Live Your Message is growing… fast.

We just hired three new employees to take Live Your Message to the next level. So buckle up because you’re about to begin seeing even more high quality content and customer service from us.

One of those new employees, Ainslee, shared a story with us about her cat that I wanted to pass along, despite being deathly allergic to the things.

Ainslee has what she describes as a “defiant” little cat named Fisher. She named the cat after the late Carrie Fisher (she’s a self-proclaimed Star Wars nerd) and her spirit matches that of her namesake. Despite her tenacity, Ainslee was actually able to train Fisher to give her kisses on command.

“No way…” you may say. But, yes way – it’s true! Here’s video evidence (because I couldn’t believe it either).

How in the world did she do that?

Well first, Ainslee noticed that Fisher didn’t like to be held (not very surprising with her rebellious nature). So she knew that letting the cat go was a positive experience in and of itself, and that she could use that to her advantage.

Once she figured out what would motivate Fisher, all Ainslee had to do was get the cat to give her that elusive first kiss. We’ve all been there right? Waiting on a first kiss from a loved one (even if that loved one is a cat…).

Often when establishing any new habit or behavior, the first step is the most difficult one.

The task may seem too daunting, overwhelming or just flat out impossible. And training a cat to do anything on command is certainly a feat.

So Ainslee decided to employ an old psychology technique called jump starting behavior. The idea is to break the behavior down into its smallest components, micro-tasks, and arrange them from start to finish.

Then, you work on the first component and gradually build the rest on top, only requiring one step at a time. So for her little Fisher, getting that first kiss required three steps:

1. Hold her long enough that she wanted to get down (about 4 seconds)
2. Get her to move towards/sniff her face
3. Actually lick her face

Holding her until she was restless was easy, but getting Fisher to be remotely interested in Ainslee’s face was more difficult. She had to get creative.

Ainslee knew Fisher was intrigued by the smell of this certain lip gloss she had, so Ainslee started wearing that whenever she held Fisher. If Fisher showed interest and sniffed the lip gloss, she immediately let the cat go. If not, she held the cat for a few seconds after she started squirming.

After several tries Fisher eventually gave Ainslee that coveted first kiss. It may have been totally random or she may have caught on to the little game Ainslee was playing, but regardless Ainslee reinforced the heck out of it.

Ainslee let the cat down AND gave her a treat. After a few more trials, the cat got it down pat. Apparently now, if the cat wants just about anything she has to give Ainslee a kiss first.

Is your business lacking something that you’d like to add or maybe it is in need of a major change, but getting started feels as difficult as training a cat to give kisses?

Whether you’d like to expand your client-base, branch into new markets or get started on a brand new business concept, you can use this same method to jump start your own behavior!

Rather than becoming overwhelmed with the seemingly massive task at hand, break it into its smallest components. Map out steps 1, 2 and 3. And then break those down even further, into manageable micro-tasks.

Challenge yourself to accomplish one micro-task a day. Require yourself to take that step, and that step alone. If you accomplish more, AMAZING! That is the cherry on top because you went above and beyond, but only require that one step.

Once you accomplish a micro-task, reinforce the heck out of yourself for it. Treat yourself!

Get creative with your rewards and really pat yourself on the back because you achieved your goal and that is worth celebrating!

Tomorrow, you will feel accomplished and motivated to tackle the next step. You have set yourself up for success by assigning manageable goals and following up with intrinsic rewards.

Chip away at the gargantuan task piece by piece, and watch your ultimate goal take form. Once you get the ball rolling, your final goal will steadily transform from a seemingly impossible task to an inevitable reality.

“Stay afraid, but do it anyway. What’s important is the action. You don’t have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually the confidence will follow.”

– Carrie Fisher

What is the first step you’ve been meaning to take in your life or your business? What is the ultimate goal you’d like to accomplish? Comment below and tackle the first micro-task in transforming your ultimate goal into an inevitable reality.