Is American Business Stuck In A Monkey Trap?
Author, speaker and consultant, Peter McLaughlin, announces a new training program to help businesses and individuals get on a new winning streak in today's turbulent economy.
San Diego, CA (PRWEB) June 18, 2009 -- "We're "stuck," says author and speaker, Peter McLaughlin, "Much of American business is 'on hold,' as are much of our lives." Some are bemoaning the loss of the security they thought they had. Job situations are shaky, 401k's have all but disappeared, the future is uncertain and many are scared. That's why Peter (http://www.petermclaughlin.com) has introduced a new training program called "Get Out Of The Monkey Trap…Get On A Winning Streak."
"A Monkey Trap consists of a hollowed out coconut chained to a stake. The coconut has some rice inside which can be grabbed through the small hole. The hole is big enough so the monkey's hand can go in, but too small for his fist with rice to come out. The monkey reaches in and is suddenly trapped -- by nothing more than his own rigidity. He can't revalue the rice. He cannot see that freedom without rice is more valuable than capture with it." -- Robert Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
Just like the monkey, executives, sales people and customer service sometimes don't fight anymore, they don't flee…they are frozen, stuck. They can't see the rut they're in. To change, it has to start with the individual. As Pogo said, "We have met the enemy and they are us."
"The secret to getting your business and yourself unstuck, and out of the Monkey Trap" according to McLaughlin, is "You need to revalue what you accepted to be true, and question your pre-suppositions; get less rigid, get more open. It's only then that you can get on a winning streak."
McLaughlin lays out five, science-based ideas to help get started:
Build Optimism: This is about reality-based optimism, not Pollyanna thinking. Recent research indicates that there is a "tipping point" for changing mediocre results into a winning streak of top performance. According to Barbara Frederickson, PhD, a 3 -1 positive to negative ratio in thoughts and actions builds the ability to flourish and develop confidence.
Ignite Energy: The brain and body work together. In Peter's best-selling book, CatchFire, he shows the need for physical movement to increase mental toughness in business and in life. When asked about the tools needed for today's top performers, Jack Welch, the former CEO of GE answered, "Energy, Energy, Energy!" Becoming physically active automatically gives the energy necessary to get "unstuck."
Get Creative: Do yesterday's answers solve today's problems? Probably not. The new, tough landscape gives the freedom to become "explorers." The old ways don't work and businesses have to come up with the new. Creativity turns "breakdowns into breakthroughs." Access the tools to develop a "beginner's mind" as a way to look at the situation in a different and effective manner.
Communicate To The Whole Brain: In tough times, communicate more, not less, and communicate more creatively for better results. Studies in neuroscience teach how to communicate to people's strengths, give actionable feedback and create an environment for new ideas and solutions. Open communication is essential to starting a winning streak.
Take Action: Mark Twain said, "Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not the absence of fear." Stuckness and fear stop individuals from taking action. Research at Harvard by Rosabeth Moss Canter, Ph.D., shows that a "win" is necessary to start a winning streak. Strategically placed small victories help push past fear and into action.
The thing is, if business stays the "Monkey Trap," acts out of fear and lacks the creativity to start something different, they will lose both the rice and the freedom. Just ask General Motors.
"Get Out Of The Monkey Trap …Get On A Winning Streak" is available as a keynote speech or half-day training program. All programs booked in 2009 also receive a web-based 30-Day Challenge follow-up system included with the training. Peter is available for interviews or article submissions.
Peter is the author of Mentally Tough: The Principles of Winning at Sports Applied to Winning in Business and CatchFire: A 7-Step Program to Ignite Energy, Defuse Stress and Power Boost Your Career.
Peter McLaughlin helps the world's largest companies and smallest start-ups increase productivity and stay mentally tough in any economic environment. Some of Peter's clients include: Apple, AT&T, IBM, CNN, Siemens, MetLife, Intel, American Express, Pepsico, Bally, Merrill Lynch, Scripps Health, Re/Max, Deloitte, Marriott, John Hancock, Navistar and more.
Contact:
Jeffrey Howard, Managing Partner
McLaughlin Company
(858) 531-9130
http://www.petermclaughlin.com
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