Welcome to Brunner & Associates, Inc.

I recently reread a wonderful book entitled The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg which I read years ago.  It explores the neuroscience behind how our brains work and why it is so hard to change some of our less desirable habits.  It also offers some great strategies and tips for creating new more constructive habits to override the old ones.  I gave a presentation on these ideas to a group in Germany some years ago that was well received.  The book cites some very interesting and, in some cases, surprising survey findings.  It is definitely worth a read. 

As Brian Tracy said, our habits account for about 95% of how our life turns out so we all have a large stake in developing the right ones. 

Recently, I looked through an old book by Martin Goldsmith entitled, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.  It’s a terrific read chocked of lots of useful ideas.  Goldsmith coins a new term, Feedforward, and recommends it over the traditional Feedback.  People often resist the latter because it talks about one’s shortcomings in the past – and few of us like being criticized.  Here’s how Feedforward works.

1.    Pick on behavior you’d like to change, which would make a significant, positive difference in your life.  Example:  I want to be a better listener.

2.    Describe this objective in one-on-one dialogue with anyone you know, family, colleagues, boss, etc.

3.    Ask the person for two suggestions for the future that might help you.  The only ground rule is that there can be no mention of the past.  It’s only for the future.

4.    Listen attentively to the suggestion and only say, “Thank you.”  Don’t rate the answer.  Don’t even say “good idea.”