What draws our attention? The next time you are with a group of people, notice: is there one particular person or couple that others are drawn to? While driving on the highway notice: which car draws your attention? While watching TV, what draws your attention? The same question should be asked while reading magazines, listening to music, while shopping, when dinign in restaurants, etc.

Excitement puts us in a hypnotic state.  Excitement can appeal to a persons ego and pride.

QUESTION: What draws our attention? ANSWER: Anything that is exciting.

What exactly is exciting? What gets us excited? That is an interesting question that takes detailed analysis. Let's start with the dictionary definitions.

excite Audio pronunciation of "excite" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (k-st)

 1. To stir to activity.
 2. To call forth (a reaction or emotion, for example); elicit:
 3. To arouse strong feeling in: speakers who know how to excite a crowd. See Synonyms at provoke.
 4. Physiology. To produce increased activity or response in (an organ, tissue, or part); stimulate.
 5. Physics.
 1. To increase the energy of.
 2. To raise to a higher energy level.

I like to say that in this first step, excitement, we are raising the level of expectation and awareness. Setting people's minds in motion. Creating energy in thinking, actions, decisions and goals.

QUESTION: How do I make excitement work for me? 

ANSWER: The following tools will help you get others excited. Increasing others’ excitement will get you excited as well.

First, let's get others excited by making them feel important. Here is how to make others feel IMPORTANT in relation to . . . . .

POWER - MONEY - SEX - HUMOR - FEAR - DANGER - SADNESS

Let's take each of these words and demonstrate examples of how we can use them to excite most people.

Power: Most think of power as the ability a person has to control others.

Common statements about power include:
"He knows a lot of influential people."
"He has a lot of powerful connections."
"He can pick up the phone and get things done." 

These statements are commonly associated with power. Power makes a person exciting.

POWER: Power usually is associated with the next tool, money. What makes money powerful? The obvious: it can buy action with labor, time, equipment, quality and, to some extent, loyalty. What makes money exciting? It's the ability to be "converted" or traded quickly into so many actions, products or services. This is obviously EXCITING. It raises the level of expectation.

"Any tool that controls our time, space, quality of existence and money is exciting."

We all know Donald Trump to be exciting. His image of money and power and how he uses it to control people can easily be witnessed on TV.

Note on wealth:  Many people may not have money (they’re cash poor) but they may have access to tools such a limousine, jet, helicopter, yacht, country club or vacation condo. Many control machinery such as factory tooling, transportation, technology, communication media (newspaper, radio, TV) and more. They have access to a wealthy lifestyle and wealthy people. We all hear the statement, "I heard he/she is bankrupt". At the same time, we notice they have power.  Bankrupt?  It may or may not be true but if the individual has access to tools on a regular basis, they have access to power/wealth and can convert this to excitement. They have access to lifestyle and wealthy people. (Later we will dedicate a chapter to lifestyle and how it relates to money, power and ultimately excitement.)

Here's another example of excitement-generating tools: A person or group arrives in a limousine. That act alone raises emotions revolving around power and money.  (You say, I don't have a limousine.  For that important occasion, maybe rent one)

Another example of an excitement-generating tool: A yacht brings with it excitement, belief and control. The captain/owner has control over the passengers’ time, space and destination.  (You say, I can afford a yacht?  Consider a timeshare, charter or use a friends)

SEX - Sex can be one of the most exciting tools, even more effective than money and power. Many philosophize that sex is the driving force that gets us up in the morning, the reason we work and the underlying theme when we play. It is obviously EXCITING. Later we will discuss sex and how it too can work for us.

ENTERTAINMENT/TALENT - Excitement can be found in the form of entertainment. Who doesn't like to laugh and have fun, enjoy music, watch a sports figure, movie, etc. ? It allows us to fight boredom and forget our pains, fears, anxieties, and sadness. A good comedian, professional or amateur, is always the center of EXCITEMENT. Talents with music, sports, art, singing are all EXCITING.

FEAR, DANGER, SADNESS - I have grouped these words together in a category I'll refer to as "loss". No one wants to lose power, sex, money, fame. The fear of these losses and consequences is in itself EXCITING or at least stimulating. It can motivate us.

Next we will examine the contrast between gain (goal achievement) and pain (loss) and how the two add amplification or power to the excitement formula.

Phrases we hear everyday that evoke excitement:
”Sale ends today”
“Limited offer”
“Only a few qualify”
“This is your last chance”
“Be the first . . . . Act now”
”Save money now”
“Don't be left out”
“Don't be sorry”

All of these imply that you are in a "special, important position" to make a decision of gain, and if you don't act now you can lose that opportunity.

TV commercials are designed to lure us into an excited state. Statements such as, "If you don't act on this opportunity now you will lose out" are common. Advertisers present a product value tied in with limited time offer or limited number of customers/quantities. Also, they can put a "qualifier" to the deal such as age, geographical limitation, size, intelligence, limited quantity, availability, income, creditworthiness, etc.

How do we stimulate these emotions and, more importantly, how do we convert these feelings into actions and goal-oriented results?

Let's start with our own personal checklist.

Excitement turn-offs:
 __ Sloppy or wrinkled clothes
 __ Poor grooming
 __ Equipment and automobile that is dirty or in bad repair
 __ Poor eye contact
 __ Making people wait
 __ Complaining or excuses in our attitude
 __ Slow when responding to a question
 __ Slow actions

In general, are your actions slow, old, repeating, motionless, not clear, confusing, and hard to follow? Those are the signs that can cause others to walk away out of boredom.

Excitement turn-ons: Nice clothes, good grooming, clean automobile, fast speech, good eye contact, being ready/on time, new ideas, clear communications, simple and direct, traits of honesty and trust, easy-to-follow steps. These actions draw people to us.

Do we look exciting? Dress exciting? Drive an exciting car? Speak with excitement? Speak quickly and get to the point? These actions cause us to get closer to the person or action.

Watch for more discussion and detail on this subject later.

Ready for step #2 ? CLICK HERE FOR STEP #2

Don Hodor, creator of the "EXCITEMENT, BELIEF CONTROL" Factor conducts seminars for corporations & groups.  He also conducts private sessions and counseling.   His formula can be used for development of careers, personal growth, corporate growth and product/service growth. Don's formula works with people, products and services.

Contact Don Hodor at dhodor@southpointe.net

or call 724-873-7777

.