{Book #5} Required Entrepreneur Reading: Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz

Can Your Thoughts About Yourself Actually Influence Your Business Success?

As entrepreneurs, we are constantly on the lookout, not only to find ways to enhance our business purposes, products, and practices, but we are also willing to look deeper into ourselves to understand what drives us in all aspects of life.  What is it inside of each person that makes them believe they can achieve whatever they put their mind to?  On the other side of the coin, what is it that makes us believe we absolutely don't have what it takes to achieve x, y, or z?  

Ironically, we are so good at analyzing others' hang-ups and downfalls.  We nominate ourselves as "Chief Analyzer" and we say, "If Suzy would just realize her talent and focus less on her downfalls, she would be so successful at ________."  

However, many of us don't want to take the time or simply just lack the interest to explore the psychology of what makes a business person successful.  But what if exploring this avenue turns out to be the eye-opening-factor that changes a person's business approach, and ultimately their entire life course for the better?    

{Book #5}: Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz

Author Maxwell Maltz was a plastic surgeon, who performed corrective surgeries for people who were dissatisfied with what they deemed as "defects" in their appearance.  What surprised him the most were the different responses of these patients, after having the surgery.  For some, their lives changed dramatically for the positive, as their self-confidence blossomed and they were able to connect with others socially as a result of not feeling self-conscious about their perceived defect.  For other patients, while their outward appearance had become what they always wanted, they reported not feeling any differently about themselves and their life situation.  

Maltz wanted to help his patients to find the root of satisfaction in life.  He writes, "Our self-image and our habits go together [because we formed our habits to fit our image of ourselves].  Change one and you will automatically change the other."  He specifically addresses how our self-perceptions shape and form our actions, and even our ability to pursue the goals we truly desire to achieve.  

What have you learned and changed about yourself, that has enhanced your ability to think and act in more positive (and ultimately  more successful) ways?