I’ve been speaking for a long time, and throughout my speaking career I’ve said a lot of things that people didn’t like to hear. But often times, hearing something that’s not laced with pixie dust is just what the doctor ordered.
A component of some of my presentations that tends
to
rock the boat is something I refer to as PREnoia.
If you know me or have ever heard me speak, then you KNOW that I’m a big fan of the prefix PRE (unless it’s followed by -mature). Some of you will get that joke, but most will not. Too bad.
While I’ll admit that PREnoia is another conjured-up term that popped into my head during a beautiful afternoon’s motorcycle ride, I must say that this term firmly expresses a strategy that lends itself to an individual being both concerned about, and prepared for – EVERYTHING.
Now I’m not suggesting that you need to walk around – constantly worrying about being prepared for a storm, an earthquake, or some freak occurrence. No, no, no. That’s got nothing to do with PREnoia.
PREnoia represents the idea that, before walking into any situation, you are fully prepared in a way that most folks cannot comprehend. WHY can’t they understand this concept? Because it’s not about the level of preparation as much as it’s the KIND of preparation.
As much as we hear motivational gurus tell us to “not worry about anything…because there’s nothing you can do,” the fact is that we all worry about almost everything (especially the things that are out of our control). Knowing this to be true, my approach is to tackle what can possibly be controlled (yes – I used the word controlled).
PREnoia looks at what you perceive to be a controllable situation and asks you to do EVERYTHING that you can (on a personal level and in your occupation) to achieve the maximum outcome.
PREnoia has nothing to do with “time management.” Time management, while important, is an idea that’s somewhat unrealistic. Why? When you’re dealing with other human beings in a time-sensitive situation, you are basically crossing your fingers hoping that things will go as planned. For example, if I were nuts about time management, I would plan out a telephone conversation with my parents lasting about 15 minutes. The truth, however, is that a 15 minute conversation with my folks is completely unrealistic. Clearly, that’s not enough time for them to review the week’s obituaries, politics, and of course, their physical complaints (aka “This hurts, that hurts, etc.”).
Those who are most concerned with managing their time are typically the folks who perceive themselves as having the least control over their life and have accepted that “fact” as reality.
Someone who needs to open their mind to PREnoia, is a person who believes that they can actually be efficient while multi-tasking (i.e. the parent who “plays” with their children while texting on their iPhone). That’s what the parent calls multi-tasking. Rule of thumb: Only machines can truly multi-task. But that’s a discussion for another time.
A PREnoid is someone who carefully considers every situation that he/she perceives to be controllable (to a degree). I’m not saying that you are attempting to control other people, rather – dynamic circumstances and potential variations specific to dynamic circumstances. A PREnoid looks at a given situation – not only from his/her perspective, but from the perspective of others who are either (a) influential, and/or (b) important with respect to the given circumstance. A PREnoid then evaluates the situation and then thoroughly prepares a well-thought-out strategy.
The HEADSPACE Seminar is a PREnoid’s paradise. It takes from the status of being a -TIM (as in vicTIM), to a TOR (as in vicTOR). Going through life as a -TIM is accepting that your life is not your own. It takes the position of weakness. The fallout from such an attitude is expressed in your business and in your personal life. It’s a belief that you are nothing but a speck of dust in the wind – or a tiny leaf on the surface of a raging river.
I do not believe that – in most areas of life, we are simply vicTIMS of circumstance. The thought that, “My fate is set, and what’ll be will be,” may be applicable to some situations, but certainly not all.
Think about it.
Have A GREAT Day!
…Dr. Marc