Great Lakes Challenge

I was recently in a meeting with a gentleman who consults management about communication skills and relationships. This was the last of four sessions, and the topic was "How to Bring about Change". The presenter referenced the work of Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, a psychology professor at Clairemont Graduate School in Clairemont, CA. His theories are all centered on happiness, optimism, and motivation. He's spent his whole career trying to figure out why some people are more optimistic and happy than others.Dr. Csíkszentmihályi boils it down to three key elements:

1. You have to have an interesting challenge.
2. You have to have a reasonable approach to the challenge—a plan to overcome.
3. You have to focus your attention on accomplishing the task.

In fact, he found the most optimistic and motivated people are those who have the most challenges. For example, his research showed that paraplegics were more hopeful than most people because life posed challenges for them everyday. As they found creative approaches to overcoming those challenges, they were happier and more hopeful for the future.

I recently heard of an experiment testing this same theory. There was an ad placed in a paper looking for laborers. A large number of people responded and showed up for work at the appointed time. They were told they would be paid a certain amount per hour, and their task for the first four hours of the day was to dig a hole. They had a lunch break, came back, and they were instructed they would fill that same hole for the next four hours. At the end of the day the group was told if they came back the next day they would get a $.50 an hour raise. This went on for quite some time, and each day the group got smaller. Everyday they would dig a hole for the first 4 hours and fill it in for the second 4 hours. Eventually, the hourly rate was up to somewhere around $40 per day; however, nobody showed up to dig the holes any more. When asked why, the laborers said it wasn't worth the money. They weren't accomplishing anything. They were getting paid well, but there was no purpose to their work.

What does that have to do with our business? We need to ensure that everyone coming into this business has an interesting challenge. We talk about this all the time, but each person has to have a unique reason why they want a home-based business. What do they want to accomplish? Is their goal to pay for their child's college, get a new car, retire early, pay off the house, etc.? This is the new recruit's purpose. This is their challenge.

Next, we need to ensure our new sign-ups have a reasonable approach. In short, they need a plan. How is TNI going to help them overcome their challenge? Use the Fearless Income Building System. Show how they can become cash-flow positive within their first 30 days. Help them hold an in-home presentation, a success group, or a spa party.

Lastly, keep them focused by following up. Set dates for goals and events. Make sure they know how dedicated you are to their success.

If any of these elements are missing, it breeds frustration and despair. If you have a dream, but you don't know how to bring it about, it's depressing. And, any activity without a purpose breeds discontent. You must ensure you have all three elements to be hopeful and happy.

If you will follow this three-step recipe for hope, your group will be more successful. They'll duplicate faster. There will be more activity, more hope and more excitement. As that momentum grows, people will begin to join your organization simply because of the buzz radiating from your team.

Everybody needs a challenge. Give your team a challenge today and begin to reap the rewards.