William Penn wrote, "True silence is the rest of the mind; it is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment." I passionately believe that we must schedule, on our calendars, at least fifteen to thirty minutes each week just to think. No distractions, no music, no TV, no laptop, no Blackberry, just you and your thoughts, alone. One of my good friends who is a senior level executive in a major corporation is such a believer in this concept that he actually requires his managers to regularly take time out to just think. Thinking is powerful. It slows you down, helps you relax and frequently generates incredible ideas and inspiration. Silence provides you with the capacity to contemplate where you are and where you are going.
The statistics say that something in the neighborhood of 95% of the people walking around in the world today don't know have a clue they are going. No idea at all. With numbers like this it is likely that you are in this crowd. Frankly it is hard not to be. Think about everything you are faced with each day - your quota, customers, prospects, the boss, sales meetings, travel, family, friends, voice mail, email, text messages, and endless to do lists. The world is moving at such a fast pace that on many days we just pour ourselves into bed at night and when the alarm rings early the next morning it all starts over again.
But the problem is while we are running so hard we quit thinking. And even if we try to think our thoughts just can't break through the noise and stress. We have so many things going on all at once and so much noise in our lives that it has become almost impossible to just think. How can you be creative when you are under pressure? Why should you worry about goals and make plans for your future when you have a quota to make today? The problem is, if you lose your creativity or fail to set goals you will never find the success you seek. You must find a way to rise above the noise.
Of course, the only way you will break through the noise is to set aside quiet time on your schedule just to think. The first time you attempt to quietly think will not be easy. In the 21st century, we are not accustomed to silence. We are multitaskers! When there is no noise, and no action we become uncomfortable and begin instinctively reaching for our blackberry, phone, or computer to see if we have any messages. Sitting still is something we have forgotten how to do. It will take time to build a habit of quiet contemplation and may take a few months before it becomes natural for you.
Now at this very moment I know that some of you are already think to yourself, "Jeb you are nuts, how in the world will I ever find time for a luxury like thinking? I have obligations and other people are counting on me. I can't afford to take time out of my day for this." Well, your concern is understandable. We are taught from an early age to put the needs of others first. However, consider this. If you give and give, without first taking care of yourself, you head down a path towards physical and mental disaster. You have to learn to put your well being first.
I'm not implying that in learning to put yourself first that you should become the self-serving center of your own universe. You don't need to sacrifice your priorities or relationships to invest in yourself. However, you cannot be of service to anyone if you are not taking care of you. You must take time to think. Your happiness, success and well-being depend on it.
Give it a try today. Sit down in a quiet place, breathe slowly and listen closely to your thoughts. This will take practice but if you listen closely your thoughts will tell you when you are on the wrong path or when you are on the right path. Keep listening. Soon you will begin to find creative ways to solve problems, you will think about your future, you will reflect on your blessings, and you may even find yourself writing down your plans and goals. Take time to think and listen. Once you form this habit and make it a weekly ritual you will tap into amazing power which will deliver peace of mind, inspiration, and real success.
Jeb Blount is author of the bestselling sales motivation book PowerPrinciples, the creator of the popular internet sales community, SalesGravy.com, and the host of the #1 ranked Sales Podcast in the world: SalesGravy: PowerPrinciples
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