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Thunderbolt Thinking Technique:
BRAIN FLOSSING
What is it? How do you start your day without flossing away all those barriers that
stop you from performing to your fullest? The Art of Brain Flossing allows you to clear
away all the noise, all the junk, all the mental barriers so you can hear your inner voice
and access fresh ideas. Flossing is a short, focused period of time to sit, relax, and
freshen your thinking.
Why is it important? By mastering the Art of Brain Flossing you keep your thinking fresh,
getting rid of all the extra junk that builds up as accumulated tensions and inner
conflict. When you keep your thinking fresh, you're better equipped to see the insights
and the breakthrough ideas when change comes your way. When you take time on a regular
basis to stop and relax, you'll experience peak performance on a more consistent basis.
How do I do it?
Plan to set aside 10-15 minutes each
morning to relax and unclutter your mind.
Pull out about 18 inches of Brain Floss. Wrap the Floss
around both of your index fingers and hold it up behind your head, then wrap it over your
ears, and pull it back and forth by the ends.
You only have to floss the part of your
brain that you want to keep, so go ahead and floss away all those mental barriers that
keep you from performing your best.
Don't throw the floss away; instead just let it sit
around your neck for a while. You may need to use it again later if you get stuck on
something else.
What are some ways to use this
TNT? In the early years when the company was changing
quickly and doubling in sales every 6 months, Neal Patterson, President of Cerner Corp. in
Kansas City, realized he needed to slow down so he could capitalize on all the
opportunities that were coming his way. He said, "Whoa, I need to slow down and
preserve some time to think."
So, he started
scheduling a weekly two-hour session to "talk to himself." He did this early in
the morning away from his office so as not to be interrupted. He simply took the time,
relaxed and uncluttered his mind so he could think. When his mind was clear his
concentration improved, his creativity improved, and he felt more alert and fresh in his
thinking.
The Art of Brain Flossing can
achieve similar outcomes. Use it as an activity to refresh you and your team's thinking
when you need to focus on a particular challenge. It's a fun way to open a meeting, and
motivate participants to generate fresh ideas. Otherwise, you may want to introduce the
Art of Brain Flossing into your team's daily routine as an activity to rejuvenate their
thinking on a regular basis. |
