Here’s something that I believe about you, and it may be hard for you to accept.
I believe that you’ve got at least one idea that could be worth at least a million dollars, if you’re willing to actually release that idea from your mind and take action on it.
Truth is, I believe most people have dozens of these ideas, but they never let them surface to “reality”, and instead they keep them bottled up and push them down.
Why is it that most people refuse to accept they might have a game-changing idea?
As human beings, we’re literally ‘hard wired’ to fail when it comes to money, business and success. Almost all of us come with “factory equipped” wiring in our minds that limits our success, and this keeps most people from ever coming close to achieving their potential.
But here’s the amazing thing .. once you understand this limiting thinking, you can actually reprogram yourself and let your most powerful ideas emerge – changing not only your life, but also the lives of those you end up helping with your idea.
So how do you identify and change this wiring?
Here’s the fastest way to do it, in 800 words or less.
Before I explain this, let’s do a very quick test to set the stage.
Go through the following list of 11 things, and count how many of these you can relate to at some level.
- You have a tendency to be critical of yourself.
- You have a great need for people to like and admire you.
- You have a great deal of unused capacity which you have not turned to your advantage.
- While you have some personality weaknesses, you are generally able to compensate for them.
- Disciplined and self-controlled outside, you tend to be worrisome and insecure inside.
- At times (and more often recently) you have serious doubts as to whether you have made the right decision or done the right thing.
- You prefer a certain amount of change and variety, and become dissatisfied when hemmed in by restrictions and limitations.
- You pride yourself as an independent thinker, and don’t accept others’ statements without satisfactory proof.
- You have found it unwise to be too frank in revealing yourself to others.
- Some of your aspirations tend to be pretty unrealistic.
- Security is one of your major goals in life, even though you sometimes wish it weren’t.
Did you keep track of how many times you thought “that’s me” or “I do that sometimes”?
If you’re like most people, you likely can relate to several of these things, if not most (or all) of them.
Most people are amazed that I “know them so well”, but
here’s the secret: these are things that almost all of us think about ourselves.
This isn’t anything magical or ‘psychic’. It’s something my friend
Adam Christing taught me – that these fears and emotional blocks are something that almost everyone shares at some level (not something that just
you suffer from .. even though sometimes you feel like you’re the only one).
This is the human condition.
If you could relate to some of the things on this list,
you’re just like most of us!
Most people feel that they have some powerful force or potential inside them, but they’re not using it to their potential.
Most of us are concerned about what others think about us, and we secretly aspire to do great things .. but our wiring holds us back, and keeps us from reaching for the brass ring.
I suffer from several of these things on the list, just like most people do. So,
what I do to overcome these feelings, and push through the resistance and challenges that most of us feel?
Here is a powerful tool I use that allows me to believe in myself, and to share what I do with as many people as I can in the process.
Ask Yourself,
“Why Not Me?”
Whenever I start to question whether I have the “right” to do something, or if the idea I get is too big for me to take action on, I ask myself this question over and over.
I literally challenge myself to come up with a list of all the reasons why I am not the person who should come up with (and benefit from) the idea that I have.
This is Step 1.
I make that list, and frankly it usually ends up a lot smaller than I would have thought. Then, I go through that list, and come up with a strategy to overcome that particular reason why it shouldn’t be me.
This is Step 2.
For example, when I thought about becoming a speaker and teaching people about real estate investing. My brain immediately resisted.
So I asked myself, “Why Not Me?”
And I got several answers to the question, and one of them was “
there are people more experienced than you.” (this is step 1 of the process).
So then, I went to Step 2, and I challenged myself to come up with a strategy to overcome this problem. When I approach it this way, what I realized is that you don’t have to be the most experienced in something to teach it to others. When I reflected on it, I realized that I had created a lot of success, and that I would be serving others to show them what I did to invest successfully.
I realized that as long as I was authentic and didn’t pretend to be something I was, that I could help a lot of other people. As it turned out, I was right. And in the process, I helped move a lot of people into financial freedom, all because I decided to push through my initial resistance.
This is a powerful strategy, because it forces you to deal with your excuses head on, and realize that they’re not impossible to overcome. The other reason this works is because
it gives your brain permission to be negative and come up with reasons why not.
The truth is,
our minds are GREAT at coming up with reasons why we can’t do something.. so this technique allows that to happen, but then circles back and identifies how you can overcome each of the things you come up with.
The truth is, without this tool,
you wouldn’t be reading this blog, because I would have never overcome my concern that no one would care about what I have to say.
So if you’ve got a million dollar idea bottled up inside you, and it’s time for you to step forward and finally bring it to reality, this tool may just be the solution you’ve been looking for.
Post a comment below and let me know what you think about this idea, and when you’re going to take ACTION on your million dollar idea!]]>
53 Responses
Good! I did not know this question!!! I love it.
Why not me??? I will do this ! Thanks so much!
Hi Helene:
Glad you like the question .. it's very powerful and I've used it a lot!
I have had some ideas that I shared with friends and was shot down, however, still thinking they were good ideas, asked the question 'who can I get to help me' and came up on a dead end. It is possible that some of the other programming took over and I gave up with the conclusion, it probably was a dumb idea, so there it sits. I am beginning to re-think some of those ideas now. Great post Greg. Thank you
So I'm not the only one! Ha! I always thought that it was just me. Thanks for the new tool that will help me excavate the old limiting beliefs!
Hi Manon:
It's not just you.. it's virtually EVERYONE that struggles with these challenges! You're welcome, and I'm glad you're getting insight.
Exellent !
MY million dollar idea is to ask YOU to guide me in my R/E investment business, which is not working so well. I'd like to be a successful investor. Become financially free.
My million dollar suggestion for you is to become the successful investor so that you can mentor OTHERS who need help. The most powerful way to learn something is to teach it yourself. What would you need to do in order to be able to teach investment principles to others?
I tend to have my clients to ask this question of themselves, but I never asked that question of myself. We become so conditioned to do what we are suppose to that stepping outside of the box is not something we think about because we are not programmed to think that way. We are traditional in out thinking and that’s that! I’m losing my job as an employment trainer (go figure) and now is the time for me to say, “why not me” in moving forward on not punching that clock for someone else to tell me what to or not to do! Thanks Greg!!
Hi Renee:
I agree – it's amazing how quickly we lose the forest through the trees. You're welcome and thanks for the feedback.
Hey Greg,
As you said:
“but here’s the secret: these are things that almost all of us think about ourselves.
We are all alike, and have the same belief and trait like these of the 11.As i said to you in face book:
“Birds of a feather flock together”,People of the same sort of character or belief always go together.
You are uniqe and hero, because you found the way how to overcome the weakness and mis belief
about ouer personality, andbring to reality our dreams/
Hi Lea:
The difference between successful and unsuccessful people isn't that successful people don't have fears or challenges .. the difference is that they feel them, but take action despite them.
Greg,
Great blog! You’ve got me hooked. I’m just in the initial stages of working on a new, potentially HUGE division of my company. I absolutely know at an intellectual level that I can do it, but the emotions sure get in there and my fears start screaming at me. Thoughts come to me that try to hold me back like “What if you fail?”, or “It will be so incredibly time consuming that it will destroy your quality of life”, or “You’re not meant to be wealthy.” or ” Where will you ever get the investment money from?” Thanks so much for this very simple two step process. It’s quite powerful.
You're welcome Gloria, and I'm glad the process helps you see what's possible. Emotion is an incredible thing, and sadly chains so many people up .. by using a tool like this, you flip it on its head and allow it to work for you instead of against you.
Thank you Greg
You are awesome. You are changing the environment in my mind.
Thank you for creating self awareness.
Very kind comments, thank you Umesh! Great to know I'm having an impact.
Why not me?
Great question!
Thank you
Tim
Greg,
I have a HUGE MONEY MAKING IDEA!
It is internet based and involves IT Development.
I am in need of direction in this area for 'my idea' to become what I believe will be larger than
i-Tunes.
Any dierction is GREATLY Appreciated.
Hi Ed:
hard to provide a lot of direction with such limited information and time, but I would start researching the market and figure out why your solution makes sense, and I would seek out proof that in fact the idea has a market, and that people are willing to pay for it. The key in business is to serve a need that exists, as opposed to trying to create a need for a product that we come up with. So survey the market, do your research, and be confident that the market exists before you spend a lot of time and money on it. Hope that helps.
I read your comment, it is like looking myself in a mirror in most or the 11 things. I am going to
take action on one of my biggest goal starting next month, 10/05/2010
thanks..
Elizabeth.
My brainy is now a mushy slush of disgust and hope!!! I don’t know what to say……
Well I'd say you're on the path to having some powerful realizations and "ahas" if that's the case!
really i have like the artcle and you have inpired me a lot
Hi Greg: Before I opened you e-mail, I was feeling very blocked and wondering just how I could overcome this. I read your article and list. I could answer yes to almost all of them. Then your question and steps 1 and 2 really crystalized for me what I can do about my own resistance. That was the question I had before opening the e-mail and reading the article. I can hardly wait to actually do the process. I can see it will work. Thanks, Diane
i've been keeping up with some of your posts and i appreciate your honesty and practical approach. thank you.
Hallo there. You blew me away with that one & was spot on with the way I am as a person. Now I know that others are like that too its amazing. The not alone thing I guess. Its interesting. Somewhat a shock and rw to be confronted with ones innermost felings suddenly bared.
Hi Nancye – you're definitely not alone as most people share these insecurities and fears. The key is to recognize them and then move forward through them!
Hi Greg,
Great point without a doubt and thank you very much for your emails. I have been privileged to hear you speak and believe you to be a good and honourable chap.
So a bit of a bold response here…
Isn't this an 'afformation'? I'm aware that you are familiar with Noah St John's work.
For those who responded who are not fimiliar with Afformations, Afformations are not to be confused with affirmations.
see Noah St John – Afformations.
Afformations are powerful questions that change the subconscious mind by engaging it to search by asking "Why …" (as opposed to affirmations, which are statements you say that you may want to be true, even desperately so, however, the mind and subconscious don't believe it or reject it out right due to past conditioning. ?
Is that what you were alluding to Greg?
Thank you.
Asking powerful questions is the secret to achieving success. The more questions you ask, the more success you open yourself up to. Unsuccessful people rarely ask questions, because they think they already know the answer, or they're not open to a different view. So I agree, questions can be the bridge between where you are and where you want to go.
Fear and doubt contribute to more failures than any leading cause. Second is lack of preparation. Third is not staying true to ourselves. If distance was a measurement of success, aka ‘how far we come’ then legacy could not play it’s role. If background, education, or support is our set back we can always choose to control the things within our sphere of influence and accept that many things are beyond our control. Three most common excuses are health, we judge our willingness on how we feel physically or emotionally; education – not smart enough or got right credentials, and last is age – yup crossing the age barriers, learning from other peer groups, listening to advice and not sayin I am to old, not enough time, I am too young. People are saying why not all the times these days.
Most, and I mean most, young entrepreneur never get their true potential after making millions in real estate, internet marketing, doing start up companies. Some plateau while others continue to ride roller coaster of success saying to themselves, “Well I did this once, I can do it again”. They hope it will work this time, and go forward once again. Many had to write down and figure out what they want, what they have to give up. Then do it!
I have a ten step process that I use because I want things to be consistent with my belief system, and that has held me back, but keeps me grounded. Lol and I see from article above that my very core is risking my own success, my future, my sphere of influence. My biggest objection is believing other people really want to help.
Thanks,
Paul
Fear and doubt are not my issue .
I realize I need a great mentor and someone to hold my hand step by step ,to succeed .
I am working on manifesting that honest ,authentic mentor .
So far a lot of advertising comes my way .How does one know who is the honest person?
How does one sort the authentic from dishonest businesses?
I think that intuition is a big part of it. Most of the time, you can sense when someone is not authentic. The other thing is that the internet has made it much easier to discover who isn't what they claim to be. Doing some research will turn up negative reviews and comments rather quickly. That's the power of the internet.. it makes it almost impossible to hide when you're not being honest or authentic about who you are.
Keep it up Greg!
Hi Greg,
I have answered "yes that's me" to these questions. Some more than others but still they exist. It's great that you also give a great tool and examples to help connect. It's amazing when you stop to think about all the ideas that have gone through our mind and didn't really have the tools to get to the bottom of that barrier. My sister and I had come up with a few great ideas but not too long after, usually a couple of months, the product or service was available. We definately waited too long!
It's getting these ideas and pushing past all the personal barriers that hold us back and this tool is a great step in getting past those barriers.
Thank you so much for it.
Quick question. Why is it that we can see in others what their talents and strengths are, what they would be great at and be able to support them and encourage them but we can't seem to do this for ourselves?
I know we are our own worst critics and we tend to stand in our own way, but how do we look at ourselves objectively?
Hi Rose:
Great question! The reason that we can't see our own brilliance or limitations is the same reason that the world's top athletes, actors and performers all have coaches. We can't see our own form, and we can't catch ourselves doing the habits that create problems. Having someone outside of ourselves be the observer gives them a perspective that's impossible for us to have on ourselves. That's why having a coach or mentor is such a powerful thing .. and why every single person I know that's successful has at least one coach or mentor (and often, several!)
Awesome post Greg. Thanks for all your great blog posts, very helpful.
Thank you, Greg! I added this concept in my daily mind-set improving presentation. There are a lot concepts from you. I am reminding to myself all this every day and I start feeling results. You inspired me for change.
After your previous post I started to share my inspiration and ideas in social networks and people get inspired. Thats great! Good job, Greg!
That is a question i have asked myself my whole life, and it’s always inspired me. I think sometimes it leads me to be a little hard on myself but the bottom line is i am happily successful, and that’s the best a person can ask for.
Through financial engineering, i help people grow and accumulate wealth in a way that i believe to be the #1 retirement strategy in Canada. I see a handful of successful business owners every single day, and they not all geniuses. I would say the most common attribute they all share is persistence, passion, and a determination for what they do. SO WHY NOT YOU?
Great post Greg!
Hi Greg, I always enjoy your posts and this is great too. Getting perspective on my human behaviour and how this is affecting my own results, it appears I procrastinate…this could also be the pre-lude to actually being successful and then having to handle the life changes. Hey, now that I know this…full steam ahead…I am looking forward to the $million idea working for me. Thanks for insights 🙂
Hi mr. Habstritt, I allready did use the question but without the me. So now I will use it with me or my own name. Why not me or why not Clyde? Thank you!
I know I have, but how could i bring it into reality? I don't have the full knowledge and finances to take even the first steps to bring it out. What do you suggest?
When you drive down a dark road, you can't see the entire road ahead of you.. can only see a few hundred feet in front of you. But you go on the information you have, and you adjust as you go.
If you waited until you could see the entire road, you'd never go on the journey.
So the question isn't, how do I get everything I need to know exactly how to do it .. the question is, what do I need to know NOW in order to get started?
Hi Greg!!
Why not me is such a powerful question!! I made myself that question about a month ago and as soon as the negative answers were turned down and the many possible ways to achieve my goal came to the surface without any blocking idea, things started to roll in an overwhelming way! Now I am about to start my own coaching business here in Mexico. October is an important month as I will launch my blog, start my course to obtain an International certification from one of the best coaches in the world, and I will be giving my first coaching to a group of people. Using this powerful technique unleashes the power you have inside.
Amazing!! I use this question with clients all the time when they are coming to terms with a diagnosis. They usually ask “Why me?”; and I have asked them back “Why not you?” I never thought about using those words in this context. Thank you so much!!!
wow, you've articulated this beautifully and gently.
very timely for me.
thank you!
I like. I think is not easy and need some practice to get the results
This really hit home for me! I have several ideas that I believe could make a difference! I have made several attempts at various things; like setting up a website or attempting to start a greeting card business online but so far I always fall short. Thanks for your blog and for hitting the mark! Thanks for the encouragement and certainly I will find a way to develop at least one of my ideas!
The dreamer
The process of asking ourselves questions and answering them is thinking, and the best way to improve our level of thinking is by asking ourselves better questions. When i first read this post Greg and posted a comment on it a few days ago, i liked it. After further thought, i still like it as long as it's taken in the proper context.
If one asks themselves "why not me?", the question would only be conducive to productivity if it's asked and answered in a positive or motivational way. It should be followed by questions like: "what steps did they take to achieve what they did?", "what action can i take right now that would get me one step closer to achieving my goal", etc….
If "why not me?" is followed by "how come nothing good ever happens to me", "why am i so unlucky", "how come he/she has more than i do". Nothing good or productive can come from that train of thought.
So perhaps it would be better stated to lead one towards a positive action towards what it is they want to accomplish.
Would you agree?
I had an idea concerning fundraising.
There is a lot of charitable groups in this area that I live in. Every time I turn around there is another fundraiser going on. And then I hear the following week that they raised $20,000.00. Then usually they also state that they still have a long way to go to reach the goal they have to raise $1,000,000.00.
I have been learning about affiliate marketing and I think a charity could use AM to raise money for any charity of your choice.
I would approach someone who has a website set up. I was thinking it should be a successful website that has many hits but I don’t think it really matters.
As an example the website is set up for someone who owns a lawnmower repair store. The owner would use a small space on the site to put an affilate link on it. Maybe the link is for one of the tool suppliers. Every time someone uses the link and small amount of money would build up in the account and then it would be donated to your favorite charity.
There are hundreds of websites and each one would have a link to support there charity.
Hello Greg,
I listened to you being interviewed by John Assaraf, and I remember I thought: this is a pure person who lives succesfully. You were very clear and easy to understand. That is a talent. I know my talents, but I haven't figured out yet how to put those in a business of my own. But I am sure some idea will come up. Thanks.
I love this question, thanks for the insight Greg! It's applicable in all areas of life, and totally shifted my perspective as soon as i considered it…i'm going to have some fun with this one!
Thanks for this simple and very powerful way at dealing with your fears. I am going to print this off and keep it by my desk so that I can re-read it when I have many of those doubts as a reminder. I am going to have my husband read it too. This is so simple, yet effective. Thanks for sharing your learnings with all us. I truely appreciate it.
Bang on Greg! I agree everyone has that Milloion dollar
idea within them. Some of us may already have the idea in action or
the career to take us where we want to go, but again, those
limiting thoughts get in the way of us getting what we deserve, so
either the goal takes much longer to achieve or we simply wear down
and give up. “Why not me?” is a great exercise to
use to decrease the likelihood of failure by reprogramming those
nasty negative and limiting thoughts. Thanks Greg!
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