Hi Chris,

> Can you elaborate a little more on how to
> control the "tension" between the
> 2 points? After reading your post I realize
> that my realistic view of where I am now
> needs to be greatly clarified in my own
> brain.

Yes, this is where I've made mistakes in the past too! I'm a good "creator" - though sometimes I stumble into being a "dreamer" (in Robert Fritz's sense) too.... It's very easy to delude ourselves.

By the way, here's another interesting, quick quote....

"One of the most useful books I read when I first started a company said that most businesses go out of business within their first two years because of one thing, and one thing alone: bad accounting. Why? Because bad accounting doesn't give people a true fix on reality. They make decisions predicated on wrong information. They don't have a fix on one of the important aspects of reality, and so, they blow it."

- Robert Fritz, "The Path of Least Resistance for Managers"

So BOTH a clear goal AND a clear picture of your present reality are very important. Don't delude yourself!

Here's one way I was "testing" this just yesterday, on a small scale.... I went to a swimming pool, and wanted to swim some laps. Usually, when I've gone to do this, it's been a tedious chore - not fun at all.

I had already swum 8 laps, when at that time I thought I'd try this idea out on a small scale. I got myself a clear goal: 20 laps. (It seemed next-to-impossible for me at the time, as I was already tired and ready to quit.... I'm not as fit as I would like to be!) Then, I got a clear picture of where I was: I had already swum 8 laps.

I did feel the "tension" between the two "pictures" - of where I was, and where I wanted to be. It "propelled" me forward, it was a like a kind of "hunger" to go on....

And.... when I finally did complete the 20 laps, I was elated! It was the best swimming session I'd had in a long time!

This is a very simple, small-scale "experiment" with this idea.... But does it work on a larger scale? I believe it does....

As I've stated before, I've used this before, though I didn't realize I was using it at the time. I used this when I was doing my Ph.D. in physics.

I had a clear idea of what I wanted - I wanted to succeed at getting my Ph.D. It was a clear vision in my mind.

And if you've read some of my early posts, you may know that I actually flunked third year physics at university. (I did third year physics again, then passed the second time I did the course.)

So I had a clear idea where I was - waaaaaay behind all the other students (as a flunkee)! But these TWO clear pictures caused me to work with a lot of energy and focus.... And in the end, not only did I get my Ph.D., but I also won the university's prize for the best Ph.D. thesis in the Science faculty during my year.

So, to me, that gives a taste of what this technique, I believe, can achieve....

> Is it good to write the point I'm at
> down on paper or physically map it out with
> a diagram? Thanks!

I'll summarize in more detail later what Robert Fritz suggests....

In general, it's good to write down both your goal(s) and your present reality, as clearly and accurately as you can. Writing it down will get it all more clearly in your mind. It will then generate the "tension" to help propel you forward....

It's also good to remind yourself of these two things, so it's good to refer to them both often, so you remember where it is you are, and where it is you want to be!

- Dien Rice