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| Bernard Roth: Stamford professor says eliminating two phrases can make you more successful | Bernard Roth: Stamford professor says eliminating two phrases can make you more successful |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| The way you speak not only affects how others perceive you; it also has the potential to shape your behaviour. | The way you speak not only affects how others perceive you; it also has the potential to shape your behaviour. |
| Swapping one word for another could make all the difference in how you approach your goals. | Swapping one word for another could make all the difference in how you approach your goals. |
| That's according to Bernard Roth, a professor of engineering at Stanford and the academic director of Stanford's Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, the d.school. | That's according to Bernard Roth, a professor of engineering at Stanford and the academic director of Stanford's Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, the d.school. |
| In his new book, “The Achievement Habit,” Roth suggests several linguistic tweaks that can make you more successful. Here are two of the easiest: | In his new book, “The Achievement Habit,” Roth suggests several linguistic tweaks that can make you more successful. Here are two of the easiest: |
| You might be tempted to say, “I want to go to the movies, but I have work to do.” | You might be tempted to say, “I want to go to the movies, but I have work to do.” |
| Instead, Roth suggests saying, “I want to go to the movies, and I have work to do.” | Instead, Roth suggests saying, “I want to go to the movies, and I have work to do.” |
| He writes: “When you use the word but, you create a conflict (and sometimes a reason) for yourself that does not really exist.” In other words, it's possible to go to the movies as well as do your work — you just need to find a solution. | He writes: “When you use the word but, you create a conflict (and sometimes a reason) for yourself that does not really exist.” In other words, it's possible to go to the movies as well as do your work — you just need to find a solution. |
| Meanwhile, when you use the word and, “your brain gets to consider how it can deal with both parts of the sentence,” Roth writes. Maybe you'll see a shorter movie; maybe you'll delegate some of your work. | Meanwhile, when you use the word and, “your brain gets to consider how it can deal with both parts of the sentence,” Roth writes. Maybe you'll see a shorter movie; maybe you'll delegate some of your work. |
| Roth recommends a simple exercise: The next few times you say “I have to” in your mind, change have to want. | Roth recommends a simple exercise: The next few times you say “I have to” in your mind, change have to want. |
| “This exercise is very effective in getting people to realize that what they do in their lives — even the things they find unpleasant — are in fact what they have chosen,” he says. | “This exercise is very effective in getting people to realize that what they do in their lives — even the things they find unpleasant — are in fact what they have chosen,” he says. |
| For example, one of Roth's students felt he had to take the math courses required for his graduate program, even though he hated them. At some point after completing the exercise, he realized that he really did want to take the classes because the benefit of completing the requirement outweighed the discomfort of sitting through classes he didn't enjoy. | For example, one of Roth's students felt he had to take the math courses required for his graduate program, even though he hated them. At some point after completing the exercise, he realized that he really did want to take the classes because the benefit of completing the requirement outweighed the discomfort of sitting through classes he didn't enjoy. |
| Both of these tweaks are based on a key component of a problem-solving strategy called “design thinking.” When you employ this strategy, you try to challenge your automatic thinking and see things as they really are. | Both of these tweaks are based on a key component of a problem-solving strategy called “design thinking.” When you employ this strategy, you try to challenge your automatic thinking and see things as they really are. |
| And when you experiment with different language, you may realize that a problem isn't as unsolvable as it seems, and that you have more control over your life than you previously believed. | And when you experiment with different language, you may realize that a problem isn't as unsolvable as it seems, and that you have more control over your life than you previously believed. |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| • Global markets are getting slammed• This is what a $700 billion bond-market bubble looks like• Credit Suisse's boss wants the bank to slash his bonus by up to 50% | • Global markets are getting slammed• This is what a $700 billion bond-market bubble looks like• Credit Suisse's boss wants the bank to slash his bonus by up to 50% |
| Read the original article on Business Insider UK. © 2015. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter. | Read the original article on Business Insider UK. © 2015. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter. |