Has someone ever persuaded you to do something?

How did they do it?

They appealed to either an obvious or, in some cases, your hidden self-interest.

Professional salespeople, the outstanding ones, are excellent at saying and doing things that entice your self-interest.

If appealing to your self-interests sounds manipulative, it’s because it is. And although manipulation might carry a negative connotation in your mind, it can also be a positive force.

For example, if you have a self-interest in health, you can manipulate your living environment by eliminating unhealthy foods to increase your chances of being healthy.

Appealing to your self-interests begins with knowing what you want out of life. Without this first step, there’s nothing to entice.

Once you’ve identified a few concrete self-interests, then you can begin to take steps to draw yourself toward them. These steps include, but are not limited to, self-praise, focusing on gain and not sacrifice, and imagining how you’ll feel in the future.

Self-praise may feel awkward at first, especially if you’re not used to complimenting yourself, but it’s important that you learn to do so. Self-praise is about shifting from seeking external validation to validating yourself for your efforts. It provides you with acceptance for who you are and encourages you to keep working towards what you hope to accomplish.

Focusing on gains rather than sacrifices shifts your attention away from some of the hard work that comes with achieving anything worthwhile. It is akin to self-manipulation but, as I noted earlier, is a great weapon when used appropriately.

Your image of how you’ll feel in the future once you’ve hit specific goals or milestones speaks directly to your self-interest because that’s the person you desire to be. Leverage your future image to persuade yourself to act in your own best interests.

So, spend some time today identifying your self-interests and then take the necessary steps to act in ways that bring them to life.

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