A few weeks ago, I designed and delivered the inaugural Peak Performance Mindset VIP Retreat for a small group of B2B sales leaders. I had the privilege of working with five world-class mindset coaches.
Leadership, Racecars, and Tandem Skydiving Jumps
We purposely mixed up presentations with live-action events. On the second day, the group of leaders piled into a bus and drove to a professional racetrack, which had Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Porsches, and other high-performance cars.
The retreat also offered a tandem skydiving jump from an airplane. The jumps were facilitated by the amazing Jon DeVore, a multiple world record holder of skydiving competitions. One of the retreat participants, Hillary Pryor, said she felt like she was “ready to take on the world” after racing around the track in an Audi R8. After her skydiving experience, she said, “I can do anything now!”
Embracing these experiences made us realize we can handle a lot more than we assume. I think John Guydon described it best in this video.
Remember: Your inner magic is capable of generating an insane amount of power; meanwhile, we typically use only a small fraction of that power in our daily lives.
What Is a Peak Performance Mindset?
Why did I design this retreat experience? For several years now, I’ve been studying the power of mindset. I’m convinced sales leaders can change the world (for ourselves and others) by getting (and keeping) ourselves and others in a state of peak performance.
The principles of Peak Performance Mindset are rooted in neuroscience.
Each one of us has an “inner CEO” we can tap for amazing and powerful results. This potential lives in the capacities of the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which is where neural connections form based on our experiences, emotions, and ideas.
The problem is, most of us never examine our own preconceived notions and feelings, despite the fact that they shape our perspective on life. In fact, only five percent of our mind’s content ever actually reaches the conscious level. That means 95 percent of who you are, what you feel, and what you think is not happening on a conscious level.
That means our unconscious drives and desires have a significant impact on our productivity and success. For example, it’s a commonly held (and unexamined) belief that we get worse as we get older. Most of us assume our bodies will break down and become weak or ill. Yet recent research shows that believing negative ideas about the process of aging can actually decrease your life expectancy by 7.6 years. That means people with a positive mindset actually live longer!
What We Learned about Mindset and Sales Leadership
I was impressed how everyone in our group at the VIP Peak Performance Mindset Retreat committed to highly ambitious goals. Here’s just some of what we learned.
Mindfulness
In her presentation, “How to Become a Mindful Leader,” Alexis Pokorny taught us the power of mindful leadership. Specifically, she illustrated how ineffective we are when we take on multiple tasks at once instead of working on one task at a time. She also led us through a 10-minute meditation exercise aimed at developing our brain’s ability to focus and concentrate.
“Inner Magic”
I spoke about the concept of “inner magic.” To me, this is the reason we all exist. By practicing observation and appreciation, leaders can inspire others to live more courageously, intelligently, and joyfully.
Passion and Purpose
In his presentation, “Mindset in Action,” Jim Cathcart reminded us that, when we understand our passion and purpose, we can live them more fully. He urged us to “know our ‘why,’” explaining that, when we find meaning in what we do, we bring more value to what we do.
Physical Fitness
In his presentation, “Age-defying Health Habits,” David Bush explained the link between our health and our mental clarity and optimism. He laid out a 28-day health challenge plan that included improving nutrition, prioritizing an active lifestyle, and decreasing stress.
The Unconscious Mind
In his presentation, “Psychodynamic Exploration of Business Challenges,” Dr. Erik Gann explained how our childhood influences affect our present moments, and offered tips for overcoming the mindset problems most typically associated with sellers, including inhibition, rigidity, self-defeating behaviors, and narcissistic tendencies.
One of the last activities we offered was a hole-in-one golf challenge. Listen to Russ Walker describe how working on his mindset transformed his ability to get the closest he’s ever been to a hole in one on the course.
One participant told me the weekend was more like an awakening than a retreat. Another posted, “I learned from many others. I only see dreams and possibilities and nothing else. The weekend changed me forever.” Still another said, “I discovered that I was operating at a much lower level of energy and focus. I realized that I have a lot more gas in the tank.”
So many participants used the retreat as an opportunity to open up and talk about the toughest battles in their personal lives. We learned that what had brought us through adversity was refusing to give up.
The weekend reminded me there is no obstacle that can’t be overcome. Any sales leader who participates in the VIP Peak Performance Mindset Retreat will walk away with a greater awareness of his or her true capacities, a clear vision, and a definitive sense of purpose. You’ll also get mutual support and regular accountability checks. As Hillary said, you’ll feel “ready to take on the world.”
I’m excited to host another Peak Performance Mindset VIP Retreat in Las Vegas on September 20-22. Contact me at gerhard@sellingpower.com for details.
Comments