Entries by Mark Rodgers

How to Battle Confirmation Bias

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Confirmation bias is always at work inside our brains. Why? Because it’s human nature to seek out facts, statistics and opinions that we think prove our existing beliefs — even if those beliefs are incorrect!  In other words, we see things not always as they actually are, but as we want to see them. Here are three examples that convey […]

For the Win (Mark’s Persuasion Priority Action Plan: The Conclusion)

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We’re now ready for the final step in my seven-step persuasion priority action plan. I wrote about the previous six steps here and here. At this point, you have thoroughly evaluated your risk and reward, as well as determined whether you’d like to move forward with you persuasion priority. Remember, your persuasion priority is this: […]

Being Funny Can Make You More Persuasive

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Research conducted over the past 40 years suggests that watching comedians or other funny bits improves people’s capacity to solve problems. Here’s proof: • Alice M. Isen, a psychologist at the University of Maryland in Baltimore in the late 1980s, found that people who watched a short series of television ”bloopers” were better able to […]

Try a New Way to Think About Thinking

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According to Nobel Prize-winning economist and author Daniel Kahneman, we possess two “systems” for thinking: one that processes information very quickly, and one that does so more slowly and requires significantly more effort. Here’s the thing: Most of us don’t really like to think all that hard. As humans, we rely on what comes to […]

It’s OK To Say ‘No’ To Your Persuasion Priority

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What if, after careful evaluation, you determine that your persuasion priority is not worth the effort? Maybe it’s not financially feasible. Or it won’t necessarily enhance your professional skills or expand your networks. Perhaps it will stress you out or overwork you. Regardless of the reason, don’t be too disappointed. You’ve just saved yourself precious […]

The Difference Between Happiness and Satisfaction

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How will the pursuit of your persuasion priority impact your happiness and satisfaction? First, it’s important to realize that happiness and satisfaction are two separate and distinct notions. In short, happiness is based on conditions; satisfaction is based on reflection.  Happiness is the short-term elevation of mood, typically influenced by conditions. Is what you’re doing […]

Effective Persuasion Requires Effort, But Don’t Overwork Yourself

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In previous posts, I’ve written about the importance of taking into consideration how much your persuasion priority is worth to you. Now, here is another question to ask yourself: Will my efforts unreasonably and negatively impact my labor intensity? Will it require me to work more hours, juggle more tasks and take on more burdens? Is […]

How Are Your Stress Levels Today? You’ll Need Some Stress to Survive

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Any time you reach for something new, better and different, stress will be involved. The key is determining what kind of stress you might experience with your persuasion priority. Bad Stress The first is distress, the sort most of us already know and experience — probably quite frequently. This is when your body responds physically […]