Shut The Duck Up And Your Business Will Fly

I had the great good fortune to give a keynote speech to Owl Financial. It was called “Shut the Duck Up” and it was one I give quite often.

The duck is something of trademark for me, because I use it so often. I have a written a best selling book about it called, Shut The Duck UP and I have helped thousands of people all over the world shut up the negative voice in their heads, AKA their duck, and become happier, healthier and more productive as a result.

Let me explain:

It is said that we have as many as 60,000 thoughts each day, and many of these are an inner dialogue.

No, we aren’t going mad. This inner voice is something we all have and evolved as a way for us to protect ourselves thousands of years ago. We talk to ourselves - constantly. It is there the whole time but most of the time it isn’t helpful. This is what I call the duck - talking negatively at us. Quack, quack, quack.

The duck talks us out of things and gets in our way:

You: I’m going to exercise

Duck: That sounds like hard work. Besides, it will take time and you’ll look silly in Lycra compared to all those gym-bunnies and hard-men. It will be agony to run for ten minutes. You may as well skip it.

Sound familiar?

The duck doesn't’ just get in the way when it comes to health - it shows up in the workplace too. We talk ourselves out of speaking up in meetings, of applying for a promotion, of asking for help... all because the duck is talking to us in an unhelpful way. If we can master our duck, there are no limits to what we can do.

I’ve written whole books on the duck - so why am I raising it today?

Because of what happened at the presentation with Owl. Watch the video above - you’ll see some of the points I made about the duck and how you can choose the life you want to have. Then you will hear Patrick McKenna, MD of Owl summarising the day.

Watch how he does this and ask yourself: how could I do the same with my team?

It would be great to hear your views and ways that you give your people the opportunity to grow and support you in your journey. Join the debate.