The Magic Bullet - Introduction
The Magic Bullet!
What is The Magic Bullet? The best way I can answer this question is by relaying an experience. Years ago, on the East Coast I was speaking at a conference. My presentation was in the afternoon so in the morning I went for a casual stroll. As I walked past a house, I noticed an older chap working in his yard. I said, “Hello.” He responded with a smile. I noticed he was pulling a large chain towards his shop and thought I’d seize the opportunity to initiate a conversation. “Why are you pulling that chain?” I asked. He looked at me with a puzzled look and answered, “Have you ever tried to push one?” Sometimes it simply makes more sense to pull than push. You want to make sure the proverbial horse is in front of the cart and not behind it. This approach will reduce friction.
Most organizations and that means people, haven’t figured this one out. They still put the cart in front of the horse. Increased friction and resistance to change has been the result. Glorious plans to improve are rarely implemented. As a result, these organizations waste human potential and capital resources, often frustrated by the lack of results.
Allow me to elaborate. There are two predominant schools of thought as to why a person is successful, happy and productive in business and in life. Some believe that success is primarily skills driven. They believe that he who has better planning, communication, marketing, management, customer service, sales, technical, leadership and/or other relevant skills will be most productive.
The other belief is that success is driven primarily by positive attitudes. They believe that he who has the best attitude wins. Show me someone with a positive attitude they say and I’ll show you a happy, productive person. ‘Hire on attitude and train on skills,’ is their motto. Attitude is everything!
I believe both schools of thought are focused on only part of and not the whole solution. To illustrate my point, I want to ask you a couple of questions. Have you ever met someone who has tremendous knowledge and experience, yet is unsuccessful? I’ve seen the most knowledgeable people fail. Years of experience it seems, have developed unhealthy attitudes. As a twenty year sales guy once said, “I’m not failing, I started at the bottom and I like it here.” Even with his product knowledge and experience something was holding him back. Could something be holding you back?
My next question is, have you ever met someone who has a positive attitude, yet is unsuccessful? You know the type; they get up in the morning frothing with excitement. They look in the mirror as they pump themselves up. They smile enthusiastically as they walk into the office. As one hype artist said, “I may foul up customer orders, I’m unreliable, I’m never on time, but I’m positive.” With all these positive forces inside, something was holding him back. Could something be holding you back?
The Magic Bullet is based on a simple belief. You need to have a positive attitude and excellent people skills to succeed. One without the other is not enough. Like apple pie and ice cream, they go together. There is a synergy created when you focus on improving attitudes and skills. When attitudes and skills work together the total effect is greater than the sum of the parts.
It is also fundamental that a learning attitude is developed first. This will maximize the internalization of important skills. Doing things in the right order is important. This will reduce friction. When a learning attitude is developed first, the implementation of skills is easier. There has been and there still is an over emphasis on skill development. There has been little emphasis if any, placed on developing the most positive, learning based attitudes. It took me years to figure this one out.
In my early years, I believed that success was driven primarily by skills. I was not alone. Operational gurus in organizations everywhere dedicated significant funds to increasing productivity. They were fuelled by the belief that he who has the most skills wins. I believed as well. As a result, I developed step-by-step programs for everything from customer service to sales, management, leadership, and a variety of others.
The first program I wrote in the early eighties was a three day workshop titled Fortunes Unlimited (FUN). This program focused on relevant skills. The premise of the FUN program was simple. Participants were presented with a smorgasbord of systems and techniques. Then they were asked to choose the techniques and systems that they believed would work for them. If they wanted it, I had a step-by-step system. The program was logical. I had researched and measured every technique. I knew that when these systems and techniques were put to the test, each person would improve their business. Some did improve in a very dramatic fashion, but my lesson was about to begin.
One year, I measured the results of the FUN program in the field. I was shocked and disappointed with what I discovered. I found that approximately 10% of the attendees had made dramatic improvements and had achieved significant results. When we met I was filled with mixed emotions. You know that feeling; you’re torn two ways at the same time. A friend of mine describes mixed emotions as watching his mother-in-law going over a cliff in his new car. My mixed emotions grew as they relayed how the program was so easy to implement. Some said it was the best investment they had ever made. I was pumped! They were happy with the program and the results. It validated the content in the program to them and me.
When I met with those who hadn’t implemented the program they weren’t quite as happy. It’s strange how that works. I started thinking more and more each day and questions continued to race through my mind. Why would someone spend three days at a program, leave committed to taking action and ultimately fail to implement? How about all those steps and systems I presented and don’t they remember that numbers game?
Since I’ve never met a person who wanted to fail, I had many questions. Why do some people implement and some do not? How can two people hear the same message and react so differently? I did some additional research and was even more dismayed with what I found. My competitors spoke of the 5% rule. There was a general consensus that 5% at best will implement. Only 5% I thought. This didn’t make sense to me. That question children always ask continued to swirl around in my mind. You know the one? “Why?”
This question took me on a journey of discovery. My journey of discovery is this book. I discovered that most people were looking for that ‘magic bullet’ and so was I. Many are still looking. They share a common belief that there must be someone or something that will keep them ‘motivated’ every day. They go to seminars, hire coaches, read books, buy things, and pursue relationships looking for that ‘magic bullet’. They know how easy it is when they feel motivated. Imagine if they could capture that feeling every day? You know that feeling positive, focused, high energy and happy. Where is that ‘magic bullet’ so many seek?
Here is what I discovered. It is also what I truly believe. No speaker, trainer, motivator, teacher, manager, relationship or thing can motivate you. Only you can motivate you. You are the ‘magic bullet’. You need the tools to keep yourself motivated every day. There are negative forces trying to hold you back. These forces are all around and in some cases inside you. It’s time for you to take control of your attitude. Imagine what you’ll accomplish feeling positively, motivated every day, not relying on something or someone else.
This is your life; it is not a dress rehearsal. When your attitude is right, the implementation of skills is easier. You want to develop a learning based attitude and implement the ideas that you believe in. You want to put your horse in front of your cart. You’ll have less friction this way. There is something else to consider.
In one of my videos I tell a story about time. A friend of mine has a daughter. She was six years old at the time. She was one of those children who always got up earlier than her parents. She loved to hear the grandfather clock in the hallway and count along with it, on the hour. One Saturday morning their young daughter sat ready and close to the clock prepared to count along with the chimes. The clock reached 8:00AM and she began to count along 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and then when the clock struck 9 the old grandfather clock broke. The chime continued 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 as she counted along. Suddenly, she raced into her parent’s room screaming, “Mommy, Daddy, you better get up quick. It’s never been later than it is right now!” Whoever you are, whatever your age, wherever you are and whatever you do, for you too, it has never been later than it is right now. The time to take action is now. In my next article we’ll get started.
About the Author
About Allan Baylis
Allan Baylis is a world class Speaker. When people hear him speak they recognize that they are hearing something special. High energy, entertaining, funny, and filled with real life solutions based on thirty years of experience. Time seems to fly by at an Allan Baylis presentation.
Allan’s book The Magic Bullet is a culmination of his experiences. Finally you have an approach to personal growth that you can use on a daily basis. This is how real change will happen. Allan’s book, like his presentations has been and will be the catalyst for many successes. Discover more at www.allanbaylis.com
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