How to train your brain for high performance by Geoffrey James on Nov 28, 2016, 4:44 PM For the past two decades, my good friend and mentor Gerhard Gschwandtner (if you don't know who he is, you're not in sales) has been investigating the thought patterns of successful people and how to replicate them. In the process, he's created a fascinating and (it seems to me) quite useful model of how beliefs (or mindsets, as he calls them) ultimately determine our actions. He sees the brain operating like a pyramid with three levels: 
Implanted mindsets These are beliefs that you've absorbed from your culture and your parents or caretakers. While some of these beliefs may be useful and enlightened, others of them may be harmful and holding you back. The challenge here, according to Gschwandtner, is to "water the flowers and stop watering the weeds" by making a conscious decision to either embrace or reject these beliefs. For example, my late father believed that I could accomplish any intellectual task if I put my mind to it. He was also, like many of his generation, quietly racist. I've chosen to accept his positivism and reject his racism. Imprinted mindsets Sitting atop those implanted beliefs are the beliefs that are created when you're impressed by a great teacher, a mentor, or a coach. Such experiences can literally change your life. I've met many people who can pinpoint the exact moment when they changed their thinking as the result of reading a book, hearing a speech, or just having a conversation. For example, Tony Robbins taught me, among other things, that formal, written goals are essential to success. Previously, I foolishly never set goals because I wanted to "feel free." Inspired mindsets The highest level of the pyramid are the inspired beliefs that transcend your background and even the lessons you've learned from your mentors. As Gschwandtner puts it: "We all have deep within us something special that we might call 'inner magic' or a talent that wants to come out, or a dream that invites us to think about exploring a new direction in our lives." The challenge here is to heed these inspired beliefs in order to make your life more meaningful. These inspired beliefs are what drive successful people to create a "second act" where they are in service to a greater good. Amp up your performance A wonderful characteristic of the human brain is that if you ask it a question, it will come up with an answer. (That's why it's important to ask the right questions!) Using that principle, the following "worksheet" will help you focus and channel all three levels of your mind so you can perform at a higher level: Implanted Mindset - What belief that I had since I was a child has proven the most useful?
- What belief that I had since I was a child has held me back the most?
- What can I do, today, to reinforce and strengthen the useful belief?
- What can I do, today, to expunge and eliminate the dysfunctional belief?
Imprinted Mindset - What three books have influenced me the most?
- What three experiences have taught me the most?
- What can I do, today, to strengthen the beliefs I acquired?
- Given my current goals, who are the three best mentors (authors, experts, consultants) who can help me grow?
Inspired Mindset - If I could do anything and knew that I could not fail, it would be _______?
- What is holding me back from following that inspiration?
- What parts of my life are leading me toward that inspiration?
- What is my plan to transition to following that inspiration?
I recently learned that Gschwandtner has a special workshop that uses applied neuroscience to help attendees align their levels and tap into their inspired mindset. Based upon my experience with his previous workshops and conferences, the workshop is likely to be both enlightening and entertaining. I'd go myself but unfortunately I had already made commitments for that time before I learned about it. SEE ALSO: This 5-minute exercise will help you get better at making conversation SEE ALSO: The 27 jobs that are most damaging to your health
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