Want to Change Your Attitude. Here’s a Formula for You!
Posted on March 19, 2021 by Brian Robinson, One of Thousands of Business Coaches on Noomii.
In this article, I am sharing a formula that has helped me and my clients with change.
Like most of you, I have seen a lot of change in my life. Now that I am in my early forties (I put “early” in there on purpose), I’ve realized that I’ve experienced three different types of change; 1) change that was done for me, 2) change I initialed, and 3) change I was responsible for but didn’t know it. Of these three, I prefer the #2 type of change. Of course, that’s the change we think we control, right?
Well today, I am going to show you one of the formulas that was taught to me in grad school, the same formula I try to live by, and the same formula I use with my coaching clients. I also have this formula hanging in my office as a reminder and so others can see it and hopefully apply it! Also, I am taking one of the #2’s from my past and use it as an example as I explain the formula.
Background
The formula is called, at least to my knowledge, Formula for Change. It was created by David Gleicher in the 1960’s, refined by Kathie Dannemiller in the 1980’s, and has been used by the great Brian “B-Rob” Robinson since 2011. Too bad I wasn’t educated on it sooner!
The Formula For Change
This formula is the final version by Dannemiller. The formula is written like this:
C = D × V × F > R
The “C” of the formula stands for change.
There are three factors that must be present for meaningful change to take place. These factors are:
D- Dissatisfaction with how things are now.
V- Vision of what is possible.
F- First concrete steps that can be taken towards the vision.
If the product of these three factors is greater than:
R- Resistance, then change is possible.
As you can see, the factors are multiplied so, using multiplication rules, if any of these factors equals “0” then the “C” (or “change”) will be zero as well resulting in no change.
Change and Attitude
Attitudes guide thought, feelings, and behavior. For instance, it is proven that an “attitude of gratitude” and listing things you are grateful for gives a person a better chance of being positive and having a better day. The same is true with negative attitudes. I have gotten results with my clients because I am positive during our encounters and with regards to their chosen goal(s) and what they “will” accomplish (F from the formula). I coach them to view what is possible (V from the formula) and motivate them to make that view real to them. Now the tricky part is the “D” or dissatisfaction with how things are now. It is important that this is used as fuel for forward movement (or “F”) and not as an extreme negative working counter productively. A client can easily get demotivated as they are lost in how bad things are at present time. Some people will have or can be a victim of the victim mentality or victim attitude where all they see is how their reality of how bad things are is keeping them from something they perceive as good or better. Most times the appropriate application of this formula and sometimes with help from someone like a coach or credentialed professional, a person can foster positive change by first changing their attitude.
The Application Example
I am going to use my own experience as an example of how I fostered positive change with the application of the Formula For Change
(C = D × V × F > R).
D-When I was in my late teens I was very insecure about how skinny I was. I was 19 years old, 6’5”, and weighed 180lbs. I loved basketball, was playing at a college that recruited me, and was very athletic.
V-I saw 6’5” bodybuilders like Lou Ferrigno and thought that I could look like him. I loved watching him play the Incredible Hulk in the 80’s television show. I set a goal to look like him.
F-I studied him and realized there was a whole world of bodybuilding and others that made a change to there physiques. I also realized that there were some possible unhealthy aspects like anabolic steroids and vowed that I was going to make a change and do it legally and drug free. I stared incorporating the healthy habits of these guys and that became my life. I viewed myself as Lou Ferrigno at that time.
R-My goals required sacrifices. I had to buy more food, not party with my friends, go to the gym, and be consistent in all things related to my goals. I had to also depend on workout partners to do the same. I even joined the military and volunteered for an elite military field so I can have more training both physically and mentally.
Through all this, the resistance® was not greater than (<) my dissatisfaction with were I was (D), (x) the vision of what I could be (V), (x) and the first steps I took to make it happen (F). I saw (=) change © in physic within 3 months of being consistent.
