Why the Elephants Don't Run?
Why the Elephants Don't Run?
A number of years ago, I had the rather unique experience of being backstagein Madison Square Garden, in New York, during the Ringling Brothers Barnum &Bailey Circus. To say the least, it was a fascinating experience. I was ableto walk around looking at the lions, tigers, giraffes and all the othercircus animals. As I was passing the elephants, I suddenly stopped, confusedby the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small ropetied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that theelephants could, at any time, break away from their bonds but for somereason, they did not. I saw a trainer near by and asked why these beautiful,magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away."Well," he said, "when they are very young and much smaller we use the samesize rope to tie them and, at that age, it's enough to hold them. As theygrow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They thinkthe rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free."I was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bondsbut because they believed they could not, they were stuck right where theywere.Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a beliefthat we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? Howmany of us are being held back by old, outdated beliefs that no longer serveus? Have you avoided trying something new because of a limiting belief?Worse, how many of us are being held back by someone else's limitingbeliefs? Do you tell yourself you can't sell because you're not asalesperson?Particularly in starting or running a business, we are cautioned not to takerisks, usually by well intentioned friends and family. How many of us haveheard, "You can't do that?" These are the dream stealers who, due to theirown limiting beliefs, will attempt to discourage you from living yourdreams. You must ignore them at all cost! I am not suggesting that youshould not seek advice from qualified individuals and mentors, but that youavoid like the plague, being swayed by the limiting beliefs of others,especially people who are not in their own business.Challenge your own limiting beliefs by questioning them. If you begin toquestion a belief, you automatically weaken it. The more you question yourlimiting beliefs, the more they are weakened. It's like kicking the legs outfrom under a stool. Once you weaken one leg, the stool begins to lose itsbalance and fall. Think back to a time when you "sold" someone on yourself.We are selling all the time. You have to sell your ideas to your spouse,your children, and your employees - even your banker. Maybe, as a child, yousold Girl Scout cookies or magazine subscriptions to raise money for yourschool team. That was selling too!Once you realize you are, in fact, a capable salesperson, you have weakenedthat old belief and began to replace it with a new, empowering one. Look forreferences to support the new beliefs you want to cultivate. As in theexample of the stool, you want to reinforce your beliefs by adding more andmore "legs" to them. Find people who have accomplished what you want toaccomplish, discover what they did and model their behavior. Remember backto times in your past when you were successful and use that experience topropel yourself forward. If your challenge is in sales, read sales books andlisten to tapes or attend sales seminars. This is a critical area of yourbusiness. One that cannot be undermined by limiting beliefs.There is a technique called "fake it until you make it" that works well. Iam not suggesting you live in denial, just that you begin to see yourselfsucceeding. Visualize your successes. See yourself vividly in your minds eyemaking the sale and reaching your goals. Affirm, over and over, that you aresucceeding.Write your affirmations daily. Of course, make sure you take the appropriateaction. As it says in the Bible, "Faith without works is dead."Remember that your subconscious mind does not know the difference betweenreal and imaginary. Before you go on a sales call, take a moment andmentally rehearse the scene, just like actors and athletes do. Tellyourself, "I'm a great salesperson. " Do this over and over, especially justbefore a sales call. See the sale being made. See and feel the success. Youwill be pleasantly amazed at the result. Don't take my word for it. Give ita try. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.It has been said throughout history that what ever you believe, withconviction, you can achieve. Don't be like the poor elephant and go throughyour life stuck because of a limiting belief you were given or developedyears ago. Take charge of your life and live it to the fullest. You deservethe best!
A number of years ago, I had the rather unique experience of being backstagein Madison Square Garden, in New York, during the Ringling Brothers Barnum &Bailey Circus. To say the least, it was a fascinating experience. I was ableto walk around looking at the lions, tigers, giraffes and all the othercircus animals. As I was passing the elephants, I suddenly stopped, confusedby the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small ropetied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that theelephants could, at any time, break away from their bonds but for somereason, they did not. I saw a trainer near by and asked why these beautiful,magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away."Well," he said, "when they are very young and much smaller we use the samesize rope to tie them and, at that age, it's enough to hold them. As theygrow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They thinkthe rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free."I was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bondsbut because they believed they could not, they were stuck right where theywere.Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a beliefthat we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? Howmany of us are being held back by old, outdated beliefs that no longer serveus? Have you avoided trying something new because of a limiting belief?Worse, how many of us are being held back by someone else's limitingbeliefs? Do you tell yourself you can't sell because you're not asalesperson?Particularly in starting or running a business, we are cautioned not to takerisks, usually by well intentioned friends and family. How many of us haveheard, "You can't do that?" These are the dream stealers who, due to theirown limiting beliefs, will attempt to discourage you from living yourdreams. You must ignore them at all cost! I am not suggesting that youshould not seek advice from qualified individuals and mentors, but that youavoid like the plague, being swayed by the limiting beliefs of others,especially people who are not in their own business.Challenge your own limiting beliefs by questioning them. If you begin toquestion a belief, you automatically weaken it. The more you question yourlimiting beliefs, the more they are weakened. It's like kicking the legs outfrom under a stool. Once you weaken one leg, the stool begins to lose itsbalance and fall. Think back to a time when you "sold" someone on yourself.We are selling all the time. You have to sell your ideas to your spouse,your children, and your employees - even your banker. Maybe, as a child, yousold Girl Scout cookies or magazine subscriptions to raise money for yourschool team. That was selling too!Once you realize you are, in fact, a capable salesperson, you have weakenedthat old belief and began to replace it with a new, empowering one. Look forreferences to support the new beliefs you want to cultivate. As in theexample of the stool, you want to reinforce your beliefs by adding more andmore "legs" to them. Find people who have accomplished what you want toaccomplish, discover what they did and model their behavior. Remember backto times in your past when you were successful and use that experience topropel yourself forward. If your challenge is in sales, read sales books andlisten to tapes or attend sales seminars. This is a critical area of yourbusiness. One that cannot be undermined by limiting beliefs.There is a technique called "fake it until you make it" that works well. Iam not suggesting you live in denial, just that you begin to see yourselfsucceeding. Visualize your successes. See yourself vividly in your minds eyemaking the sale and reaching your goals. Affirm, over and over, that you aresucceeding.Write your affirmations daily. Of course, make sure you take the appropriateaction. As it says in the Bible, "Faith without works is dead."Remember that your subconscious mind does not know the difference betweenreal and imaginary. Before you go on a sales call, take a moment andmentally rehearse the scene, just like actors and athletes do. Tellyourself, "I'm a great salesperson. " Do this over and over, especially justbefore a sales call. See the sale being made. See and feel the success. Youwill be pleasantly amazed at the result. Don't take my word for it. Give ita try. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.It has been said throughout history that what ever you believe, withconviction, you can achieve. Don't be like the poor elephant and go throughyour life stuck because of a limiting belief you were given or developedyears ago. Take charge of your life and live it to the fullest. You deservethe best!
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