December 12, 2015

Activate Your Brain

How Understanding Your Brain Can Improve Your
Workand Your Life
Scott G. Halford
2015 Scott G. Halford
Adapted by permission of Greenleaf Book Group Press
ISBN: 978-1-62634-197-5

Key Concepts
There is a science to becoming successful. Understanding how the brain works, and using that knowledge of
neurochemistry to maximize ones potential, can help enhance workplace performance.
It is possible to take control of ones life through a greater appreciation for how the mind functions. Self-control
leads to increased confidence, enhanced willpower, and greater focus. These changes enable a person to
achieve his or her goals.
Mental stamina can be built up over time. Understanding neurochemistry means individuals will better under-
stand the role that sleep, stress, life choices, and rest play in their individual performances. Small changes in
these areas can have a drastic effect on how people behave.
Making changes that enhance the mind will also help people find significance in their lives. A sense of signifi-
cance provides meaning for individuals and leads to a better ego and a more powerful ability to collaborate.

Summary
Introduction
In Activate Your Brain, Scott G. Halford explains how the average person can become above average by gain-
ing a better understanding of his or her own brain. Arguing that there is science to becoming a top performer,
Halford first explains the basics of neurochemistry. With those preliminaries out of the way, he then shows
how anyone with an understanding of neurochemistry can take control of his or her life, build confidence, and
achieve goals. By offering readers an inner look at the complex workings of the mind, Halford empowers people
to make healthy choices and build rapport with colleagues.

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Activate Your Brain Scott G. Halford

Activating Your Brain

By making small, easy choices, anyone can activate the brains potential. These small choices can help people
become more productive and feel more effective, but individuals must first attain a suitable level of self-aware-
ness.

The average person in the business world is particularly susceptible to behaviors that can limit brain activa-
tion. The average work day for a businessperson will likely involve multiple distractions and stressful situations,
which can lead to crises of well-being. Counteracting these workplace pitfalls is all about activation, the do it
again circuitry in the brain. When the brain is activated, it works better. Activation is the first step on the long
journey toward self-actualization and creating significance in ones life.

The Choice to Start: Activation for Motivation

In order to start the process of brain activation, individuals need to make the conscious decision to start taking
control of their choices. Choice is an important part of being human. People feel more in control when they are
in a position to make choices, and they feel threatened in cases where they cannot make decisions. The need to
make choices must be fed, or people can suffer from behavioral problems.

When people have decided to take control of their minds, they should start by repeating the activation mantra,
Start small, start now. Even completing small, simple tasks like cleaning off their desks, organizing their email
inboxes, or balancing their checkbooks can help people feel more energized. That energy can fuel bigger goals
and help people feel like they are gaining control over their hectic lives.

Our Three Brains In a nutshell, neuro-

As humans evolved, their brains evolved as well. The root of the human brain
chemistry is the com-
is the brain stem, which is known as the reptilian brain. This part of the brain plicated balance of
controls automatic functions like breathing and perspiration. It is the oldest chemicals in our brain
part of the brain. On top of this structure is the mammalian brain, which con- that affects how the
trols emotions and helps people process anything that is deemed relevant brain as a whole
to their survival. The third brain, the human part of the brain, is called the
guides our behavior
neocortex. This area of the brain is the seat of reason, logical thought, and
innovationall things that make humans distinct from their closest animal and responses.
relatives.

All three brains play a part in the mental well-being of a person. People who have exceptional minds for logic
and innovation may find themselves derailed when they cannot strike a balance between all three parts of the
brain. In times of strong emotion, the mammalian brain can overpower the human brain, and a person must be
aware of this tendency during times of crisis.

Maximize Your Moments Through Your Neurochemistry

Neurochemistry refers to the complex balance of chemicals in the brain. Neurochemistry affects how different
parts of the brain interact, and how the brain as a whole guides individuals responses. Neurochemistry is often
impacted by perception. If a person perceives a situation as threatening, he or she will react very differently than
if the situation was seen as being beneficial to survival.

Most positive and negative feelings can be placed in one of four emotional quadrants:

1. Quadrant I contains feelings that are highly positive and correspond to states of high arousal and high
adrenaline. Feelings in this quadrant include glee and joy.

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Activate Your Brain Scott G. Halford

2. Quadrant II contains feelings that are slightly less positive and correspond with lower levels of arousal and
adrenal. This quadrant contains feelings such as serenity or contentment.
3. Quadrant III contains feelings that are slightly negative and correspond to low levels of arousal and adrena-
line. These feelings include apprehension and irritation.
4. Quadrant IV feelings include terror, rage, and despair. These emotions are very negative and exist in a state
of high arousal and high adrenaline.

Much of the brains inner workings are devoted to detecting threats. Adrenaline is a hormone that puts people
into a high state of arousal, and it is associated with the fight, flight, or freeze mechanism in the brain. When
adrenaline is released in combination with cortisol, the stress hormone, people experience negative emotions.
Being aware of negative emotions is important, as it alerts people to potential problems. However, people must
avoid letting their negative emotions control them.

When you start
feeling uncertain
because one aspect
of your life is about
to change, its a good
idea to find comfort
in a routine thats
not going to change.
On the other side of the equation are three hormones associated with posi-
tive emotions. Dopamine is a hormone that releases pleasant feelings, and
its release in the brain primes the mind to repeat the behaviors that brought
about the release of dopamine in the first place. There is also Norepinephrine, a
hormone that creates a sense of alertness and engagement. It is often released
during exercise or laughter. Oxytocin is a hormone that is linked to bond-
ing and collaboration behaviors. Engaging in behaviors that release positive
hormones can help re-balance a brain that is beset by negative emotions. Self-
aware people are able to better identify what quadrant of emotions they are
feeling in a given moment and take steps to change their moods by engaging
in behaviors that restore balance to the brain.

Moving from Threat to Thrive

In nearly every daily interaction, a person is either moving toward something or away from something. This is
referred to as approach-avoidance behavior. Even the simple act of going to work in the morning is imbued with
meaning. If people go to work because they love what they do, that is a positive interaction. However, if they go
to work simply because they do not want to go broke, that is actually an avoidance behavior, tinged with nega-
tivity. The positive behavior capitalizes on the brains reward chemistry, while the negative approach to going
to work does not. By putting in an effort to change ones perspective on events, it is possible to turn a negative
avoidance behavior into a positive approach behavior.

Sometimes, it can be hard to determine whether a person is engaging in approach or avoidance behaviors.
Some factors to consider to help determine a persons current state of mind are:

Status: Higher status often translates to an approach state of mind.

Certainty: Uncertainty brings negativity.
Autonomy: Having the power to make decisions alone is empowering.
Relatedness: When a person can relate to the people around him or her, it is more likely he or she will engage
in approach behaviors.
Fairness: The brain interprets fairness as a reward, so situations where a person feels that he or she is treated
fairly result in approach behaviors.

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Activate Your Brain Scott G. Halford

Taking Control of Your Life

Taking control of ones life is an important step on the path to enhanced performance. Control is tied to ones
perspective, with people generally defaulting to either an internal or external locus of control. Some people
gravitate toward an internal locus of control, believing that they have control of situations.

For example, an internally focused person who applies for a job and fails to secure the position might take
the initiative to enhance his or her rsum to secure a similar position in the future. In contrast, an externally
focused person might take the view that others generally have control of situations. This type of person would
not be proactive about improving his or her rsum because he or she would feel that the situation was beyond
his or her control. When people feel like they can take control of their lives, their confidence will increase.

The Confidence That Comes With Control

Self-confidence comes when people feel in control and it helps them reach their goals. Self-confident individu-
als are more likely to do whatever it takes to achieve their dreams. Self-confidence can waver over time, but it is
interesting to note that those with self-confidence are willing to try new things, even if they are on unfamiliar
ground.

There are three main enemies of confidence: perfectionism, comparison, and A distracted mind is
what-ifs. Any of these three confidence killers can make people feel like they a messy mind, and a
are losing control. If people want to improve their confidence levels, they messy mind . . . is like-
should follow their intuitions more often and try new things on a regular basis. ly going to be inferior
in many measures,
Willpower and Focus: Controlling Your Own Attention
including quality of
A lot of the brains energy is spent on self-control. It takes a great deal of
energy to stay focused on the task at hand and avoid the temptations of the
performance, pro-
average workplace. Building willpower is a skill that takes practice. ductivity, and anxiety
levels . . .
Some exercises that can help improve willpower and focus include:

Taking a break when there is a long list of to-do items. After the break, individuals should begin work with an
affirmation like, This is when I am at my best. If this was easy, anyone could do my job.
Being aware of potentially self-sabotaging thoughts. Thoughts like, This is getting out of hand are less help-
ful for a productive mind-set than, This is hard, but Im fully equipped to manage this situation.

Goal Achievement
Crossing items off a to-do list gives the brain a dopamine bump, and that pleasant feeling encourages people to
repeat behaviors. Achieving goals starts by first setting them. Achieving small goals can be just as pleasurable
for the brain as achieving large goals. However, some people struggle with gaining the momentum to achieve
big goals. To break long-term goals into short-term accomplishments, individuals can follow the guidelines of
the STTARR model:

See the goalvisualize it and write it down.

Touch on something to do with the goal every day.
Think about how the last step taken toward the goal went.
Adjust the plan, if necessary.
Reward oneself in small ways to maintain motivation.
Repeat until the goal has been achieved.
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Activate Your Brain Scott G. Halford

Another trick for achieving goals is to use the 5D system. Under this system, each item on a to-do list is placed
into one of five categories:

1. Do: Stuff that can be checked off the list today.

2. Delegate: Stuff that needs to be done today or soon and can be passed along to a subordinate.
3. Delay: Items that can be pushed off for now (items should not stay here for more than four days).
4. Discard: Items that can be removed from the list.
5. Dream: This is a big goal to achieve in ones lifetime. This item should go on the bottom of every new to-do
list going forward.

Stamina, Stress, and Your Brain

Without proper rest and refueling, stress can overtake the brain and greatly reduce a persons stamina. Without
stamina, a person will likely lack the sustained effort it takes to achieve important goals. It is important to make
an inventory of all stressors in ones life, both big and small.

People should review their lists and try to differentiate between negative stressors and those stresses that result
in a positive, energized sensation. Sometimes, to-do list items can seem more stress-inducing than they really
are. People should whittle their lists down, removing items that are not high priority. Reducing feelings of over-
whelming stress helps the brain focus better and allows a person to feel like
In essence, the quality he or she has the stamina to tackle the rest of the work that needs to be done.
of your day is reliant Another trick to boost stamina in the face of stress is to change ones attitude
on your brains energy toward stress. Studies have shown that people who are trained to view stress
level and the quality in a positive light perform better under pressure. By changing their mind-
of its cells . . . sets, individuals can enhance their productivity, even when they feel stressed
out.

Quality In, Quality Out

The quality of a persons workplace performance is directly tied to the brains energy level and the quality of the
cells in the brain. When a person puts quality into his or her body, quality comes out. That is why a balanced
diet is so important to any professional. Proper diet ensures that the brain has the nutrients and energy it needs
to operate at peak efficiency. Parts of a proper diet include water, fruits, vegetables, fatty fish, eggs, turmeric,
cocoa, nuts, seeds, avocados, tea, red meat (in moderation), and whole grains. Alcohol can also be brain food, at
least when it comes to tackling tasks that require creativity or reasoning.

Sleep: Its Not a Choice

Adequate sleep is a must. A rested brain can more easily take on complex tasks. A lack of sleep can negatively
affect mood, decision-making abilities, and memory. It can also lead to weight gain and fluctuations in blood
sugar. Rest is also important to help the brain process newly learned information.

Strategies that can help people fall asleep more easily at night include keeping a sleep journal, engaging in
relaxing activities in the last hour before bedtime, and sleeping in a room that is both completely silent and
completely darkened. Taking power naps can also help complement the sleep patterns of people who do not
get enough sleep at night.

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Activate Your Brain Scott G. Halford

Giving Your Brain a Rest

In addition to restful sleep, the brain also requires restful downtime. To ensure that the brain has stamina when
it is most needed, a person must experience awake rest during the day. Awake rest may include:

Sitting quietly.
Playing a game for five minutes.
Laughing.
Listening to music.
Meditating.

Ten-minute breaks can help refresh and rest the brain while at work, but longer stretches of awake rest are also
required during the day. Individuals can try working for 50 minutes at a time, and then taking 10-minute pauses.
Downtime is critical for the adult human brain. With proper downtime, a persons up time can be much more
productive.

Move to Improve Your Stamina and Your Brain

Exercise can also improve mental stamina and mental performance. The increased intake of oxygen, combined
with increased blood flow, means that physical exercise is the single best thing a person can do to keep his or
her brain healthy. Mental exercise is also an important part of keeping the brain limber, of course, but being
active up to 150 minutes per week can radically improve a persons mental outlook.

Significance Through Connectedness: Mother Natures Bonding Glue

The brain is constantly growing and changing, and people enjoy the feeling of connectedness that arises when
they have meaningful, significant interactions with other humans. Humans are social creatures, and the brain
therefore works at its optimum level when a person has trusting, connected relationships with others.

Building trust and bonding with colleagues changes neurochemistry for the
better, and generally leads to higher quality results on collaborative projects. The creation of trust
People should take the time to communicate emotionally with colleagues and doesnt have to be
really get to know them. When discussing workplace matters, people should an accident; in fact,
respond to questions and comments with statements that show an active it rarely comes about
interest in the speaker and his or her contributions. These bonding moments without some deliber-
can foster an environment where people feel more confident and connected.
ate effort.
The Ego: Choosing Your Best You
Ego management is crucial for people who are trying to build trusting relationships. Ego plays a big role in how
people approach everyday interactions, and keeping an eye on ego ensures that people communicate in a way
that builds trust with others. Some people naturally have strong egos, while others have weak egos.

In some situations, being too assertive can undermine efforts to build trust. The same is true of people who have
weak egos. Individuals can take a personal inventory to determine whether the majority of daily interactions are
being helped or hampered by their egos. The ego can never really go away, but being aware of the strength of
ones ego can help teams and individuals work at a higher level.

Collaboration: The Ultimate Survival Tool of Humans

Collaboration has allowed human beings to survive and thrive since the dawn of time. Collaboration influences
human neurochemistry in a positive way. Working in a team causes feelings of joy in the brain. To maximize a
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Activate Your Brain Scott G. Halford

teams potential, team members should get to know the other members of the team and take note of ways they
can best contribute based on their skills. Communication is a key part of building a winning team. A team that
works well together will not have to overcome as many neurochemical pitfalls, such as stress or distractions.

Features of the Book

Estimated Reading Time: 45 hours, 248 pages

In Activate Your Brain, Scott G. Halford attempts to demystify the complex workings of the human brain. Using
both science and psychology to back up his action plans, Halford explains how any person can change his or
her mental outlook and workplace performance by remaining mindful of his or her neurochemistry. Designed
to be read cover to cover, the book would be of interest to managers and leaders, as well as employees who feel
like they have hit a mental block. Activation exercises provide practical applications of the books concepts, and
visual aids are included throughout.

Contents
Introduction: Activating Your Brain
The Choice to Start: Activation for Motivation
Part 1: The Science of Being Successfully You
Chapter 1: Our Three Brains
Chapter 2: Maximize Your Moments Through Your Neurochemistry
Chapter 3: Moving from Threat to Thrive
Part 2: Controlling Your Success
Chapter 4: Taking Control of Your Life
Chapter 5: The Confidence That Comes With Control
Chapter 6: Willpower and Focus: Controlling Your Own Attention
Chapter 7: Goal Achievement
Part 3: Building Your Stamina
Chapter 8: Stamina, Stress, and Your Brain
Chapter 9: Quality In, Quality Out
Chapter 10: Sleep: Its Not a Choice
Chapter 11: Giving Your Brain a Rest
Chapter 12: Move to Improve Your Stamina and Your Brain
Part 4: Finding Significance
Chapter 13: Significance Through Connectedness: Mother Natures Bonding Glue
Chapter 14: The Ego: Choosing Your Best You
Chapter 15: Collaboration: The Ultimate Survival Tool of Humans
Choose Now
Acknowledgments

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Activate Your Brain Scott G. Halford

About the Author

Notes
Index

Further Information
Information about the author and subject:
completeintelligence.com
Information about this book and other business titles:
greenleafbookgroup.com

Click Here to Purchase the Book

Related summaries in the BBS Library:

Your Brain at Work
Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus,
and Working Smarter All Day Long
By David Rock

Brain Wars
The Scientific Battle Over the Existence of the Mind and
the Proof That Will Change the Way We Live Our Lives
By Mario Beauregard

About the Author

Scott Halford, CSP, CPAE, is an Emmy Award-winning writer and producer, an engaging presenter, and a long-
time consultant to Fortune 500 executive teams. He has extensive knowledge in the areas of achievement
psychology, which includes brain-based behavioral science, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and influ-
ence.

Halford was inducted into the National Speakers Hall of Fame in 2014. He is a certified speaking professional, the
highest earned designation of the National Speakers Association and the Global Speakers Federation. He is also
an accredited and certified emotional intelligence provider and a certified associate in emergenetics, the study
of performance and preferences based on genes and the environment. He has an executive masters degree in
neuroleadership. Halford is cofounder and principal of Complete Intelligence, LLC.

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