Change the way you see the world, and the world you see changes. But how do you do it? The best tool I know for managing your mind and changing how you see the world is called the “model.”
The model simplifies everything into five parts: circumstances, thoughts, feelings, actions, and results. I first heard this term from Brooke Castillo, but the key concepts have existed for thousands of years.
It works like a formula. It’s simple—and POWERFUL.
Circumstances are facts or situations. For example, your client is 90 days late paying their invoice.
You then have thoughts about it:
- “I’ll never get paid.”
- “I need the money.”
- “We’re going to go out of business.”
Those thoughts create feelings, like worry. Feelings drive actions:
- Complaining to your partner
- Blaming yourself for the situation
- Buffering with food
Actions produce results. In this case, wasting time blaming, complaining, and buffering means you don’t take quick action to find a solution—and you don’t get the money you need.
We often think circumstances cause our feelings, but it’s really our thoughts! Here’s another example with the same circumstance but different thoughts:
Circumstance: Your client is 90 days late paying their invoice.
Thought: “I’m going to create another source of revenue because I may not get paid.”
Feelings: Focused and determined.
Actions: Meet with your team, review your services, identify the most valuable and scalable offers, package them into products, and charge upfront.
Results: New revenue streams, scalable solutions, and positive cash flow.
The most powerful part of the model is that it shifts your focus from what you CAN’T control (facts, other people, the economy) to what you CAN control (your thoughts, emotions, and results).
I’ve used the model with clients to improve business, relationships, health, and finances. I’ve seen it transform business owners from frustrated to free, exhausted to energized, and overwhelmed to clear. Personally, I’ve used it to generate millions of dollars. It’s the best tool I’ve ever found for changing how I see the world.
It’s simple—just not always easy.