If you bribe a naughty child enough times in the right way, they will learn to behave.
Questions about bribing
A nice bribe here and there, from time to time, is an excellent method for getting a foot up in life. Bear in mind a bribe doesn’t have to cost anything, either. So if I could tell you the exact way to be more focused on your tasks and goals from now on, involving the age old game of bribery, would you use it? What if I told you the bribe would benefit you in more ways than one, as the goods you dish out in return for your foot up are yours to keep as well?
Developing the habit
It sounds awesome, I know, but it will take a bit of work from you to start off with. As with everything you do in life, the only effort you need to put in is at the beginning, before the habit is developed. I cannot stress enough how important and powerful the force of habit is and what you can achieve if you work it properly. Once a habit has been developed and the pattern is etched deeply into the old brain, breaking the habit becomes much more difficult than keeping it. Unfortunately, the force of habit is infamously indiscriminate when it comes to being a good one or a bad one. Ever tried to quit smoking or change your eating habits? It’s not easy is it? Well the good news is that it’s just as difficult to break a good habit too.
Understood… Who are we bribing here?
You may have noticed before that there appears to be three of you in that head of yours. They rarely all agree and they can sometimes make a lot of noise. These three ‘inner yous’ each serve a different purpose.
- Parent - One of them acts as a parent and makes sure you look after your personal hygiene, tells you “do this” and “don’t do that” etc.
- Adult - One is your inner adult and makes grown up decisions based on the facts involved in the decision making. Adults are sensible and generally responsible.
- Child – The third is your inner child. The little voice that says “I don’t want to do work, I want to go out and have fun” and “I know I’m supposed to be on a diet but I just want chocolate!” Kids are kids. They need attention.
The trick here is to consciously separate these three inner voices and use them to your advantage. So with that in mind, here’s the exact method for creating better self discipline, thus becoming more focused, productive and successful.
The How-to
When you need to get work done, meet a deadline or get motivated for a task, be the parent. Speak to your inner child, as the parent, and speak as a parent would to a child. Here is where the bribery comes in. It might go something like this:
- Baby a bit overdue??
The convo
Inner Child: I don’t want to shuffle papers, it’s Saturday morning. I want to sit with my feet up and watch TV!
Inner Parent: Yes but the paperwork needs to be done by Monday and I want it out of the way. It’ll only take four hours or so.
Inner Child: But I can do it tomorrow morning. I just want to chill out and eat some junk food for now.
Inner Parent: Listen. I’ll cut you a deal. You sit quietly and behave while I get this paperwork out of the way and then when it’s done, I’ll treat you to a trip out with friends/family, OK?
Inner Child: Hmmm, only if you promise.
Inner Parent: Consider it a done deal. Oh… and we only eat junk food one day a week, Sunday. You’ve behaved all week, one more day to go and I’ll knock us up a massive feast! How does that sound?
Inner Child: Perfect 
Finally
And that’s how it works. Bribe the living daylights out of that inner child because we know that children respond to a nice prize. The more you do this, the more promptly that inner child will react. Develop the habit relentlessly. Be sure to keep your promises though… a bribe is a two way street!
Soon you will find that you are focused and motivated to succeed in everything you do. This is not just a good idea, it works.
No tools needed. Getting leverage on yourself has never been easier!
[picture source: http://heartsighttherapy.com/]
