My 10-year old son loves going to the movies. To be fair, he also loves the exorbitantly priced popcorn and sodas. Today, he got very excited when he saw the ad for the new DreamWorks movie "Monsters vs Aliens". Animation is right up his alley. But he really isn't that particular and looks for any excuse to go the movies with his parents, grandparents, or friends...about a dozen times a year.
Today, when I asked him why he loves going to the movies, he replied, "It just makes me happy." Based on watching his face numerous times, he truly enjoys the explosion of colors and visual effects on the massive movie screen and the powerful sound system that vibrates his chest. He also relishes the comfy movie-theater chairs, the snacks, and all the belly laughing he does. Like most kids, he enjoys funny movies, animations, and big adventures. Like his old man, he does not like scary horror movies.
As a business coach for nearly 20 years, I can tell you that business owners love going to the movies as well. In fact, they do it constantly and mostly on company time. While they are forever watching movies, it's not at the movie theater and they're not eating popcorn. Unfortunately, they're watching "internal movies" all day long in their heads. And, unlike my son, they don't seem to chose the comedies or adventures. They evidently prefer the horror movies since that seems to be the predominant type of flick playing in their heads.
As your virtual business coach, allow me to ask you some unusual but valuable business coaching questions. What types of movies are you projecting in your head? Are they inspiring adventures or depressing horror movies?Positive movies with good outcomes or negative movies with bad and sad endings? Movies that are mostly empowering or disempowering? And finally, and most importantly, do your internal movies support your success or sabotage it? Select your movies wisely!
Whether you want to admit it or not, we all are continually running internal movies. At a minimum, we are holding conversations with ourselves all day long...just stop and listen to the on-going chatter in your head. A constant story dialogue (mostly positive or negative) is occurring in the background of our brains throughout the day. Most times, we also display images with the dialogue. We play out various business scenarios in our heads. They are shows with predominantly positive or negative expectations. We are constantly projecting coming attractions (good, bad or ugly) in our heads and these serve a self-fulfilling prophecies. Therefore, choose your movies carefully!
As your business coach, I encourage you to slow down and reflect on the movies that you are playing in your head. Be aware. Awaken to the type of internal movies you play. Question the movies and challenge the movies. You are in control of the movie projector. Stop allowing negative dialogue, images, expectations, and story lines to flash in your brain. Interrupt the horror movies and change them into grand adventures where you are the hero and things turn out great. After all, it's your life and business, your brain, and you get to pick the movies.
Enjoy the movies and please pass the popcorn.
P.S. Starting in April with this entry, The Growth Coach business coaching blog will appear once a week on Thursdays.
Daniel M. Murphy
President, Founder & Business Coach
The Growth Coach
Business Coaching Franchise System