Quantum Analysis?
I was hired to deliver a coaching session to a skeptical older gentleman who had been a NASA physicist and was known as a quant*. At the end of our meeting, he gave me one of the most significant client comments I’ve ever received, “I’m pleasantly surprised you know as much as you do about quantum analysis.”
My Friends, I Know Nothing
about quantum analysis; I’m not even great with basic math! What I did know was how he needed to talk about quantum analysis in his presentation. That is my area of expertise.
Own The Real Estate
is how I describe standing solidly on your own foundation. I could easily have let self-doubt overwhelm me. Who was I to tell this person what he needed to do? But I stood my ground, knowing that I knew what I knew. And I knew I could be of service to him, if I could just find a way to prove my value and build trust.
The Inner Sell
precedes the outer sell. We have to sell ourselves internally on our own self-worth before we can naturally communicate it to others. This practice doesn’t get old, because the world is not set up (sorry about that!) to build our self-confidence. That job is up to us. Here are several ways I’ve addressed this over the years.
Change the script.
We tend to operate from a negative script, oftentimes not being aware of it. Think of a script as a playbook. What’s your play-by-play? How much of it is defensive, based on handling adversity? Can you do some re-writing and shift the premise to a positive one?
Look in the mirror.
Before a major presentation, I look at myself in the mirror in my home and say, “I will see you again.” In other words, you will always come back home to you. It is not life or death. You will survive. I find this comforting.
Cover up the doubt.
As a visual person, I set up a movie screen in my head. Running on that screen are all my doubts, worries, potential catastrophes, judgments, negativity, colossal fails, etc. Perched on top of the screen are a line of gallon-sized paint cans, filled with thick, viscous dark gray paint. One-by-one, I tip the cans and I watch that thick paint pour down and totally obliterate the screen. Gone.
List your successes.
Literally, create the list and make it easily accessible. Successes, achievements, wins, accomplishments, in any part of your or your family’s lives. Don’t be shy with yourself. You’ve done a lot. Write it down. Read the list, maybe daily.
Affirmations.
Short simple statements in the present tense that are positive, true and motivating. Here’s mine: “I am who I am. I know what I know. I’m very good at what I do.” I’ve probably repeated those three sentences to myself tens of thousands of times. Create yours (or use mine; they’re free).
Be The Biggest You
that you can be. This is not about trying to sound like someone else or adapting a communications style that isn’t intrinsically yours. You can only do You. But you also don’t want to shy away from your strength, or minimize your impact. Think of the Biggest Shape of yourself you can imagine, and visualize yourself stretching to be that big.
Whoa, look at the real you! Looking gooood.
For those who are following along:
*Quants, or quantitative analysts, are financial experts who use math and statistics to analyze and predict financial markets, creating models that help price and trade securities. They use a variety of skills and tools, including multivariate calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, statistical inference, and probability theory.
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