level of faith or belief in the realization of their ideal. There is nothing worse than hard work without direction. Without direction and purposes existence is stifled, our will diminishes. Our will is strengthened with deliberate practice that overcomes resistance. The famous dictum of Nietzsche tells us this - Will To Power.
Power is only felt with the overcoming of resistance. Think of fitness for example. The athlete's "high" comes from the endorphins released upon exertion, i.e., the use of our will to overcome physical resistances. The feeling of our own power, is thus the feeling of pleasure. This is so for the obstacles we overcome in all aspects in life. The individual who has overcome more resistances is usually an individual with more power & confidence.
Contrary to cultural myth, great accomplishments are not attained by lucky, chosen, or gifted people. But, by those who have, like James Citrin says, habitually tended to deliberate practice. We like to believe that the lack of resistance, tension, and obstacles would produce pleasure of orgasmic proportions. Yet when analyzed from most all perspectives, from cellular growth, to intellectual accomplishment we see the divinity of challenges that feeds life into our spirits, and thus gives us a greater capacity of enjoyment and pleasure.
Angel Armendariz
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