This is a presentation I gave at a Toastmasters meeting in the early 90’s that seems highly relevant. I have updated it with recent findings. I am interested in your thoughts – please share you comments below. To document I am following the advice below, I will be making many posts, please share your thoughts.

Presentation: Sitting quietly in room I listen to the desperate sounds of a life-or-death struggle going on a few feet away. A small fly is burning out the last of its short life’s energies in a futile attempt to fly through the glass of the windowpane. The whining wings tell the poignant story of the fly’s strategy – try harder, but its not working.

It is impossible for the fly to succeed, yet this insect has staked it life on reaching its goal through raw effort and determination, this fly is doomed. Across the room, just a feet away, the door is open. Ten seconds of flying time and this small creature could get outside with only a small amount of effort.

Why doesn’t the fly try another approach, something dramatically different? What logic is there in continuing to seek a breakthrough with more of the same? “Trying harder” isn’t necessarily the solution to achieving more, in fact it may even kill your chances for success.

Right now we can do exponentially better and we can multiply our personal effectiveness. We don’t have to settle for things as they are no, our situation can dramatically change and we can help create idealized outcomes.

None of us are content with incremental or gradual change, we can make a quantum leap. A quantum leap is a strategy term taken from the vocabulary of quantum physics – the science behind many breakthrough technology’s. Upon inspection, it becomes clear that these breakthrough’s are from major rethinking that was a break from tradition. Quantum physics has staggering implications regarding our potential, and the power of our mind. Fred Alan Wolf, in his award winning book,”Taking the Quantum Leap“, describes the term as…”The explosive jump that a particle of matter undergoes in moving from one place to another…in a figurative sense.” Taking a quantum leap means taking a risk, going off into uncharted territory with no guide to follow. Physicists studying quantum mechanics note that particles make these ‘jumps” without apparent effort and without covering all the bases between the starting and ending points.

Most people operate with the mindset that assumes success comes one step at a time. This is a “traditional” misconception that exists because advancing at a measured pace ordinarily feels easier, more natural, and as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs would suggest “safer” and indicates why we are afraid to take that jump.

Quantum movements imply an “explosive jump” in your personal performance that puts you far beyond the next logical step. The concept is about exponential, rather than incremental progress. While this is exciting, it gets better. Remember quantum leaps can come without seeming effort it instead comes from all the existing skills, knowledge and capacity you developed in your past hard work – in other words, it is kind of like a reward for your past work. This also clarifies that it is not magic because if you have never put in the effort, quantum growth is unlikely. Quantum leaps violate common sense until after the fact when these leaps are viewed as practical, sensible, even obvious moves. As Daniel Kahneman clarifies in his amazing book “Thinking Fast & Slow“, we are backward thinking people. At the moment however, these moves are not obvious, even though in retrospect they will seem obvious. To make these breakthroughs, a shift from old habits is necessary.

Unconventional success calls for unconventional approaches. Quantum leaps require paradoxical behavior. Actions that on the surface often appear to contradict common sense. Ordinarily we tend to rely on behaviors that have worked for us in the past. Over time we become attached to these behaviors because new strategies feel clumsy or awkward – so effort is needed.

Quantum leaps cannot be achieved through incremental steps or through “more of the same.” Sometimes in fact, intensifying efforts produces only bigger problems. Go back to the story of the fly. If the fly radically changed its approach, ten seconds of effortless flying, in a totally different direction would have allowed it to reach its goal.

This is not an argument against self-discipline or persistence, but trying harder produces only incremental gains, not quantum leaps. Ordinarily we achieve conventional growth because that is our intention. Quantum leaps require leaving the status quo. Break out of your rut, second guess your routines. Quantum leaps are elegant solutions that allow you to do more with less. To start the process, Imagine what could be…

Focusing on possibilities rather than limits or obstacles is enabling. Quantum leaps mean violating the boundary of the probable, it means visualizing an idealized outcome from which everyone and everything will benefit. Only false limits can create self-imposed prisons. Act as if success is certain, what is your bold idea, you can make a quantum leap.

Doubts are not the product of accurate thinking, but of habitual thinking. You don’t have to know how you’re going to get there, only where you want to go. Visualize a crystal clear picture of the outcome you seek. Focus on ends rather than means, only then can a path be designed. A quantum leap is something you’ve been keeping from happening, you don’t have to struggle to make it happen, just let it occur. The key is not to get in the way!

If you have the answers and structure first, its not a quantum leap. You must be willing to tolerate ambiguity, confusion, and even chaos while you shape your game plan as you go. For now all you need is an aiming point and action.

“Trying as hard as you can” will fall far short of taking you as far as you are capable of going. You must take advantage of the support systems you can’t see. Paint a vivid picture in your mind for these forces to know precisely what you want. In one way or another, the unseen forces will dazzle you with their impact. Count on it. Focus constantly on a picture of what you want to accomplish, and move toward it confidently, the unseen forces will rally to your support.

Going for a quantum leap feels chancey, if it doesn’t it is not a quantum leap opportunity. Ask yourself about the risk of not going for the quantum leap. The risk is that you won’t get what you really want. You can never escape risk. Don’t kid yourself, “playing it safe” by living with the status quo may be the surest way of losing. As we know, happiness takes work, unhappiness results from doing nothing. Risk believing in yourself. Risk acting on the assumption of a strategy’s possibilities, embrace ambiguity while confidently believing you will succeed. This isn’t a case of taking a big chance, its a matter of giving yourself a big chance.

The simple secret is the seeking. Dreams begin to crystallize into reality when they are pursued. The world behaves differently when you actually take action after what you want. The dreams you have realized in life are those which you have in someway actively sought – and if you think about, is the only way dreams can be realized, they must be pursued. Most people confuse wishing and wanting with pursuing. Pursuit is what makes the difference, it alters the odds immediately and drastically of getting your dream.

Quantum leaps demand a willingness to make mistakes. If you’re experiencing no difficulties, problems, or pain, you probably have aimed too low. Performance lags usually occurs at the very outset,its the pause during which you poise for the jump.

Don’t give up! Problems and failures belong in the process, they are signs of progress. Prepare yourself for a pretty wild ride. The normal reaction is to hold on tightly. To succeed you’re going to have to learn to let go and don’t be surprised if you grow uneasy – see all problems as opportunities to grow. The only way you can control it is by (1) knowing where you’re going, (2) continuing your pursuit, and (3) learning from others, the process, and your mistakes.

Make you uncomfortable? Good. If you’re not experiencing anxiety or discomfort, the risk you’re taking probably isn’t worthy of you. A high comfort level provides solid evidence you’re “playing it safe,” not really testing your limits at all and not in the process of a quantum leap. If you do the thing you fear, death of fear is certain. Courage is not the absence of fear and anxiety, its proceeding in spite of those things.

Winners have more gifts because they have claimed them by taking them out of the wrapping and using them. Passion is very important part of the process. Your emotional intensity must burn hot enough to protect you against the chilling effects of doubt, uncertainty, criticism, and failure. Only deep desire can generate such heat. The power of purpose is profound only if you have a desire that stirs your heart. The inner drive must carry you past the point of wishful thinking. Quantum leaps are an act of love. If you have a magnificent obsession, you are poised for a quantum leap.

Don’t bog down in getting prepared for this. A person could make a career out of laying the groundwork – you don’t prepare for a quantum leap. You make it. “Getting ready” is a stalling tactic because people are scared. Move on your dream…start…and let what happens help develop a coherent game plan. Mobility is the crucial element. You’ll discover, once underway, that you know more than you think you know. Trust your instincts to direct you towards what you need to do to learn and understand.

The opportunity, the timing, the power to perform – these are in you, not in the situation. Now you must listen to yourself – take action and believing in your the purpose of what your doing improves your odds. I look forward to learning about your successes from your pursuit and creation of idealized outcomes from which everyone and everything benefits. If you click on the link below and here you will see a short video about Paneugenesis – an idea about how to generate comprehensive benefits by creating interactions so everyone and everything benefits.

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Be Well’r,
Craig Becker

Be selfish, selfless, & synergistic so everyone and everything benefits!