Sacrifice the Word That Stiffles Change

Confession time – I'm an avid reader. No scratch that, I'm an obsessive reader! If there are words printed I have to read them. This is one of the real reasons I gave up eating breakfast cereals and not the fact that they are loaded with sugar. I just got tired of reading the same box every day. So what do I read? Being a coach and facilitator of personal and professional growth workshops I spend 95% of my time reading and absorbing non-fiction, self-help, marketing and business development books.

There is a word I often see used in these "change your life" books. The word is 'sacrifice'. I cringe when I see it used in a specific context. Often motivational gurus will explain the simple process of success. They say you'll have to make sacrifices in your life to get the things you want. Let's look at what 'sacrifice' is typically portrayed. How many times have you see in movies where one of the characters 'sacrifices' his life for the others. They refer to it as 'making the ultimate sacrifice." Or what about the stories of primitive cultures sacrificing young maidens to appease the gods?

Yes I know I'm taking it to extremes. The words we use with our clients, pupils or audience will evoke a response. There are not many positive associations for the word 'sacrifice' that doesn't make people think they are going to lose out or lose big time. In reality the people aren't sacrificing they are trading. They aren't sacrificing their leisure time they are trading an hour of television time for a constructive activity that takes them closer to their desired goal. We've all traded before and the vast majority of the time we liked what we got in exchange.

When we go to the movies we don't think that we are sacrificing our money we think that we are trading it for something of equal or greater value. So drop the word 'sacrifice' and replace it with 'trade'. You'll accomplish more and so will those you coach or encourage.