A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Washington

“A very special guest is going to be attending your ‘Yes, And’ seminar at our retreat in Maryland,” Congressman John Larson said to me after he confirmed our slot to speak at the Democratic Caucus in early January 2011.  The Democrats had just gained a few seats in the general election and they were looking to strategize for the next two years ahead,  keeping their momentum rolling—their hope was that “Yes, And” could help to foster an environment of collaboration with their Republican cohorts. 

It seemed like a pretty worthy goal.  At this time, Congress’ overall approval rating had tied the all-time low of 10% and the philosophy of “Yes, And” was going to be put to the test.  I would love to report that our “Yes, And” session would be the very thing that helped to move our country forward in the right direction, but time proved it didn’t heal our woes.  Congress’ approval rating did jump to 13%, but even “Yes, And” found its limits with our government that is entrenched in saying “no” to ideas, failing to collaborate with each other in a positive way and while actually doing everything they can to stop progress. 

There is hope, however.  We can use the tenets and philosophy of “Yes, And” in our personal lives and begin a grassroots effort to begin working together to bring positive change in the world.  How?  By creating a pocket of positivity in our corner of the world that spreads and eventually, our leadership will adapt to the people’s will to work together to encourage progress for all of us.

So, what is “Yes, And” and how can all of us apply this philosophy to create seismic change in the world? Well, let’s take a look: 

Key Lessons Learned from 'Yes, And' Philosophy

•     Fostering Open Communication: By embracing "Yes, And," we open doors for dialogue, reducing conflicts, and promoting understanding.

•     Encouraging Creativity and Innovation: The positive reinforcement of "Yes, And" can inspire new ideas and solutions, as people feel more supported and confident in sharing their thoughts.

•     Strengthening Team Collaboration: It helps in building a collaborative environment where team members feel valued and encouraged to contribute.

•     Building Resilience: Learning to accept and build on ideas rather than shutting them down creates a resilient mindset.

•     Empowering Personal Growth: Incorporating "Yes, And" in daily interactions can boost self-confidence and enhance personal relationships.

Practical Applications in Daily Life

1     At Work: Start meetings with a "Yes, And" exercise to set a positive tone and encourage creative brainstorming sessions.  Strike the word “no” from your vocabulary and begin saying “Yes” and then building on other’s ideas without changing or altering them as a means of “controlling” the outcome.

2     In Family: Implement "Yes, And" during family discussions to create a supportive environment that values everyone's input.

3     In Friendships: Use "Yes, And" to strengthen friendships by showing openness and encouragement in conversations.

4     Personal Development: Apply "Yes, And" to your own ideas and aspirations, fostering a habit of self-encouragement and positive thinking.

By using these techniques, we will begin to see how opportunities arise in our lives and with our newfound outlook we will begin saying “Yes” to those new possibilities.  It all begins with us changing our mindset to see what is possible and then acting on those opportunities.

And when it comes to making a significant impact, remember the special guest at our Maryland seminar? It turned out to be the President of the United States—proof that saying "Yes, And" can take you places you could never imagine going.

Conclusion

Embracing the "Yes, And" philosophy can help us build confidence, foster collaboration, and inspire change, even in the most challenging environments. So, let’s start applying "Yes, And" in our lives today and become the change we wish to see in the world.

Get your free "Yes, And" Workbook and begin to see how saying "Yes" can transform your life!

www.davidahearn.com/yesandworkbook