The Secret Behind ‘The Secret’

It has been said, “those that can see what they desire will have their dreams.” This is the power of intention. This idea has been catching hold because of a movie called “The Secret.”

This movie and corresponding book focuses on the “Law of Attraction and Intention.” Several authors, such as Jack Canfield, discuss bringing into life things wanted, dreamed about and hoped for, and how to do that. Those who think positive thoughts, look for the good in others and keep in their forefront their desires, most likely will attain these things.

What does any of this have to do with running a business, let alone business management?

For anyone who has taken a business planning or goal setting class, it most likely has a reference to the now famous Harvard University study. The study found that only 3 percent of Harvard’s 1953 graduating class had clear written goals with plans to achieve them. Twenty years later, the same class was surveyed again, and the same 3 percent was worth more in financial terms than the other 97 percent combined! In addition, the researchers found that the 3 percent had better health, relationships and social skills.

Was this “the power of intention” or just plain old goal setting?

“The Secret” describes the benefits of visualizations. The movie includes several examples of people that have actual displayed pictures of their goals, or create visuals in their minds. This technique is a powerful “secret” that helped these people achieve their goals.

Many years ago, a university study assessed the power of visualization’s affect on sports performance. There were three groups, and each was assigned the task of shooting a basketball into a hoop. Everyone’s ability was measured initially. The first group shot baskets on a regular schedule. The second group practiced shooting while visualizing each shot as successful and with as much detail as possible. The third group simply visualized a successful shot.

The outcome was as follows: the second group improved the most — 24 percent better — when they combined actual shooting practice and visualization. The third group that just visualized shooting baskets followed up second, with a 23 percent improvement. The first group that just shot baskets, recorded no change.

This study and “The Secret” reveal that our minds don’t differentiate what we do and see from what we imagine or visualize. The movie, and any good sales class, explain that one can manifest almost anything into life if that dream or goal is clearly visualized.

“The Secret” also covers the power of affirmations and the power of positive thought.

Many sales training classes recommend that a sales person repeat empowering affirmations everyday and before every sales call. Norman Vincent Peale fathered this idea in his 1952 book “The Power of Positive Thinking.” There is evidence that both of these “secrets,” visualization and positive affirmations, work extremely well.

“The Secret” describes that people can even bring in “bad luck” by focusing on the negative. People have the power to manifest the helpful, or not so helpful by thoughts and actions. So look for the good in people, things and events.

To unlock “The Secret:”

1. Create written specific goals.
2. Develop visual representations of those goals that can be placed in a goal book or on the conference room walls for sales meetings.
3. Repeat daily empowering affirmations.
4. Take action. Do something to achieve the goal. This was the main piece left out of the movie!
5. Focus on the positive aspects of life and of other people.

The key behind “The Secret” is to put out there what you want in life, and it will be achieved. The same is true of business planning and reaching corporate goals. Most people already know what they want and how to get there. They just need to focus on it and take action!