Years ago, I stuck my toe in the waters of motivational speaking by giving a course on “How to Get Out of a Slump” at the Learning Annex in NYC. It was fairly well received by the audience, which included one of the stars of a TV network sitcom.
What I told her and the rest of the class is that getting out of a slump is not difficult, though it may require some persistence.
Then I gave the class a simple 3-part strategy for overcoming a slump that works for both business and personal setbacks.
I have since shared it with many other people, a number of whom report good results with it.
The only problem is that the formula is so simple — it contains a total of only 7 words — that you may be tempted to dismiss it, even though it has worked for me and hundreds of other individuals.
Here is the formula for getting out of a slump:
- Do something.
- Do more.
- Keep doing it.
Let’s examine the three parts in more detail:
>> Step 1: Do something.
Do I mean do anything, no matter how random? Well, no.
But almost. Here’s what I mean….
People in a slump spend a lot of their time worrying, ruminating, and fretting.
They suffer from “analysis paralysis.” They become so obsessed with making their next step perfect, they never take it.
You can only reverse a slump through action, so you’ve got to act — now!
Not sure whether your idea for a solution makes sense? Do it anyway.
Not sure whether to take Path X or Path Y? Pick one and go forward.
The very fact that you are taking action — instead of getting stuck in inaction — will automatically start you on the road to recovery.
>> Step 2: Do more.
There are two common reasons why people fail.
One is that they don’t do the work required to get the results they want.
Putting into action just one or two ideas may help, but it’s probably not enough to totally solve your problem.
To get out of a slump requires that you take what motivational speaker Anthony Robbins calls “massive action.”
How to implement this strategy: Decide how much activity you think you really need to get fully out of your slump.
Then do at least twice that amount.
>> Step 3: Keep doing it.
Another reason people fail is that they give up too early.
Not everything you try will work. If you try one thing, then a second, then a third, and they all fail, do you give up? No. You try something else.
Eventually one thing works OK. Then, another works better.
And before you know it, you’re well on the road to turning your situation around.
But don’t just forge ahead blindly. Evaluate the results of each effort.
A corollary to step 3 is: do more of what’s working, less of what’s not working.
There you have it: 3 steps … 7 words.
Simple? Yes.
Does it work? It has for many.
Will it work for you? Try it and see for yourself.
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Robert W. Bly is a freelance copywriter and marketing consultant with 3 decades of experience in business-to-business, high-tech, and direct marketing. He is the first AXIOMS EXPERT at Kallisti Publishing Inc.
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