Why You Should Do the Opposite of Normal
This weekend as I rode the train from the big city to my house in the country I went through some brainstorming homework for one of my coaching groups.
As I worked through the exercises, I realized what I needed to do in order to take my business to the next level.
But it wasn’t what I wanted to do. In fact, it was the exact opposite. The situation reminded me of one of my favorite TV shows. And so today’s lesson comes from a strange man, George Costanza, the legendary character from, “Seinfeld”.
If you’re not a TV watcher, here’s what you need to know:
George Costanza was Jerry Seinfeld’s loser sidekick, for whom nothing ever worked out.
Finally, in one season, things finally start going right for George, all because he starts acting in the complete opposite way of his instincts.
Perhaps you remember this scene where George thinks he might get a job with the New York Yankees…
George: “A job with the New York Yankees! This has been the dream of my life ever since I was a child, and it’s all happening because I’m completely ignoring every urge towards common sense and good judgment I’ve ever had…
…something is happening in my life! I did this opposite thing last night. Up was down! Black was white! Good was…
Jerry: …bad
George: Day was…
Elaine: …night
George: Yeah!
Now before you go and hunt for the rest of that episode on Hulu or Itunes, let me explain what it means to us. At one point in this episode, George says,
“It all became very clear to me sitting out there today, that every decision I’ve ever made in my entire life has been wrong. My life is the complete opposite of everything I want it to be.”
Now I know that doesn’t describe you, but it might describe your experiences with trying to build a business.
If the businesses you’ve tried to start are not everything you want them to be, then maybe you need to start acting opposite to your instincts and common sense.
For example, one of my online business friends is struggling with getting things done, but he doesn’t want to give up control and delegate.
So what’s the solution?
There is only one – Do the opposite of what he wants to do.
He MUST – absolutely must – give up his control obsession and delegate lower skill tasks or else he will drown in opportunity.
Another one of my friends – who now runs a successful online fitness business – once told me he hated sitting behind a computer, but he wanted to have his own website selling fitness information products.
Guess what he had to do in order to succeed?
It was only when he “pulled a Costanza” and forced himself to sit down in front of his computer to write that his business took off. Today his website gets almost five thousands visitors each day and he has almost a dozen products for his rabid fans.
Then there’s me.
I’d love nothing more than to sit behind my computer and write all day long. I’ve made good progress with that system.
But if I want to spread my mission – to really, truly impact ALL of the people I want to help with my 1 Million Transformation Mission in the fitness industry – then I too must be like George and do the opposite of my instincts.
That means more live events, speaking, product launches, and days dedicated to filming videos. I don’t love any of those as much as I do writing, but if I want to succeed, I have to do the opposite of what I want and get out of my comfort zone.
It is tempting for us – myself included – to remain in our comfort zones, but that is not where we grow, improve, and make the necessary changes to dramatically move ahead.
My challenge to you today, and this week, is to pull a Costanza and do the opposite.
Look at what you are doing to stay in your comfort zone and think, “What is the opposite action of my instinct? And would this opposite action be the better solution?”
After all, it worked for George.
“Yes, I will do the opposite. I used to sit here and do nothing, and regret it for the rest of the day, so now I will do the opposite, and I will do something!” – George Costanza
Sounds like a plan.