March 31, 2009
Do you remember learning how to crawl, walk, brush your teeth, or speak? Probably not. But how about playing a musical instrument, or using a crayon or scissors? Remember learning how to do the dishes, fix a broken toy, or sew on a missing button? How about driving a car?
I distinctly remember both my high school driving instructor and my father teaching me how to drive. The car at the school was an automatic, but my family only owned cars with clutches. Boy that was exciting! Remember how you had to think about each step before moving to the next? Nothing was automatic about it! Now, 43 years later, I don't even think about the act of driving - it's second nature to me.
I also remember teaching myself to play the guitar. Every chord was a struggle - but after several weeks of daily practice, I was able to switch chords without thinking about the placement of my fingers on the strings or correct fret. Same idea with the piano, gymnastics, swimming, archery, crocheting - actually, everything I learned to do. First I learned the steps, then practiced and practiced until my body cooperated with my mind's instruction. Finally, through repetition, I mastered the movements. The idea is that neural pathways are built that give the muscles a sense of memory. Without thinking, we stand up and walk and our muscles are completely accustomed to the process. The body just knows how to do it because the neurons communicate with the muscles and basically say, "walk."
This kind of repeated physical training is often referred to as "muscle memory." The muscles become accustomed to a certain series of movement. It's an unconscious process - the more you do a certain activity, the more likely you are to do it as needed, when needed.
That's why learning the correct technique or way to do something is important. Your muscle memory will actually work against you if you learn something the wrong way first. The incorrect method has to be "unlearned" and new neural pathways formed to learn the correct or better technique.
Muscle memory isn't completely understood. It does appear that attitude can interfere with muscle memory. If you are very nervous or convinced you can't do something, your ability to learn is impaired.
Interesting, isn't it? I think the theory of muscle memory goes beyond just the physical. I believe it also applies to the way we think and experience life. For instance, I loved mathematics and was at the top of my class in basic math: addition, subtraction, division and multiplication. But once I hit algebra and geometry, I hit a wall. For some reason the new way of thinking never "clicked" for me; I believed I just couldn't get it, and I struggled to the point of embarrassment in those classes.
We often allow one or two experiences to determine our course of action. Because we are taught failure is a bad thing (good and bad grades in school, being the last to be chosen for a team, experiencing a bad relationship, etc.), we learn to interpret ourselves in a negative light. We unconsciously decide we can't perform at an acceptable level - and so we don't. After awhile, our muscle memory moves to the negative side of the scale instead of the positive. It's a downward spiral.
But there is good news! Just as technique can be unlearned and relearned - we can do the same in life. Our future does not have to be doomed because of our past. We can decide right here - right now - that we will begin the process of leaving the past and living in the present. We can choose to retrain our muscle memory in ways that put us in positive frames of mind and move us forward into a bright and exciting future.
I believe that deciding to learn the muscle memory of confidence and belief in yourself will definitely...
...make it a great year!
Sandi Valentine
Sandi's message today strikes a chord with what Big Z's piano teacher was teaching him yesterday, as she asked him to play the most difficult parts over and over and over, slowly and correctly, so that he could gain his confidence, engage his muscle memory, and increase his skill and speed. It's almost as if Big Z's piano teacher had been given Sandi's message before the class began.
Big Z's teacher noticed that he was playing incorrectly. And, as she set about to help him play correctly, she told him about how his brain and his fingers will "remember" what it is they do, whether or not he does it correctly or incorrectly. She added that trying to play a piece of music gets really tricky when you use different fingers, don't count the same rhythm, and generally aren't focusing on what the music says; the brain trips out and the music doesn't sound so good when played in this way. But, she said, when effort is given to practicing the harder parts over and over and over, and doing it with the same fingers, and doing it with correct beats (counting aloud), then, the brain records it and beautiful music is created, thereby making it much easier to play the whole song without mistakes and with greater ease. The muscles of the body, arms, hands, and fingers take over as the eyes read the music and send the information to the brain.
Sandi's article and Big Z's experience yesterday cause me to remember learning how to type. Junior high was the year. Old clunky typewriters that bear no resemblance to the keyboards of today's computers (or mobile gadgets) were lined up on desks in a small room in a portable building. Though my teacher was a favorite, I remember I didn't have much of a joyful feeling in this small room.
I remember being challenged greatly as I tried to get my brain to know where the keys were on the typewriter. I'd stare up at the front of the squat room and see the keyboard illuminated on pull down screen, a hazy image from a transparency shining from the dull glow cast from the overhead projector. I would will my eyes to keep looking up even though my head kept wanting to help my eyes see my fingers by looking down, which seemed
the easier way to learn typing, or so I thought. Every word I typed on that clunky machine was difficult. Sometimes I would move my stare to the green board with big white letters on it that formed sentences that were supposed to use almost every letter found on the typewriter.
I have memories of "The big fat cat jumped over the lazy dog." But, was it really the big fat cat? It was the lazy dog; and for sure, I definitely remember jumping on those keys! I also remember the crooked lines of the font when I'd pull my paper with my hard won words and sentences out of the typewriter's rollers with a sigh. (After not being able to remember all day, I asked a person I know. They helped me remember it was the quick red fox, and I then found my memory bank: The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog!)
It was during this time that I also got to be on the yearbook staff and we used those typewriters to help us create our text. Looking back at our little hand-created yearbook, I remember more the joy of cutting and pasting photos than I do typing up the names of classmates, or lines of text for it. Maybe I didn't type at all, and it was my fellow yearbook team that did ;-).
In high school I had a class that dealt with word processing as an elective. I really wasn't very good in this class, and didn't understand all the other skills associated with creating letters or documents. But I remember I got through it okay, and I was always glad that the teacher was kind and gracious with my lack of knowledge, for compared to my classmates who'd already been studying office skills, I was far behind!
It was during high school that my step-Dad got an electric typewriter. What a change from his little blue manual typewriter . . . I can still recall the hum it made, the heat it generated, and the ease my fingers felt as I pressed its keys. It was on this machine that my skills increased and I got better at typing. I don't really want to say good, but better. I think I even got brave enough to type up some of my English assignments. One project that I really had my sights set on was typing every word of The Holy Bible. Needless to say, I let that aspiration go after the first few pages ;-).
In my early 20's I purchased an expensive word processor from Sears, one that I'd hoped to use for a business from home. In the end, it was used to write all my college papers ;-). It was a good little machine, and it is the machine that I feel gave me the most practice with typing. I increased my speed and skill in typing and it gave me confidence for the first time. It was on this machine that my muscle memory was created, so transitioning to computer keyboard only improved my skills because I don't even have to think about where a letter is on the keyboard today. My mind just seems to tell my fingers in rapid-fire-fashion where they are.
Big Z, however, has to study the keys to find his letters . . . Though I still don't know how many words I can type a minute, and I cannot say that I'm an expert with creating documents and using the computer, and I also transpose letters amazingly well using the keyboard, I can say that I am quite at ease in front of my computer, very much unlike the days in that old temporary building crammed with typewriters.
And, as I listened to Big Z and his teacher play the song they'd been working on from start to finish, I admit that I welled up with pride at the improvements and the confidence that Big Z showed as he played that song. He followed his teacher's direction and worked diligently to get it right. She told him, "Sit up straight. You know how to play this. You're a professional." And he adjusted himself to her words by sitting up straight, and concentrating on the music in front of him.
I will attempt to have him read Sandi's article so that he can have on reinforcement on his teacher's lesson yesterday. (Guess what? Big Z is sitting here with me as I read this whole post to him. Isn't that great?)
You may ask, "What does all of this have to do with growing a My Power Mall business?" And I answer you by saying, "Everything."
As My Power Mall business owners, many of us have varied skill sets to bring to our business table. Some of us have previous experience in business, in network marketing, in sales, in office skills, and in life; others of us do not.
We must take the time to learn the techniques, and take the steps and actions which will create the neural pathways in our brains, which then create the muscle memory in our bodies in order for us to achieve success.
We must follow the steps given to us and do it consistently in order to achieve whatever level of success we desire.
What are the steps to starting my business off right?
Ensure you've received your welcome letter. Read it, and take note of your MPM ID and your key code.
Install your MPM Tool bar, so that you will be current in My Power Mall news.
Go into your back office, update your payment information and personal information. This ensures you will receive your payments.
Seek the training information and sign up for MPM 101 with Dr. Bob so that you know where to find everything in your mall. This gives you power and confidence to explore on your own when you're finished. There's a lot of information at your fingertips, but only you can get your fingers to do the walking!
Choose to be a leader and become a World Changer from the beginning of your new business. You may upgrade easily from your back office home page.
If you're not a World Changer, make your first purchase on your mall, or, get an American Express or Visa Gift Card so that you can shop in your local area with ease.
Sign up for the World Changer coaching clinics with Jacki.
Create a Foundation Mall under your mall to put into effect the power of giving and the concept of "You Can't Outgive The Universe" by going to the World Changer Team Site. Then begin growing your team under your new Foundation Mall or Giving Center. This takes your focus off "you" and places your focus on "helping others" which can be powerfully effective in sharing your mall with others.
Read your Power Bites that come to your email address that you used when you signed up for your MPM business.
If you aren't receiving your Power Bites, find them by using the drop-down menu on your Tool Bar; and then, follow the directions on your home page in the back office for opting in to the MPM Updates again, and ensuring all your programs allow MPM to communicate with you (read the details on how to do this).
Listen to recorded Family Chats located in your back office and make it a point to attend all Monday night Family Chats.
Listen to the recorded Boot Camp training calls, and check out the blog postings from the Boot Campers because they've done some tremendous work "showing you the ropes by their personal experience". Boot Camp Participant Info.
Listen to calls from the last days of Boot Camp at the new Together We Can Change The World Radio website: TWCCTWBlog Talk Radio
Tune into live coaching calls at the same Blog Talk Radio address above.
As you read your Power Bites and you begin your business, remember why it is that you wanted a business in the first place. Ask yourself WHY you are choosing to partner with My Power Mall and Together We Can Change The World. Spend some time pondering what it is you would like to achieve. Talk with the person who shared MPM with you and share this information with them. They can support you and keep you accountable as you begin to take actions towards your goals. Creating a powerful Why Statement will keep you on track and give you encouragement to keep going.
If you came to My Power Mall as anything other than a World Changer, make it your first priority to upgrade as soon as feasible for your current situation. It will elevate your mental attitude, and it will reward you by getting you paid more quickly.
While you listen to training calls and read information, or get to a place you need clarification, write your questions/thoughts down on paper. You have options that can help you once you have your info on paper. A) You may then check the FAQs in your back office and find that your very question is answered there for you. B) You may also contact the person who shared MPM with you and ask them your question or share with them your thoughts. They are here to support you and encourage you to your success. They will meet you, especially when you take the steps to meet them. C) You may contact a Live Chat Operators during the available hours by clicking the "Contact Us" button. Please note that the Operators will refer you to your back office and the FAQ's when a question you have has already been answered. The reason is because of the great efforts the Management Team and its volunteers have gone to in order to provide you with as much helpful information as possible to enable your success.
Take responsibility for your personal growth, and your business growth. This business will require you to dream, plan, set goals, and take action on your goals in order to achieve your desired level of success. MPM's management and many members are here to support you, but it is only YOU who can take the action and put power behind your intentions. No one can grow your team for you, and no one can shop for you. You must learn to maximize and leverage what your mall provides --- rebates on all your purchases; and you must share this with others so that they, too, can maximize and leverage every single purchase they make from today forward.
Now, go out there and take action! And have fun while you're doing it ;-). You will be helping your mind create new neural pathways which will lead to creating muscle memory. Before you know it, you will "automatically" know what to do and how to do it; and you will learn which ways become your favorite ways to share MPM with people. By using the techniques above, you will soon find your confidence will soar. Just like the Boot Campers, you will find your perfect groove in MPM and you will achieve your goals, with a smile in your heart and on your face.
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