By Doug Brown – Guest Blogger

How many times have you gotten the following pop-up message on your PC, tablet, or smart phone: “Click here to download latest software update”? If you’re like me, it seems to happen at least once a week. In fact as I’m currently writing this, my iPhone 4S (yeah I know the 5 is way better with a Retina display etc. etc.), a small red number 1 is staring at me and trying to get my attention that it is time to upgrade. The new iOS 6.1.3, whatever that is, is now available for a free download. All I have to do is click “Install Now.” But suppose I ignore the message and continue to carry on everyday life with my phone and its current software. In all honesty, it probably wouldn’t make the slightest difference at all… for now. But suppose I kept the same phone and refused to upgrade the operating system for the next 4-5 years. What would the difference be like then? Without a doubt it would be a huge difference! A smart phone with a 5 year old operating system would be incredibly slow and very frustrating to use. Just think how many technological advances in smart phone technology will occur by 2018. Here’s a question that will really hit home, raise your hand if you’d like to currently go back to the flip phone you were using 5 years ago in 2008? Not so fast mom and dad! But seriously, who in their right mind would choose not to upgrade the software that will make them more productive and make life so much easier… especially when it’s free?

We all have probably been guilty of making this mistake at some point in our lives. And many people have yet to fix it. And I’m not talking about the computers and smart phones that seemingly run our lives either. I’m talking about our belief system. Each one of us has a unique set of beliefs that we have had since we began to form our own opinions about anything and everything. Most of the time, our beliefs are the result of believing things that were told to us by our family members, teachers, coaches, ministers, etc. And nothing against those folks, I have them too, because they were doing the best they could with what they were taught and believed to be true. But if you are seeking to improve your life I any way be it health and diet, career and business, or even to develop better relationships, consider this idea: could the reason why you are struggling to make changes be because you’re trying to load brand new software and applications on an outdated operating system? Would Angry Birds work on your old flip phone? Of course it wouldn’t work. New software programs and apps require a new operating system to function properly.

This is the problem that most of us have. We try to load new programs (actions, habits, and behaviors) on to an old operating system (our current beliefs). In fact, many people that are seeking improvement in life start with trying to fix their attitude. While this is a nice thought, it is treating the symptom and not the problem. One’s attitude is merely a reflection of one’s belief system. Consider my friend Joe. Joe wants to lose 20 pounds. And Joe doesn’t have a favorable opinion or attitude towards nutrition and wellness. Before Joe can improve his attitude on nutrition and wellness, Joe must first examine what he currently believes about nutrition and wellness.  And if those beliefs are holding Joe back from achieving his goal of weight loss, than he will likely fail at any new diet or nutrition plan because deep down Joe won’t really believe in his ability to execute and stick to the new diet plan. And because Joe really doesn’t believe in his ability to stick to the plan, Joe will approach the new plan with a negative attitude. And we all know happens next… it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy that turns into a negative downward spiral which ends in disappointment and surrender. Fast forward to a few weeks later, and not only has Joe abandoned his new diet plan, but he has also gained 5 more pounds in the process. Seriously, raise your hand if this has ever happened to you. Ok, you can all out your hands down, myself included. Preventing this death spiral is easier than you think. But it all starts with we believe. Here’s the formula you should consider:

Beliefs >>> Attitude >>> Actions >>> Results

That is the order of how we make things happen in life. It all starts with our beliefs, not our attitude. Our attitude is only the symptom. Our beliefs are the problem. But it is also us and our beliefs that ARE the SOLUTION! Say this out loud: “I am the problem and I am the solution.” So all we have to do is take full responsibility for where we are now and then decide to update our operating software (beliefs). Only then will our new applications (desired habits, behavior, and actions) work together to produce our desired results.

Doug Brown is the CEO of Perpetual Equity, LLC  a consulting firm based in the Greenville, SC area.