By Dr. Joe Pace

You’ve heard the saying “a first impression is a lasting impression?”  That’s absolutely true.  In the field of mental technology it’s found that we form a first impression on a person, place or thing in the first 2-5 seconds.  By 30 seconds we have solidified that thought.  It becomes dominate as the first impression.  Research shows that if you make a bad first impression, which happens accidentally all the time, it takes between 20-50 additional positive impressions just to make up for the one, 2-5 second, negative, first impression.

In fact it’s almost impossible if you’re on a job interview.  Can you imagine saying “wait give me 20-50 more times because I know that I’m right for this position.”  We make very quick decisions.  To reverse that negative impression, and show them the real heart of who you are, is very difficult.

So how do we fix it?

Knowing it takes 20-50 more positive impressions to over-ride one negative, the correction has to be something dramatic enough to cause a permanent change.  In the brain we have something called a synapse, which is an electrical chemical process.  To cause that synapse there must be something dynamic and absolutely emotional, to connect the change in a person’s mind to the positive from the negative first impression.

The real solution however, is “Preparation and Mental Rehearsal.”   Visualize and picture exactly how you want the interview to go, exactly how you want to come across.  Picture it in your mind, over and over again, until you are comfortable.  It is important to be aware of how you look, speak and act in every interaction especially now that you know how important and lasting first impressions are.

In a business setting, receptionists and administrative assistants are often the first point of contact with a customer.  That interaction sets the first impression for the company or manager they represent.  These individuals should think of themselves as the “Director of First Impressions” and operate with that mindset on a daily basis.

By Dr. Joe Pace

The brain operates from mental pictures.  You should have a picture or a replacement picture of what a situation would look like and feel like if it was ideal or perfect.  How do you want to come across?  How do you picture yourself looking and acting?  What do you communicate with eye contact and body language?  That links directly to first impressions.  The initial picture is the key.  You should practice that picture in your mind, over and over.

The reason for this is that the brain doesn’t know the difference between something vividly imagined and an actual experience.  So you can practice in your mind over and over and it will affect the neurons of the brain.  We work with athletes who do that.  Michael Jordan, a legend in basketball, used to shoot 1,000 foul shots a day with his eyes closed, in his airplane seat on the way to the game.

This continued visualization of seeing yourself in that ideal or perfect situation will put your mind at ease and all the right moves will automatically come to you.  Then you just relax and free-flow.

We have a formula for this, I x V = R.  Imagination x Vividness = Reality in the brain. Since the brain doesn’t know the difference between something vividly imagined and an actual experience so the more vivid the better.  Preparation and practice can make one perfect, whether you’re physically doing it or mentally visualizing it.

This works in other situations too, for instance, the all important meeting.  Before a meeting, you plan your agenda and visualize the ideal outcome.  What the meeting will it look like and feel like…right down to the room you will meet in!  Notice I say LOOK and FEEL.  Human beings think in words, pictures and emotions.  The brain needs that emotion or feeling to cause a synapse in the brain, which is an electrical chemical process.  You visualize the ideal and perfect outcome you want from your meeting several times, then relax, go in and free flow.  Things will work out very close to what you expect because you’ve rehearsed it so many times in your brain.   It’s not magic…it’s Mental Technology!