A Water Injection, Doctor
There is a curious phenomenon in business and life that is so powerful that scientists have to take it into account, even though they don’t know exactly how or why it works. The medical profession has been on to it for hundreds of years, so they have instituted all kinds of ways to control for it. Let’s take a look and see how much it applies beyond the doctor’s office, shall we please?
I Shall Please
For years people’s health has improved by water or saline injections, pills with no active ingredients, and pretend surgeries. It is called the placebo effect and it is so powerful that when new drugs are tested they have parallel studies measuring a drug’s impact relative to a placebo. Without it, how will they determine statistical significance of the drug’s active ingredients?
Why does a placebo work? Because you believe it will. And since you believe it will work your own interpretation of your symptoms, a lowering of your anxiety, a remission that is coincidental, a change in your own behavior, or a new state for your brain end up making all the difference. Your own expectations or attitude towards the unbeknownst-to-you placebo treatment have a tremendous impact. So, a simple water injection suggested to be a cure can make you feel better about your health and yourself overall. This is the power of suggestion where an idea can turn into reality.
It Is Possible
There you are at work, at home, out with your friends and family, or at your computer this very moment. What if I suggest to you that reading this newsletter periodically springs you out of your mood and into action thinking newly, freshly, and outside the box? I know that is the case for at least two readers who have told me so.
But what if I suggest that just by virtue of thinking and sharing with others ideas about your own success, the odds go up? And what if I told you writing your goals down increases the chances they happen? No placebo here. Those ideas have been researched and studied and they are true on their own.
Could it be possible that there are “placebos” all around you? What about at work? You know, that customer called today so you just know it is going to be a fabulous quarter! Maybe it is going to be because you now say it will. Maybe something is possible because the equivalent of a water injection just happened at work and you say it will make a difference.
Maybe you are way more powerful than you give yourself credit. Maybe anything is possible for you in your life?
Doctor, Doctor, Give Me The News
Give yourself the grace to do what works for you in business and life. Inject some water into your life and take committed action. Today, you are your own doctor.
Here's to you and your awesome future.
Until then, keep your feet on the board and keep riding your wave!
Robert J. Khoury
CEO Agile Rainmakers