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Hopspot allows all our teams to work together seamlessly, so no one's fallen overboard unless we want them to.

Hopspot allows all our teams to work together seamlessly, so no one's fallen overboard unless we want them to.

00:13

Okay. It's Sean, and I'm here with one question Friday where we take one listener question,

Okay. It's Sean, and I'm here with one question Friday where we take one listener question,

00:18

and we play the audio on air, and then we try to answer. We try to drop a knowledge bomb. Right? I'm already imagining you listening to this and your mind is your mind is blown. The brain is leaking out the air, and, that's that's how you're gonna end this podcast. Okay. So let's go ahead and listen N has sent me three audios. I can pick any one of the three. Haven't heard it yet. I'm going to pick door number one. Let's go.

and we play the audio on air, and then we try to answer. We try to drop a knowledge bomb. Right? I'm already imagining you listening to this and your mind is your mind is blown. The brain is leaking out the air, and, that's that's how you're gonna end this podcast. Okay. So let's go ahead and listen N has sent me three audios. I can pick any one of the three. Haven't heard it yet. I'm going to pick door number one. Let's go.

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Hey, guys. My name is Matthew.

Hey, guys. My name is Matthew.

00:43

And I have the question for Sean.

And I have the question for Sean.

00:45

So he talks about not wanting to be in the imagination graveyard.

So he talks about not wanting to be in the imagination graveyard.

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What are some tips and tricks that you do to keep your imagination creativity alive,

What are some tips and tricks that you do to keep your imagination creativity alive,

00:56

especially when you feel stuck or you don't know what to do?

especially when you feel stuck or you don't know what to do?

00:59

Oh, okay. Perfect. This is right up my alley, and let me break this down for you in three parts. I'll I'll first start by saying this.

Oh, okay. Perfect. This is right up my alley, and let me break this down for you in three parts. I'll I'll first start by saying this.

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I think this question

I think this question

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touches on something a tactic that is

touches on something a tactic that is

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one of the most useful things that I do that I don't really hear anybody else talking about.

one of the most useful things that I do that I don't really hear anybody else talking about.

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Okay. So that's the that's the teaser, which is what I'm about to talk about is one of the most useful things to me, and I rarely hear people talking about it. So let's break this into parts. You have you're asking about imagination. You have this great little phrase, imagination graveyard. I don't think I said that, but I'm stealing it from you. So the first thing is if I said, alright, picture somebody who's got an amazing imagination,

Okay. So that's the that's the teaser, which is what I'm about to talk about is one of the most useful things to me, and I rarely hear people talking about it. So let's break this into parts. You have you're asking about imagination. You have this great little phrase, imagination graveyard. I don't think I said that, but I'm stealing it from you. So the first thing is if I said, alright, picture somebody who's got an amazing imagination,

01:39

right, who who in the world has an amazing imagination, often what people will think about is a child. Right? So when we're kids, we get praise for our imagination, and we're always making up games and stories and magical creatures and imaginary friends and all this good stuff. So that's the first place we go. We think kids. Imagination is for kids. The other place we go is maybe like a,

right, who who in the world has an amazing imagination, often what people will think about is a child. Right? So when we're kids, we get praise for our imagination, and we're always making up games and stories and magical creatures and imaginary friends and all this good stuff. So that's the first place we go. We think kids. Imagination is for kids. The other place we go is maybe like a,

02:00

I don't know, like somebody who works at Pixar. Like, oh, you're super creative. You create these movies and stories. So you need to be imaginative. And the rest of us, we don't really need that. And,

I don't know, like somebody who works at Pixar. Like, oh, you're super creative. You create these movies and stories. So you need to be imaginative. And the rest of us, we don't really need that. And,

02:10

I think that's totally wrong. So I actually will put this forward. I think that everybody is using their imagination every day, but you just don't recognize it because when you're a kid, your imagination is about fun and possibilities and magical fantasy lands. And when you're an adult, your imagination is actually manifest as stress. Alright? Okay. So what what does that mean?

I think that's totally wrong. So I actually will put this forward. I think that everybody is using their imagination every day, but you just don't recognize it because when you're a kid, your imagination is about fun and possibilities and magical fantasy lands. And when you're an adult, your imagination is actually manifest as stress. Alright? Okay. So what what does that mean?

02:30

You wake up and you're you looked at alarm clock, you see the time and immediately

You wake up and you're you looked at alarm clock, you see the time and immediately

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you realize that, oh, man. I'm I'm gonna be stuck in traffic.

you realize that, oh, man. I'm I'm gonna be stuck in traffic.

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Right? So where has your brain gone? Your brain has imagined a situation that hasn't happened.

Right? So where has your brain gone? Your brain has imagined a situation that hasn't happened.

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That is not necessarily a fact or proven.

That is not necessarily a fact or proven.

02:46

But you're imagining that the the either the the roads are gonna be clogged or the airport's gonna be busy or they're gonna lose my bag or you imagine that, oh, I have this presentation. I'm gonna I'm gonna f it up. Right? I'm gonna stumble on my words or I'm gonna get nervous or aren't gonna get it or people aren't gonna laugh at me, whatever. We are constantly

But you're imagining that the the either the the roads are gonna be clogged or the airport's gonna be busy or they're gonna lose my bag or you imagine that, oh, I have this presentation. I'm gonna I'm gonna f it up. Right? I'm gonna stumble on my words or I'm gonna get nervous or aren't gonna get it or people aren't gonna laugh at me, whatever. We are constantly

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imagining

imagining

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negative scenarios happening. This is very common in adults. Right? And, you know, how do you feel when you imagine these things? Right? You feel anxious. You feel stressed. You feel depressed. These are all code words. For the same thing, fear, and fear only takes place in the imagination.

negative scenarios happening. This is very common in adults. Right? And, you know, how do you feel when you imagine these things? Right? You feel anxious. You feel stressed. You feel depressed. These are all code words. For the same thing, fear, and fear only takes place in the imagination.

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And so,

And so,

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the first thing to recognize that imagination is not just something that kids do. It's something that adults do all the time. They just code name it stress, and that's because they are imagining bad scenarios that haven't happened yet that might this happens as a parent. You watch your kid. And instead of being, you know, marveling at how well they're playing, you are imagining, oh, they might hit their head on that thing. Right? Oh, they might stub their toe over here. Right? How often do we do things like that? Okay. So that's step one. Now the second thing is, okay, well, what's the big deal? We're imagining this. Well, what's the implication? What is the result of this Well, the first is how you feel. Because when you imagine

the first thing to recognize that imagination is not just something that kids do. It's something that adults do all the time. They just code name it stress, and that's because they are imagining bad scenarios that haven't happened yet that might this happens as a parent. You watch your kid. And instead of being, you know, marveling at how well they're playing, you are imagining, oh, they might hit their head on that thing. Right? Oh, they might stub their toe over here. Right? How often do we do things like that? Okay. So that's step one. Now the second thing is, okay, well, what's the big deal? We're imagining this. Well, what's the implication? What is the result of this Well, the first is how you feel. Because when you imagine

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something going poorly, you feel stressed anxious,

something going poorly, you feel stressed anxious,

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you know, depressed, sad, whatever are these negative emotions or emotions that we usually don't wanna experience for an extended period of time?

you know, depressed, sad, whatever are these negative emotions or emotions that we usually don't wanna experience for an extended period of time?

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So it changes our mood but it also changes our decisions.

So it changes our mood but it also changes our decisions.

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Right? If you imagine that you're,

Right? If you imagine that you're,

04:13

you know, gonna be stuck in traffic, maybe you'll leave earlier. It'll take a different route or maybe you won't go at all. Same thing with you. Imagine that the presentation is gonna be you're gonna forget what you had to say and your the people are gonna be looking at you, like you don't know what you're talking about. So maybe you'll actually just ask somebody else to do it or you'll you'll avoid the situation altogether.

you know, gonna be stuck in traffic, maybe you'll leave earlier. It'll take a different route or maybe you won't go at all. Same thing with you. Imagine that the presentation is gonna be you're gonna forget what you had to say and your the people are gonna be looking at you, like you don't know what you're talking about. So maybe you'll actually just ask somebody else to do it or you'll you'll avoid the situation altogether.

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So

So

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imagination drives not just your mood, but your decisions.

imagination drives not just your mood, but your decisions.

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So what I mean, if at the beginning of this, if I said how important is your imagination, you'd say, yeah, it's, you know, it's important to have an imagination.

So what I mean, if at the beginning of this, if I said how important is your imagination, you'd say, yeah, it's, you know, it's important to have an imagination.

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But your mood and your decisions are, like, the most two most important things that you have in life. And what I'm telling you is that they're driven by your imagination. About what you're imagining the future to be like. And so,

But your mood and your decisions are, like, the most two most important things that you have in life. And what I'm telling you is that they're driven by your imagination. About what you're imagining the future to be like. And so,

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all of a sudden, imagination becomes this pretty important thing. And the problem is imagination is a muscle that we haven't used consciously since we were kids. Right? Like, we're always doing it in the background, but how often are we actually intentionally

all of a sudden, imagination becomes this pretty important thing. And the problem is imagination is a muscle that we haven't used consciously since we were kids. Right? Like, we're always doing it in the background, but how often are we actually intentionally

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trying to improve our imagination.

trying to improve our imagination.

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It is a muscle that's just been weakening and atrophying

It is a muscle that's just been weakening and atrophying

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since we were, like, you know, five years old.

since we were, like, you know, five years old.

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And,

And,

05:16

so here's how I do it. Okay. So that's the importance of it now. Okay. What do you actually do about that?

so here's how I do it. Okay. So that's the importance of it now. Okay. What do you actually do about that?

05:21

Well, the way that most people in my friend group, my peers, the way they think is extremely rational, analytical, logical, and they love lists

Well, the way that most people in my friend group, my peers, the way they think is extremely rational, analytical, logical, and they love lists

05:32

Like, nobody loves lists like a business person. And,

Like, nobody loves lists like a business person. And,

05:36

a dooper, an achiever. They love lists. Right? You you know, write it down, knock it off.

a dooper, an achiever. They love lists. Right? You you know, write it down, knock it off.

05:40

And those do work to a certain extent. They actually work on on getting a pretty good result, but they get there in the sort of, like, toughest, most stressful way possible. And I'm not really interested in that. Right? Like, I wanna win, and I wanna enjoy it while I go. To me, those are two non negotiable things. Not willing to lose and not willing to have this, you know, rough, tough it out experience.

And those do work to a certain extent. They actually work on on getting a pretty good result, but they get there in the sort of, like, toughest, most stressful way possible. And I'm not really interested in that. Right? Like, I wanna win, and I wanna enjoy it while I go. To me, those are two non negotiable things. Not willing to lose and not willing to have this, you know, rough, tough it out experience.

06:01

I know I wanna have an enjoyable awesome experience while I'm doing it. So that's just the way I've chosen to live my life. Okay. So now

I know I wanna have an enjoyable awesome experience while I'm doing it. So that's just the way I've chosen to live my life. Okay. So now

06:08

What I do differently, instead of making a list, which is like a text format, I use the brain the way the brain actually works, which is a brain is more visual system.

What I do differently, instead of making a list, which is like a text format, I use the brain the way the brain actually works, which is a brain is more visual system.

06:17

And, it's a visual auditory system. And so I use my brain.

And, it's a visual auditory system. And so I use my brain.

06:21

When I think about what I wanna do, my tasks, my goals, stuff like that, I don't make lists. I make scenes,

When I think about what I wanna do, my tasks, my goals, stuff like that, I don't make lists. I make scenes,

06:27

like scenes in a movie.

like scenes in a movie.

06:29

So I'm imagining

So I'm imagining

06:31

how I want something to go. And, I think I even started this podcast, something like this. I think I think I said, I'm imagining you listening to this with your mind blown and your brain leaking. Right? Like, I think I set literally said that at the beginning of this podcast. That is how I approach anything. So people are like, you know,

how I want something to go. And, I think I even started this podcast, something like this. I think I think I said, I'm imagining you listening to this with your mind blown and your brain leaking. Right? Like, I think I set literally said that at the beginning of this podcast. That is how I approach anything. So people are like, you know,

06:47

hey, you do a lot of public speaking.

hey, you do a lot of public speaking.

06:50

You know, what's a tip to get better?

You know, what's a tip to get better?

06:52

And this is what I always say. I say, don't think about what you need to say.

And this is what I always say. I say, don't think about what you need to say.

06:57

First, start by imagining the reaction at the end. How are people gonna feel and react at the end? You imagine the standing ovation.

First, start by imagining the reaction at the end. How are people gonna feel and react at the end? You imagine the standing ovation.

07:05

You imagine I'm I do this for example. I imagine when I teach my class on Zoom. This is, like, I teach a course. People pay a thousand dollars per person to get into this course, and they show up in a Zoom. And I need to make this thing linked. It can't feel like a boring meeting.

You imagine I'm I do this for example. I imagine when I teach my class on Zoom. This is, like, I teach a course. People pay a thousand dollars per person to get into this course, and they show up in a Zoom. And I need to make this thing linked. It can't feel like a boring meeting.

07:20

I don't worry about what words I'm gonna say. I worry I think about

I don't worry about what words I'm gonna say. I worry I think about

07:24

How do I want this to end? What do how do I want this to feel at the end here? And I what I always do is I imagine the chat in a zoom chat flooding with comments people being like, this was a twelve out of ten. Oh my god. So many nuggets of gold.

How do I want this to end? What do how do I want this to feel at the end here? And I what I always do is I imagine the chat in a zoom chat flooding with comments people being like, this was a twelve out of ten. Oh my god. So many nuggets of gold.

07:37

Dude, so glad I came.

Dude, so glad I came.

07:40

You know, I'm imagining these almost congratulatory

You know, I'm imagining these almost congratulatory

07:43

conversations that are happening at the end. I imagine the volume of chat just flying through the screen of positive feedback.

conversations that are happening at the end. I imagine the volume of chat just flying through the screen of positive feedback.

07:49

That gets me in a certain type of mood. Right? That gives me that confidence that then I could just go and I can just operate naturally in the r who knows? The right words just happen to come out of my thin because I'm operating from the right state of mind. So what I'll do is I'll make scenes for my goals. So instead of saying, I would I wanna lose ten pounds,

That gets me in a certain type of mood. Right? That gives me that confidence that then I could just go and I can just operate naturally in the r who knows? The right words just happen to come out of my thin because I'm operating from the right state of mind. So what I'll do is I'll make scenes for my goals. So instead of saying, I would I wanna lose ten pounds,

08:08

I will imagine looking at myself in the mirror and seeing what I see. Right? I'll imagine the scene of looking at my body or even better. Forget the body. I imagined that I just posted my before and after on Twitter and I'm seeing the replies flood in. Right? So I'm using my own psychology to my advantage.

I will imagine looking at myself in the mirror and seeing what I see. Right? I'll imagine the scene of looking at my body or even better. Forget the body. I imagined that I just posted my before and after on Twitter and I'm seeing the replies flood in. Right? So I'm using my own psychology to my advantage.

08:24

My psychology wants to get a bunch of likes and comments on social media. I use that to my advantage. I imagine that scene going the way I want.

My psychology wants to get a bunch of likes and comments on social media. I use that to my advantage. I imagine that scene going the way I want.

08:31

If it's happens to be with finances or success,

If it's happens to be with finances or success,

08:35

I imagine

I imagine

08:36

you know, a scene of that success. So I don't have to worry about how I get there. I just wanna know what it feels like when I'm already there.

you know, a scene of that success. So I don't have to worry about how I get there. I just wanna know what it feels like when I'm already there.

08:45

And, so here's some tips in doing this. I have a scene. What I do is I have a scene for all the different things that matter to me in my life. I have a scene for, let's say, my family, for I don't really share this with most people, but I, you know, family is super important to me. And,

And, so here's some tips in doing this. I have a scene. What I do is I have a scene for all the different things that matter to me in my life. I have a scene for, let's say, my family, for I don't really share this with most people, but I, you know, family is super important to me. And,

08:59

so I imagine the scene of me walking into my house and You know, like, as a kid, you run up to your parent and you, like, cling on to their leg, like, a little koala. So I already imagined one kid on one leg, one other kid on the other leg and one kid at koalaing on my arm, and then me leaning over to kiss my wife. Right? That's the scene that implies

so I imagine the scene of me walking into my house and You know, like, as a kid, you run up to your parent and you, like, cling on to their leg, like, a little koala. So I already imagined one kid on one leg, one other kid on the other leg and one kid at koalaing on my arm, and then me leaning over to kiss my wife. Right? That's the scene that implies

09:17

a house full of love. Right? So that is I sort of imagined the happy ending at the end, and that's my scene that I go to. That puts me in a certain mood. That gives me clarity of what I want. And then once I have a great mood and great clarity of what I want, I tend to just make the right decisions along the way. Right? I'm operating from a place of abundance instead of a place of feeling like I'm lacking something, and then I make shitty decisions because my You never wanna make decisions from panic or fear or feeling desperate or a lack because you're gonna make a certain type of decision.

a house full of love. Right? So that is I sort of imagined the happy ending at the end, and that's my scene that I go to. That puts me in a certain mood. That gives me clarity of what I want. And then once I have a great mood and great clarity of what I want, I tend to just make the right decisions along the way. Right? I'm operating from a place of abundance instead of a place of feeling like I'm lacking something, and then I make shitty decisions because my You never wanna make decisions from panic or fear or feeling desperate or a lack because you're gonna make a certain type of decision.

09:48

I wanna make decisions from feeling good,

I wanna make decisions from feeling good,

09:51

feeling confident, imagining all the possibilities, and I wanna make decisions that will lead me into that into that outcome. Okay? So I'll leave you with a couple tips on if you actually wanna go do this. Take your goal that you've written down instead imagine it as a movie scene.

feeling confident, imagining all the possibilities, and I wanna make decisions that will lead me into that into that outcome. Okay? So I'll leave you with a couple tips on if you actually wanna go do this. Take your goal that you've written down instead imagine it as a movie scene.

10:06

Like a like a movie scene, it's not just what you see. It's what you hear. It's the it's all your senses. Try to use as many of your senses as possible. So what do you hear What do you see? How does it smell? How does it feel to be wearing those clothes? To be sitting in that car, to be sitting in that chair, to be sleeping in that bed. Right?

Like a like a movie scene, it's not just what you see. It's what you hear. It's the it's all your senses. Try to use as many of your senses as possible. So what do you hear What do you see? How does it smell? How does it feel to be wearing those clothes? To be sitting in that car, to be sitting in that chair, to be sleeping in that bed. Right?

10:23

Try to engage all five senses. It makes it more vivid for you. The other thing is make it comical. Right? So a movie can be a horror movie, a drama movie. I don't know. For me, I choose comedy.

Try to engage all five senses. It makes it more vivid for you. The other thing is make it comical. Right? So a movie can be a horror movie, a drama movie. I don't know. For me, I choose comedy.

10:32

And so when I imagine something, I imagine almost the most extreme

And so when I imagine something, I imagine almost the most extreme

10:37

version of that because it makes me laugh. It takes a lot of the weight off my shoulders. Things feel really important and tight

version of that because it makes me laugh. It takes a lot of the weight off my shoulders. Things feel really important and tight

10:44

when you,

when you,

10:46

are kind of afraid of them. But once you play with the idea in your head, you play with that scene,

are kind of afraid of them. But once you play with the idea in your head, you play with that scene,

10:50

It becomes lightweight. And then I like to operate from a place of something being lightweight.

It becomes lightweight. And then I like to operate from a place of something being lightweight.

10:55

And so that's how I do it. That's how I use my imagination

And so that's how I do it. That's how I use my imagination

10:59

on really a daily basis and it becomes a practice. And I wanna practice my imagination more than I did as a kid when I used to make up you know, little stories with my figurines and my toys or, you know, when I used to draw and sketch and do things like that. I used to work that muscle out a lot back then. What I realized is you gotta do that as an adult too because your imagination is always running. And it's just what is it? What is it running on autopilot? By default, kind of gonna imagine stressful,

on really a daily basis and it becomes a practice. And I wanna practice my imagination more than I did as a kid when I used to make up you know, little stories with my figurines and my toys or, you know, when I used to draw and sketch and do things like that. I used to work that muscle out a lot back then. What I realized is you gotta do that as an adult too because your imagination is always running. And it's just what is it? What is it running on autopilot? By default, kind of gonna imagine stressful,

11:27

possible negative outcomes.

possible negative outcomes.

11:30

That's that tends to be where we go as adults. And I don't wanna fall into that Right? That's common. I'd like to go uncommon.

That's that tends to be where we go as adults. And I don't wanna fall into that Right? That's common. I'd like to go uncommon.

11:36

And so the uncommon path is to actually train that muscle, practice imagining things that you want. That puts you in the right mood And that, like, lets you make decisions from from a place of,

And so the uncommon path is to actually train that muscle, practice imagining things that you want. That puts you in the right mood And that, like, lets you make decisions from from a place of,

11:47

you know, from a place of winning rather than fear of losing. Alright. So that's it. Hope that answers your question. And, I'll see you guys next Friday.

you know, from a place of winning rather than fear of losing. Alright. So that's it. Hope that answers your question. And, I'll see you guys next Friday.

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