Archive for September, 2010

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September 30, 2010

Communication Secrets Revealed

Keeping a sense of humor

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My goal is to reveal everything I have learned about communication success, so you will have better relationships with everyone, particularly with the difficult people in your life. I have been working in the field of practical neuroscience since 1992, with Deanna Phelps, my business and life partner. We have simplified science-based communication practices that increase rapport and understanding with nearly anyone.

Isn’t it amazing, despite our technological advances, that we still have nagging and persistent problems communicating with our partners, parents, children, friends and the people we work with? What if you could transform your difficult relationships into great relationships, built from bonds of understanding and respect?

These principles will help you analyze and understand your relationships:

  1. People you have great relationships with are most likely those who share some of your characteristics. This is the basis of membership clubs and small start-up businesses.
  2. People you have difficult relationships with are most likely very different than you. These people probably have good relationships with people like themselves.
  3. Everyone is unique due to his or her personality, life experiences, opinions, and brain wiring to receive and process information. Diversity is strength when we respect and use it for good purposes.
  4. People do things and respond for their reasons, not yours. Don’t take everything so personally.
  5. Everyone, despite what you may think, is doing the very best they can with their state-of-mind (in any given moment) and the internal resources available to deal with what is going on. Be more compassionate.

I hope you agree that the main purposes of communications are:

  • Understanding one another
  • Learning and teaching
  • Sharing points-of-view
  • Providing information
  • Giving instructions and directions
  • Making decisions
  • Solving problems

When you and another person acknowledge and accept one or more of these desired outcomes you are more likely to succeed. This one simple act establishes the real and noble purposes of communication. Displacing “getting your way,” “being right” and “driving home your point-of-view” eliminates 90%, or more, of the problems that create anger, frustration, confusion, push-back and wasted time.

Once you have agreed on the topic and the purpose of the interaction, the remaining activity is exchanging information on each other’s wavelength. This process transcends personality and behavioral differences. It simplifies communication and saves valuable time.

The science-based principles of communication rapport are based on brain wiring.

1. Communicate on each other’s strongest sensory pathways:

Visual Learners Need: Visual media, Key Written Points, Pictures, Graphics, Images, Color, Clutter-free Environment

Kinesthetic Learners Need: Physical Activity, Hands-on Experiences, Comfort, Freedom to Move,Frequent Breaks

Auditory Learners Need: Clarity of Words, Attentive Listening, Ability to Ask Questions, Quiet Environment

2. Present sensory information in ways each person can best cognitively process and make sense of it.

Sequential Thinkers (“left brain”) Need: Logic, Order, Particulars, Realism, Practicality, Data, Schedules, Content

Global Thinkers (”right brain”) Need: Possibilities, Options, Generalities, Open-ended, Big Picture, Context

I have attempted to demystify and simplify the communication process. The first step of establishing desired outcomes helps displace emotional and egotistical elements that waste time and create problems. The second step of communicating on each other’s wavelength is based on sound, safe and respected neuroscience research. Please try these true and proven ways to increase communication rapport and understanding. Enjoy the journey.

Brain PathWays provides comprehensive tools to improve communication effectiveness with anyone by 25% to 40% or more. Learn how you prefer to receive and process information. Identify the people with whom you are most and least in rapport. Your 14-page comprehensive and personalized report provides you with the awareness and tools necessary to navigate your rapidly changing world.

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September 28, 2010

Be the Lovers You Both Have Dreamed Of!

Lovers embracing on the beach at sundown / sun...

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Have you wondered why lovemaking is more mutually satisfying with some partners than with others? Was it you? Was it them? Was it your experience, or lack thereof? Some partners seem to be on the same page with you, while others…not so much. Why is this? Are there basic but different styles and preferences to sex? You bet! Then how do you begin to understand how to keep the one you love happy in matters of lovemaking (and help them keep you happy too)?

For each of us, beyond the initial chemistry, we are internally hardwired to how we prefer to experience sex. The more we understand how our partners and we are wired, the more consistently rewarding relationships become.

The first key is how you and your partner like to use your senses during sex. The second is how you prefer the pattern of sexual activities to unfold. Neuroscience unlocks these preferences and patterns for lovemaking!

To get started, which of the following sensory characteristics do you and your partner relate to the most and least? Focus on the most important sensory preference for each person. With practice, work toward integrating the two strongest sensory pathways into your sexual repertoire. For variety and spice, combine the strongest and weakest sensory pathways. Also, experiment with scent and taste like aromatic candles, essential oils, sensual food and drinks.

Kinesthetic: How things feel

Try: Comfortable settings with freedom to move about, pillows, non-traditional settings, massage, different positions, diverse kinesthetic activities, touch and movement.

Visual: How things look

Try: Visually attractive environment, provocative clothing, art, flowers, candles, stimulating images, mirrors, nature scenes, descriptive notes, look deeply into each other’s eyes.

Auditory: How things sound

Try: Quiet and interruption free environment, talk, listen, and ask questions, mood music, verbally descriptive, express feelings auditorily, move to the tempo and rhythm of music.

It’s also important to experience sensory sexual activities in the cognitive pattern of choice.

Sequential: Predictability and knowing what to expect

Try: Agreed upon activities within a timeframe

Global: Open ended possibilities and options

Try: Variety and open-ended activities with spontaneity

Integrated: a balance of Sequential and Global

Try: Random variation of predictability and unpredictability

It’s fun and easy to accommodate each other’s neuroscience preferences and patterns in sexual encounters. The possibilities are endless. You should be able to get started now. If you are different from one another, you have the possibility of doubling your pleasures. Giving and receiving are two sides of the same coin.

Consider gifting one another with a Brain PathWays report . Use your partner’s and your lists of activities you enjoy the most to create your sexual smorgasbord of fulfillment, excitement and ecstasy. Respecting and responding safely to one another’s sexual preferences builds deep bonds of respect and caring.

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September 22, 2010

Do You Want to be a Better Listener?

listen to ME!

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Are there important people in your life, who say “you don’t listen to me,” or “it seems as if everything I tell you goes in one ear and out the other?” Do you have difficulty remembering people’s names, what they say, and the tone of their voice?  Do you get agitated with long discussions and lots of questions without some physical action and visual material to look at? If so, you are not alone. Do you know that 78% of the population has Auditory as their least preferred sensory pathway to take in information? And, do you know that only 7% of the population has Auditory as their primary preferred way to receive information? These are the people most likely to tell you that you are not listening, unless you are an auditory learner as well.

Is it any wonder why there are so many misunderstandings, false assumptions, erroneous conclusions, wasted hours in meetings, conflicts and costly mistakes, when the world uses Auditory as the primary communication pathway to solve problems, make decisions, give instructions and exchange information? If you want to improve your relationship with the Auditory people in your life or just be a better listener overall, here are some simple and powerful neuroscience methods that work quickly.

A universal method is paraphrasing what you think people said to let them know you are listening and to confirm that you heard it correctly. This one simple step will save a lot of time, eliminate frustration and build good will. Here are some powerful techniques for different environments.

Phone Conversations, Telemarketing, Webinars and Lectures

  • Close your eyes to remove visual distractions so you can listen deeply.
  • For phone calls, place the receiver to your right ear, which is a more direct connection to the “left brain” language-processing center. If you are left-handed, you may have to reverse the procedure.
  • Do something physical while you are listening, like tapping yourself on the leg, squeezing a small ball or pacing about in a confined and safe space. These kinesthetic activities help you lock in and remember what you heard.
  • Experiment taking notes using key words and doodles. Try retracing your doodles. You may discover an internal “playback” of what was said.

Meetings, One-on-One, Training and Sales Calls

  • Maintain a gentle focused gaze on the speaker, occasionally looking at a neutral point in the room and/or visual material to avoid the impression of staring.
  • Alternatively, take notes using key words and symbols as you are looking at the speaker.
  • Focus on the speaker’s words, their meaning and the tone of voice used.
  • Imagine yourself as a police scanner radio, oscillating back and forth between the Auditory and Visual channels. Try to remain as physically still as possible, avoiding kinesthetic distractions.

For more strengthening exercises, to learn your precise sensory sequence, and to discover which percentage of the population you are in, please visit www.brainpathways.net

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September 21, 2010

College Survival Guide: Test Day Success Strategies

Many types of North American chewing gum from ...

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It’s test day; the important test or presentation you have been preparing for is here. If you are feeling anxious or still actively preparing, stop what you are doing now. You may be setting yourself up for sub-par performance or worse yet, meltdown and failure.

Neuroscience enables you to achieve the highest possible levels of performance from your preparation. Your focus should be on getting your mind and body in an ideal state for the event. Here is a checklist of success strategies for test day:

Before the Test

  • Get a good night’s sleep.
  • As soon as you wake up, quickly review your material while in a relaxed state.
  • Eat small and frequent snacks/meals. Avoid high fats, sugar and “white foods”.
  • Do some light exercise, such as walking.
  • Engage in deep, rhythmic breathing.
  • Drink plenty of water. Be sure to bring water to your test.
  • Listen to classical music before your test to get your brain in an ideal state.

During Testing

  • Keep your breathing deep and rhythmic.
  • Stay hydrated with periodic drinks of water.
  • Play selections of classical music (using headphones) that you listened to while studying. If permitted, music will help memory recall and keep you in a resourceful state.
  • Use peppermint to perk-up, lavender for calmness (essential oil or chewing gum).
  • If you studied using different tastes (e.g. flavored jelly bellies), chew on these flavors for memory recall.
  • When you get stuck with a test question, ask yourself:

o   What looks right?

o   What sounds right?

o   What feels right?

o   What seems the most logical and correct?

After the Test

  • Give yourself a big pat on the back
  • Do something nice for yourself as a reward. Celebrate Success!
  • The next day, evaluate what you will do differently the next time for even better outcomes.

Brain PathWays…The Neuroscience of You is a complete system that identifies all of your brain strength pathways and gives you personalized strategies for academic, personal, career and relationship success. Visit www.brainpathways.net to learn more.

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September 14, 2010

College Survival Guide: Test Prep Secret Weapons

063 | Study

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Preparing for tests, presentations and public speaking engagements can be daunting. It is often stressful because important outcomes are at stake and you may not be 100% confident in your ability to prepare properly. Worrying about deadlines may stress you out. To get ready for tests faster, with better results and less stress, streamline your study system with these secret weapons.

Using your strongest sensory pathways to study and prepare speeds up learning and memory retention. Here are some examples of how it works:

Visual and Auditory Learners: Read your notes and key points aloud. Trade notes with classmates and have a discussion.

Kinesthetic and Visual Learners: Look over your visual material while doing something kinesthetic like walking, squeezing a ball, pacing, or eating. Use flash cards.

Auditory and Kinesthetic Learners: Talk to yourself, silently or aloud, about the key points as you engage in kinesthetic activities. Do a “walk and talk” with a friend.

The following neuroscience strategies work for nearly all learners. Use these in conjunction with the sensory methods above for extraordinary accelerated learning and memory results.

Relax: “Alpha state” is when your brain waves slow down and you are in a relaxed state. When you want to absorb and remember important information quickly, review it right before you doze off or right after you wake up. Use your two strongest sensory pathways to review the key learning points.

Music: Classical music containing high frequency violins vibrates the cerebral cortex.  This effect creates an ideal brain state to input information into memory. Music with about 60 beats per second is ideal as it matches the natural rhythm of your heart. Listen to composers like Mozart and Vivaldi.

Smell: Scent has an instantaneous effect on your brain state. Peppermint perks you up when you are tired or zoned out. Lavender helps calm you down if you feel  anxious and stressed out. Flavored gum, essential oils and aromatherapy are ways to incorporate these scents into your learning experiences.

Taste: Taste also has an immediate impact on brain chemistry. Associate learning a specific subject with a specific taste, like chocolate chip cookies, green tea or a “jelly belly” flavor. Recreating the taste, or even the mere thought of it, will retrieve the memory of what you learned.  

You can achieve super powers to live the life of your dreams. All it takes is self-awareness of your brain potential and understanding of how you’re wired for super performance. Get your test prep secret weapon at www.brainpathways.net.

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September 10, 2010

You’re Smarter Than You Think

howard gardner in a meeting at MIT

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If you’re like us, you have a suspicious and cautious view of traditional intelligence, aptitude and achievement scores. High numbers may predict potential but not necessarily success. Low numbers do not prophesize a life of fruitless effort and minimal achievements. Individuals can be misguided by their “numbers”. Parents, educators and employers may reach wrong conclusions about the true interests, potential and gifts of people. The time and money spent on these types of tests may be wasteful and at worst, destructive.

How can we expand our views of intelligence and achievement to help people navigate their life path to be the very best they can be? By striving for a life of continual learning, adventure, fun and fulfillment. We believe Howard Gardner, Harvard educator, provides an approach that is helpful to revealing and developing natural interests and talents.

Dr. Gardner suggests that traditional methods of measuring intelligence are far too limited. His list of 8 Intelligences is shown with our addition of Global cognitive thinking (creative smart) We also added examples of activities associated with the intelligences so you can readily identify the ones that may be your navigation system for life success.

Auditory (word smart): Listening, Debating, Discussing, Interviewing, Copywriting, Negotiating, Asking questions, Drafting documents, Telemarketing, Speech writing

Visual (picture smart): Observing, Drawing, Designing, Photographing, Surveying, Proofreading, Creating visual media, Graphic design, Quality control observations

Kinesthetic (body smart): Performing hands-on activities, Dancing, Building, Repairing, Operating tools and equipment, Sport activities, Face-to-face interactions, Field sales

Sequential - Mathematical (number and reasoning smart): Calculating, Prioritizing, Quantitative analysis, Scheduling, Organizing, Single tasking, Accuracy, Tactical planning, Practical

Global (creative smart): Inventing, Visioning, Innovating, Ideating, Multi-tasking, Creating options and possibilities, Context, Creative problem solving, Entrepreneurial environment

Musical (music smart): Singing, Writing music, Creating lyrics, Playing a musical instrument, Activities requiring a sense of rhythm and beat

Intrapersonal (self smart): Self awareness, Reflection, Introspection, Self analysis, Deep thinking, Individual activities

Interpersonal (people smart): Leadership, management and supervision, Team activities, Selling, Interacting with people

Naturalist (nature smart): Gardening, Farming, Animal care, Environmentalist, Collecting and classifying minerals, plants, trees and insects

“Intelligences” that you relate to the most are your gifts and strengths. See, “you’re smarter than you think.” Experiment with others about which you are curious. You may be surprised at discovering a new “intelligence.”

You can verify your strengths in the first five intelligences by taking the statistically validated survey on www.brainpathways.net. The 14-page comprehensive and individualized report is a navigation system to apply your brain strengths to your career, personal, student and relationship life pathways.

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September 8, 2010

College Survival Guide: Simple Lecture Hall Strategies

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Do you enjoy listening attentively and patiently to subject matter experts to learn new and challenging subjects? Do you like discussion groups and asking lots of questions to extract auditory meaning? If you relate to this way of taking in and processing information, you are in 8 – 10% of the population. You will likely do well in most traditional learning environments and in careers involving listening and making sense of language.

If you prefer a combination of hands-on and visual learning, you probably experience frustration and agitation during lectures with limited things to physically do and look at. When Auditory is your least preferred learning pathway, you may feel stress and agitation, or zone out in lecture situations.

The good news is that Kinesthetic and Visual learners can adapt and be more resourceful in Auditory learning situations in school, work and personal situations. Try these simple strategies:

  1. Identify a classmate, friend or co-worker who is a great listener and note taker. Ask for the opportunity to exchange notes.
  2. Record (with permission) lectures, meetings and teleconferences. Play back later and make notes of key points.
  3. Close your eyes to remove visual distractions so you can listen deeply.
  4. Do something physical while listening like tapping your leg, squeezing a small ball or pacing about. Kinesthetic activities help you lock-in and remember what you heard.
  5. Take notes using key points, doodles and mind maps. Try retracing your doodles. You may discover an internal “playback” of what was said.
  6. Imagine yourself as a police scanner radio, oscillating back and forth between these channels:

Auditory – Visual: “What sounds and looks important here?”
Auditory – Kinesthetic: “What sounds and feels important here?”

Visit www.brainpathways.net for your comprehensive, application driven report on how to use your natural sensory and cognitive thinking strengths for stress-free academic success, career selection and time management. Brain PathWays is the most advanced neuroscience system for personal performance excellence.

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September 6, 2010

College Survival Guide: Make Learning Fun!

Read OR Listen?

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Do you experience learning as fun or is it something you dread? Why do some people seem to love and enjoy learning? What are their secrets and is there a scientific basis for what works for them?

Learning can and should be a stress free and joyful experience. Learning helps you navigate life successfully, solve problems and make good decisions. Knowledge, skills and competencies give you access to the careers and jobs that provide the abundance you deserve and desire. Continuous learning may be the brain-health insurance policy you want and need for yourself, your children and your parents.

Neuroscience research provides the basis for fun and successful learning. The central premise is that your brain is naturally curious and hard wired to learn, think, remember and apply information. It’s a pattern seeking device looking to make sense of things, solve problems, connect dots and discover beyond the obvious. Over 100 billion neurons, the building blocks of intelligence and memory, provide infinite potential for growth. When learning is successful your brain rewards you with positive feelings of joy, satisfaction, achievement and victory. It’s a built in “pat you on the back” system.

Students from several universities provided the following practical ideas on what they do to make learning fun:

  • “Imagine the positive outcomes from learning something new. Try to associate learning with practical applications. The fun kicks-in when things acquired to memory are processed and used in daily activities.”
  • “Deep breathing and exercise before and after learning improves whole brain functioning. Use exercise to dissipate stress. Oxygen makes learning easier and therefore more fun.”
  • ”Use your favorite and preferred ways to learn and remember. Learn your way, not someone else’s way. Most professors don’t have a clue on how you learn.”
  • “Learning is always fun when I learn something new that has a purpose in my life.”
  • “When I get curious about something, my brain seems to have a mind of its own. It’s a fun ride.”
  • “Teach someone else something you have to learn but don’t want to. You’ll learn it quickly and the experience is surprisingly fun.”
  • “Learning is fun when I listen to music. I like classical music while studying and popular music during breaks to get my energy up.”

You know that college is stressful and we know that stress makes learning more difficult. Fun learning is successful learning, so your homework assignment for the week is to make learning fun!

www.brainpathways.net contains neuroscience principles and practices for successful and fast learning based on your brain strengths. Try the Daily Messages From Your Brain and Free Resources. The 14-page comprehensive and personalized report has a dedicated application section on achieving academic and career success by leveraging your sensory and cognitive thinking strengths.

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September 2, 2010

The Neuroscience Behind the Touch Screen Craze

Touch screen

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A New York Times article (09/01/10) provided compelling evidence that touch screen technology is on a meteoric rise. Are you wondering if this is just a fad or “flavor-of-the-month?” Are you looking at this technology as an investment opportunity? Some of the big players cited were IBM, Sony, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Garmin, Diebold and Apple.

There is a neuroscience basis to support the touch screen technology phenomena. We have been tracking sensory pathways sequences of the general population for nearly 20 years. This information may satisfy your intellectual curiosity as to why you may or may not be attracted to “touch screen” technology. Even if you don’t rush out and embrace these gadgets and devices, you will understand why the trend is scientifically solid.

Neuroscience provides the insights to consumer behavior embracing technology advances. Your brain is innately wired to take in sensory information in a preferred sequence of sensory pathways. The three sensory pathways are Kinesthetic, Visual and Auditory; the other two are smell and taste.

Sensory PathWays Characteristics
Kinesthetic (“body smart”) Touch and feel
Visual (“picture smart”) See and observe
Auditory (“word and sound smart”) Listen and hear

 Sensory pathway sequences are measured accurately with a statistically validated survey. The sequences show the order in which people prefer to interact with the world, receive information, learn and work. Our statistics show the percentages of the population within six-possible sensory sequences:

Most Likely to Embrace Least Likely to Embrace
KVA: 51% VAK:   7%
VKA: 27% AVK:   4%
KAV: _8% AKV: _3%
  86%   14%

 KVA and VKA learners naturally prefer touch screen technology because it involves touching and seeing. They represent 78% of the population. On the flip side, they are least inclined to listen to recorded messages, hear content correctly and remember what was said. Touch-screen technology feeds their love to touch, see and do.

To learn more about this fascinating subject, visit www.brainpathways.net, the most advanced practical neuroscience site about sensory and cognitive thinking strengths and “blind spots.”

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