Nerves happen to us all. Most often we see it as a negative thing and try to push the nerves down deep or away entirely. We get nervous when we are about to:
- Step out of our comfort zone
- Take on a wicked tough challenge
- Have an important conversation
But, what if we could use those nerves to trigger a:
=> 200% boost in creativity
=> 400% boost in motivation
=> 490% boost in learning
=> 500% boost in productivity
What is needed to do just that?
Essential skills for our lives and businesses today:
“creativity, motivation, learning & productivity”
We can’t do this in the state of mind we normally operate in. We have to flip a switch… we have to get into an altered state of consciousness that changes our perception of ourselves, time, our effort, and the information streaming into our consciousness.
In fact, we have already learned part of what is required to shift ourselves to this state…
One of the BE A BEAST principles that illustrates this is “VALDEPA the canadian goose.” With this principle we learned to visualize in advance. For those who have studied this system and live these principles, we have all felt the powerful shift that happens when we use the “Game Ready” process that Extreme Focus founders, Dave & Shane Austin have perfected over the years.
We have also learned how to set goals and create a plan with DEPUTIS the meerkat principle, which is also a part of the BE A BEAST leadership system.
In this article, we are going to touch on how we leverage these tools to create “Laser Productivity” to increase your creativity, motivation and learning…
In fact, the Navy SEALs and Army Rangers who have been through this program found this principle to be the one that enhances and amplifies all of their other training…
Let me share the words of Captain Trevor Shirk, U.S. Army Ranger who has gone through the BE A BEAST Training:
“When you ran us through the visualization, it tapped into a deep focus which I haven’t felt since my deployment in Afghanistan when we were prepping our equipment to go into an area where contact and violence would be imminent. You brought forth the same level of deep focus which allowed us to be effective at finding IEDs and winning gunfights. The visualization brought me back into the zone where my platoon and I would operate decisively.”
To have extreme focus, and to increase your focus, productivity, creativity, motivation and learning, there must be a real shift in consciousness that changes how you perceive the world and yourselves, and even time.
“This shift in consciousness is often referred to as the state of FLOW.”
Flow-inducing activities (like the visualization we do in the “Game Ready” process) clear the chemicals out of your body that cause stress while quieting your prefrontal cortex which is the source of your doubts — and for those who have experienced this, we have all felt that after the game ready…. right?
Flow also stimulates your brain to release a cocktail of six neurochemicals – which creates four simultaneous sensations that alter everything about how you perceive the world and how you think and act. These 4 sensations are:
- Selflessness (sense of self disappears), you become one with a group or with the task.
- Timelessness (hours seem like minutes, or micro-seconds can be seen in vivid detail),
- Effortlessness (your tasks/mission seems much easier) things just seem to happen as if magically flowing, and
- Richness (we gain insight and information in vivid detail) that allows us to see nuances that make a massive difference in our results and make new connections so we have new ideas.
In the book Stealing Fire, the Commander of SEAL Team Six talks about the power of being in flow as a key to the success of the Navy SEALs:
“More than any other skill, SEALs rely on this merger of consciousness…Being able to flip that switch, that’s the real secret to being a SEAL.”
This shift in consciousness and the turning off of our doubt centers cause us to make accelerated decisions with laser-like precision and clarity.
We can take on pressure and use it to our advantage so we can thrive rather than just survive.
So, how to we achieve Laser Productivity?
How do we Laser in on our goal to lock out distractions?
There are 3 steps:
- Get involved in an activity with a clear set of goals and progress (DEPUTIS – Supporting your Describe, Purpose, Timeline and Strategy) — what can you do RIGHT NOW!
- The task at hand must have clear and immediate feedback. … (ETMO – Embrace the Moment) — Stay present and notice your immediate results. You can negotiate any changing demands in the moment and allows them to adjust their performance to maintain the flow state.
- One must have a good balance between the perceived challenges of the task at hand and their own perceived skill (STRETLIT – Go Beyond your Comfort Zone) — And merely a step or two so as to not stretch too far or too fast. One must have confidence in one’s ability to complete the task at hand.
When you do this, you will experience the state of flow:
- Selflessness (sense of self disappears),
- Timelessness (hours seem like minutes, or micro-seconds can be seen in vivid detail),
- Effortlessness (your tasks/mission seems much easier), and
- Richness (we gain insight and information in vivid detail).
And suddenly, you will have on average a:
=> 200% boost in creativity
=> 400% boost in motivation
=> 490% boost in learning
=> 500% boost in productivity
What animal do we use to represent this laser productivity?
LASPRO – the peregrine falcon:
- The peregrine falcon can see it’s prey (or its goal) clearly over a kilometer away — it has a clear goal.
- It hunts by flying high above and looking down to see the big picture, to spot opportunities… and it hunts other birds as they’re flying not animals sitting on the ground.
- The peregrine falcon locks in on its prey dives at over 200 miles per hour (it is the fastest member of the animal kingdom) — using the immediate feedback it receives as it is falling to adjust course.
- They nest in cliffs or on tall skyscrapers – always on the edge and ready to take on a new challenge – just like we need to take on challenges just outside of our skill-set – right where we are most nervous – where we feel like we are on the edge of a cliff.
- Cool fact – If you’ve studied the BE A BEAST principles, you will remember how RESPA the crocodile has specially designed eyelids to see clearly in the muddy waters… well LASPRO the peregrine falcon has two adaptations that help it achieve it’s goals:
- A third eyelid to spread tears and clear debris from their eyes while maintaining vision during their 200+ MPH dives AND
- A specially designed nostril to guide the powerful airflow away from the nostrils, enabling the bird to breathe more easily while diving by reducing the change in air pressure that would otherwise cause its lungs to explode.
- This should remind us to keep our vision clear and to breathe when we are nervous about taking on new challenges— to bring RESPA to mind while we are LASPROing.
In closing, use LASPRO to achieve laser productivity in your business and in all that you do in your life. It will certainly improve your overall results when you do!
Steve Bull, former professional English footballer says,
“Nerves and butterflies are fine, they are a physical sign that you’re mentally ready and eager. You just have to get the butterflies to fly in formation, that’s all.”
Tony Bodoh
Extreme Focus Certified Coach and Customer Service Expert
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