

Get a Grip With Awesome Affirmations: A Must for Motivation


Julie Pyburn
Julie Pyburn, Professional Speaker/Educator/Author, Julie Pyburn Seminars, 2210 Owen, Alvin TX 77511, 281-585-4788, jpyburn1@aol.com.

83rd Annual International Conference Proceedings - 1998 

Abstract. Why do people succeed when others do not? When there is so much opportunity in front of people, why do only a few of them ever reach it and live it out for themselves? Searching for the answers to these questions led me to a field of research and a solution that is even now changing the field of personal motivation forever. This field of research is "Affirmations." I learned that by using affirmations coupled with the work ethic, people could turn lives and businesses of mediocrity into success.

This carefully developed and research based workshop gives businesses specific techniques for achieving excellence. Attendees will receive usable, innovative ideas on how to incorporate affirmations, goal setting, and motivational techniques into their organization. An affirmation is an action or thought performed in such a way that one is expressing his or her belief in the truth of a particular statement. Affirmations have been proven to be an effective motivational instrument to increase productivity not only in the educational system but in all aspects of the economic work force.

The Opportunity. This workshop is for individuals and organizations in the field of purchasing to learn about the personal side of their success-those qualities and characteristics within that either help you or hold you back. This program has proven time and time again to be an effective tool in helping attendees:

  • increase performance and satisfaction at work
  • improve employee confidence and communication
  • develop employee professionalism and skill
  • achieve goals of employee teamwork and commitment

Objectives. As a buyer, a major objective is to obtain the lowest possible price for products and services. Your attitude can directly affect your performance at work. By learning to change negative self-talk that gets in the way of success, you can overcome the first challenge of the day--your own negative thought patterns. This workshop has four major objectives. The first is to recognize the importance of the role you play in your organization. The second is to give you information about the true psychological causes that contribute to your personal success in business. The third is to give you the most effective motivational tools to assist you in reaching your goals. The fourth objective is for this workshop to be extremely practical and down to earth and, of course, genuinely helpful.

Content to be Presented. Consider the following 5 traits which enable average people to become outstanding! (Each letter of the word "GRIP" will stand for a phrase and stage of greatness.)

G - Go the Extra Mile
Going the extra mile is not a popular concept in America today. In fact, most people want to do the least amount possible or the bare minimum required in everything they do. This lack of effort never results in greatness. Affirmations are one way to leap in to the "extra mile" mode. The first step in going the extra mile for success is to identify some of your negative self-talk that is sabotaging your ability to excel.

Listed below are examples of negative self-talk typically used by most people in their every day lives. On the surface, none of these phrases seem harmful. In reality, these phrases show us deeper patterns that reflect attitudes and habits which tie in with not being fully in control of our lives.

  • I can't remember names.
  • It's going to be another one of those days!
  • Nothing ever goes right for me.
  • That's just my luck.
  • I don't have the talent.
  • Everything I eat goes right to my waist.
  • I can't seem to get organized.
  • I never have enough time.
  • I just don't have the patience for that.
  • That really makes me mad.
  • I never know what to say.
  • I'd like to quit smoking but I just can't seem to quit.
  • I don't have the energy I used to.
  • My desk is always a mess.
  • I've never been any good at that.
  • I lose weight but then I gain it right back again.
  • I just can't seem to get anything done.
  • I get a cold this time every year.
  • I never seem to get anyplace on time.

It is no wonder we fail to go the extra mile to get where we are trying to go when we take a look at some of the self-talk (affirmation) we've been working with. The rule is, "the strongest affirmation always wins."

R - Repeat to Remember
I believe that repetition is the mother of memory. What we do most is what we do best. Skill is developed. Techniques for ending procrastination, putting your goals into action, and increasing your levels of productivity can be learned. We've all heard the expression, "It takes twenty-one days to change a habit." It's no coincidence those same researchers found out it takes exactly the same time-about three weeks-to begin to break the habit of negative self-talk. There are five basic steps to break your habit of negative self-talk.

  1. Monitoring your own self-talk is the first step to change. Listen to every word that comes out of your mouth. Don't try to change any of what you say or make it better; just listen to it.
  2. Listen to self-talk statements you make about yourself. Pay special attention to any comments you make about yourself, comments that describe you or your feelings.
  3. Monitor the self-talk repeated by others around you. While you are listening to your own self-talk, also pay close attention to the self-talk of people around you. There is no better way to recognize the power of a person's self-talk than to listen to other people, and then measure their self-talk, good or bad, against the lives they are leading. The people you associate with can make all the difference in the world. Associate yourself with the people who set high goals for their own lives and work towards them consistently.
  4. Write down what you hear yourself saying. Your self-talk monitor log may have only a dozen or two entries. Even this short list will begin to give you an idea of what you tell yourself on a regular basis.
  5. Ask your family or friends to help with you with your list. Read your list over carefully and ask yourself what it tells you. (Is your self-talk building you up or tearing you down?)

I - Insist On Enthusiasm
At the bottom of all progress there is enthusiasm. The key to avoiding "burn-out" and continuing on the road to greatness relies in large part on our level of enthusiasm. With it there is accomplishment and without it there are only excuses. Not all people have the same temperament and thus show enthusiasm differently, which is fine. However, all peak performers realize the power of enthusiastic effort. Accept responsibility for your enthusiasm by learning specific strategies.

The people who learn how to create enthusiasm and self-motivation are among the most successful people you will ever meet. They tackle problems more positively. They are able to get past obstacles faster and more easily. They have more energy--they get more things done so they have more time. They are better at communicating with suppliers because they are enthusiastic about their job and accomplishing their goals. Therefore, they take the lead role in the buyer/supplier relationship and are able to use their time in a most efficient way. Enthusiasm is contagious-is yours worth catching?

P - Plan on Persistence
There are so many starters, yet very few finishers. Winners have "stick-to-it-iv-ness." They have fortitude and staying power. This is a skill that can be developed through discipline. Having tenacity of purpose is what drives leaders toward excellence. The two basics for personal success are: 1) A vision-a mental sight, dream or revelation and 2) A commitment to the vision.

A vision or a goal provides you with a specific direction toward which to aim your persistence. Without a vision, you have no direction. To achieve, you must have an idea of what you want to achieve. "If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else no matter how diligently you persist."

To master the skill of persistence, one must first identify specific goals worthy of your disciplined effort. There are at least three reasons why visions and goals are necessary. First is they provide purpose and motivation. Secondly they provide specific direction and thirdly, they keep you single-minded on an accomplishment.

Without a commitment to excellence, good minds settle for mediocre aspirations, and the world is ultimately the poorer. Awesome Affirmations is a workshop committed to preparing people for careers and lives of distinction.

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