Many people call it “The Lizard Brain” because it is the part of the limbic system, which is about all a lizard has for brain function.

The lizard brain is hungry, scared, angry, and horny.

The lizard brain would fight to the death if it had to, but would rather run away. It likes vendetta and has no problem getting angry. The lizard cares what everyone else thinks.

The lizard brain is the reason you’re afraid, the reason you don’t do all the “art” you can, the reason you don’t ship when you can. The lizard brain is the source of the resistance.

Its working hard to get you to sit down, shut up, and do your “day job”. It will invent stories, illness, emergencies, and distractions to keep the genius in your bottled up. The resistance is afraid.

You know the resistance is there. You’ve felt it.

-much of the above from Seth’s Godin book “Linchpin”

Lizard Brain Review

My Resistance for this Session

• Marian already covered this. My “take” will be redundant.

• I’m the only one with “resistance issues”. People will think, “What the hell is wrong with him?”

• The pre-work isn’t good enough/won’t prepare people.

• If there are typos/grammar mistakes in my emails people will judge me as dumb.

• I’m going to be the only one who answers yes to the survey questions.

• The questions are dumb.

• Maybe a survey is not allowed, should I ask Tracy?

• Tracy will think I’m dumb for asking about something as silly as a survey.

• People won’t trust me when I say I don’t know how individual people answered.

• Nobody will respond to the survey.

• The presentation won’t communicate what I want.

• The slides will get in the way of the discussion.

• You don’t have any good discussion questions, and probably won’t think of any.

• There won’t be discussion without slides offering background info. The slides will get in the way.

• Nobody is going to speak up on the call.

• A few people emailed to say they are looking forward to the call. Crap! I hope they aren’t disappointed.

My Resistance for this Session

• Marian already covered this. My “take” will be redundant.

• I’m the only one with “resistance issues”. People will think, “What the hell is wrong with him?”

• The pre-work isn’t good enough/won’t prepare people.

• If there are typos/grammar mistakes in my emails people will judge me as dumb.

• I’m going to be the only one who answers yes to the survey questions.

• The questions are dumb.

• Maybe a survey is not allowed, should I ask Tracy?

• Tracy will think I’m dumb for asking about something as silly as a survey.

• People won’t trust me when I say I don’t know how individual people answered.

• Nobody will respond to the survey.

• The presentation won’t communicate what I want.

• The slides will get in the way of the discussion.

• You don’t have any good discussion questions, and probably won’t think of any.

• There won’t be discussion without slides offering background info. The slides will get in the way.

• Nobody is going to speak up on the call.

• A few people emailed to say they are looking forward to the call. Crap! I hope they aren’t disappointed.

• Marian already covered this. My “take” will be redundant.

• I’m the only one with “resistance issues”. People will think, “What the hell is wrong with him?”

• The pre-work isn’t good enough/won’t prepare people.

• If there are typos/grammar mistakes in my emails people will judge me as dumb.

• I’m going to be the only one who answers yes to the survey questions.

• The questions are dumb.

• Maybe a survey is not allowed, should I ask Tracy?

• Tracy will think I’m dumb for asking about something as silly as a survey.

• People won’t trust me when I say I don’t know how individual people answered.

• Nobody will respond to the survey.

• The presentation won’t communicate what I want.

• The slides will get in the way of the discussion.

• You don’t have any good discussion questions, and probably won’t think of any.

• There won’t be discussion without slides offering background info. The slides will get in the way.

• Nobody is going to speak up on the call.

• A few people emailed to say they are looking forward to the call. Crap! I hope they aren’t disappointed.

My Resistance for this Session

• Marian already covered this. My “take” will be redundant.

• I’m the only one with “resistance issues”. People will think, “What the hell is wrong with him?”

• The pre-work isn’t good enough/won’t prepare people.

• If there are typos/grammar mistakes in my emails people will judge me as dumb.

• I’m going to be the only one who answers yes to the survey questions.

• The questions are dumb.

• Maybe a survey is not allowed, should I ask Tracy?

• Tracy will think I’m dumb for asking about something as silly as a survey.

• People won’t trust me when I say I don’t know how individual people answered.

• Nobody will respond to the survey.

• The presentation won’t communicate what I want.

• The slides will get in the way of the discussion.

• You don’t have any good discussion questions, and probably won’t think of any.

• There won’t be discussion without slides offering background info. The slides will get in the way.

• Nobody is going to speak up on the call.

• A few people emailed to say they are looking forward to the call. Crap! I hope they aren’t disappointed.

• Marian already covered this. My “take” will be redundant.

• I’m the only one with “resistance issues”. People will think, “What the hell is wrong with him?”

• The pre-work isn’t good enough/won’t prepare people.

• If there are typos/grammar mistakes in my emails people will judge me as dumb.

• I’m going to be the only one who answers yes to the survey questions.

• The questions are dumb.

• Maybe a survey is not allowed, should I ask Tracy?

• Tracy will think I’m dumb for asking about something as silly as a survey.

• People won’t trust me when I say I don’t know how individual people answered.

• Nobody will respond to the survey.

• The presentation won’t communicate what I want.

• The slides will get in the way of the discussion.

• You don’t have any good discussion questions, and probably won’t think of any.

• There won’t be discussion without slides offering background info. The slides will get in the way.

• Nobody is going to speak up on the call.

• A few people emailed to say they are looking forward to the call. Crap! I hope they aren’t disappointed.

• Marian already covered this. My “take” will be redundant.

• I’m the only one with “resistance issues”. People will think, “What the hell is wrong with him?”

• The pre-work isn’t good enough/won’t prepare people.

• If there are typos/grammar mistakes in my emails people will judge me as dumb.

• I’m going to be the only one who answers yes to the survey questions.

• The questions are dumb.

• Maybe a survey is not allowed, should I ask Tracy?

• Tracy will think I’m dumb for asking about something as silly as a survey.

• People won’t trust me when I say I don’t know how individual people answered.

• Nobody will respond to the survey.

• The presentation won’t communicate what I want.

• The slides will get in the way of the discussion.

• You don’t have any good discussion questions, and probably won’t think of any.

• There won’t be discussion without slides offering background info. The slides will get in the way.

• Nobody is going to speak up on the call.

• A few people emailed to say they are looking forward to the call. Crap! I hope they aren’t disappointed.

• Marian already covered this. My “take” will be redundant.

• I’m the only one with “resistance issues”. People will think, “What the hell is wrong with him?”

• The pre-work isn’t good enough/won’t prepare people.

• If there are typos/grammar mistakes in my emails people will judge me as dumb.

• I’m going to be the only one who answers yes to the survey questions.

• The questions are dumb.

• Maybe a survey is not allowed, should I ask Tracy?

• Tracy will think I’m dumb for asking about something as silly as a survey.

• People won’t trust me when I say I don’t know how individual people answered.

• Nobody will respond to the survey.

• The presentation won’t communicate what I want.

• The slides will get in the way of the discussion.

• You don’t have any good discussion questions, and probably won’t think of any.

• There won’t be discussion without slides offering background info. The slides will get in the way.

• Nobody is going to speak up on the call.

• A few people emailed to say they are looking forward to the call. Crap! I hope they aren’t disappointed.

My Resistance for this Session

• Marian already covered this. My “take” will be redundant.

• I’m the only one with “resistance issues”. People will think, “What the hell is wrong with him?”

• The pre-work isn’t good enough/won’t prepare people.

• If there are typos/grammar mistakes in my emails people will judge me as dumb.

• I’m going to be the only one who answers yes to the survey questions.

• The questions are dumb.

• Maybe a survey is not allowed, should I ask Tracy?

• Tracy will think I’m dumb for asking about something as silly as a survey.

• People won’t trust me when I say I don’t know how individual people answered.

• Nobody will respond to the survey.

• The presentation won’t communicate what I want.

• The slides will get in the way of the discussion.

• You don’t have any good discussion questions, and probably won’t think of any.

• There won’t be discussion without slides offering background info. The slides will get in the way.

• Nobody is going to speak up on the call.

• A few people emailed to say they are looking forward to the call. Crap! I hope they aren’t disappointed.

• Marian already covered this. My “take” will be redundant.

• I’m the only one with “resistance issues”. People will think, “What the hell is wrong with him?”

• The pre-work isn’t good enough/won’t prepare people.

• If there are typos/grammar mistakes in my emails people will judge me as dumb.

• I’m going to be the only one who answers yes to the survey questions.

• The questions are dumb.

• Maybe a survey is not allowed, should I ask Tracy?

• Tracy will think I’m dumb for asking about something as silly as a survey.

• People won’t trust me when I say I don’t know how individual people answered.

• Nobody will respond to the survey.

• The presentation won’t communicate what I want.

• The slides will get in the way of the discussion.

• You don’t have any good discussion questions, and probably won’t think of any.

• There won’t be discussion without slides offering background info. The slides will get in the way.

• Nobody is going to speak up on the call.

• A few people emailed to say they are looking forward to the call. Crap! I hope they aren’t disappointed.

• Marian already covered this. My “take” will be redundant.

• I’m the only one with “resistance issues”. People will think, “What the hell is wrong with him?”

• The pre-work isn’t good enough/won’t prepare people.

• If there are typos/grammar mistakes in my emails people will judge me as dumb.

• I’m going to be the only one who answers yes to the survey questions.

• The questions are dumb.

• Maybe a survey is not allowed, should I ask Tracy?

• Tracy will think I’m dumb for asking about something as silly as a survey.

• People won’t trust me when I say I don’t know how individual people answered.

• Nobody will respond to the survey.

• The presentation won’t communicate what I want.

• The slides will get in the way of the discussion.

• You don’t have any good discussion questions, and probably won’t think of any.

• There won’t be discussion without slides offering background info. The slides will get in the way.

• Nobody is going to speak up on the call.

• A few people emailed to say they are looking forward to the call. Crap! I hope they aren’t disappointed.

• Marian already covered this. My “take” will be redundant.

• I’m the only one with “resistance issues”. People will think, “What the hell is wrong with him?”

• The pre-work isn’t good enough/won’t prepare people.

• If there are typos/grammar mistakes in my emails people will judge me as dumb.

• I’m going to be the only one who answers yes to the survey questions.

• The questions are dumb.

• Maybe a survey is not allowed, should I ask Tracy?

• Tracy will think I’m dumb for asking about something as silly as a survey.

• People won’t trust me when I say I don’t know how individual people answered.

• Nobody will respond to the survey.

• The presentation won’t communicate what I want.

• The slides will get in the way of the discussion.

• You don’t have any good discussion questions, and probably won’t think of any.

• There won’t be discussion without slides offering background info. The slides will get in the way.

• Nobody is going to speak up on the call.

• A few people emailed to say they are looking forward to the call. Crap! I hope they aren’t disappointed.

• Marian already covered this. My “take” will be redundant.

• I’m the only one with “resistance issues”. People will think, “What the hell is

• The pre-work isn’t good enough/won’t prepare people.

• If there are typos/grammar mistakes in my emails people will judge me as d

• I’m going to be the only one who answers yes to the survey questions.

• The questions are dumb.

• Maybe a survey is not allowed, should I ask Tracy?

• Tracy will think I’m dumb for asking about something as silly as a survey.

• People won’t trust me when I say I don’t know how individual people answe

• Nobody will respond to the survey.

• The presentation won’t communicate what I want.

• The slides will get in the way of the discussion.

• You don’t have any good discussion questions, and probably won’t think of

• There won’t be discussion without slides offering background info. The slide

• Nobody is going to speak up on the call.

• A few people emailed to say they are looking forward to the call. Crap! I hop

• Marian already covered this. My “take” will be redundant.

• I’m the only one with “resistance issues”. People will think, “What the hell is wro

• The pre-work isn’t good enough/won’t prepare people.

• If there are typos/grammar mistakes in my emails people will judge me as dum

• I’m going to be the only one who answers yes to the survey questions.

• The questions are dumb.

• Maybe a survey is not allowed, should I ask Tracy?

• Tracy will think I’m dumb for asking about something as silly as a survey.

• People won’t trust me when I say I don’t know how individual people answered

• Nobody will respond to the survey.

• The presentation won’t communicate what I want.

• The slides will get in the way of the discussion.

• You don’t have any good discussion questions, and probably won’t think of any

• There won’t be discussion without slides offering background info. The slides w

• Nobody is going to speak up on the call.

• A few people emailed to say they are looking forward to the call. Crap! I hope t

• Marian already covered this. My “take” will be redundant.

• I’m the only one with “resistance issues”. People will think, “What the hell is wrong with him?”

• The pre-work isn’t good enough/won’t prepare people.

• If there are typos/grammar mistakes in my emails people will judge me as dumb.

• I’m going to be the only one who answers yes to the survey questions.

• The questions are dumb.

• Maybe a survey is not allowed, should I ask Tracy?

• Tracy will think I’m dumb for asking about something as silly as a survey.

• People won’t trust me when I say I don’t know how individual people answered.

• Nobody will respond to the survey.

• The presentation won’t communicate what I want.

• The slides will get in the way of the discussion.

• You don’t have any good discussion questions, and probably won’t think of any.

• There won’t be discussion without slides offering background info. The slides will get in the way.

• Nobody is going to speak up on the call.

• A few people emailed to say they are looking forward to the call. Crap! I hope they aren’t disappo

• Marian already covered this. My “take” will be redundant.

• I’m the only one with “resistance issues”. People will think, “What the hell is wrong with him?”

• The pre-work isn’t good enough/won’t prepare people.

• If there are typos/grammar mistakes in my emails people will judge me as dumb.

• I’m going to be the only one who answers yes to the survey questions.

• The questions are dumb.

• Maybe a survey is not allowed, should I ask Tracy?

• Tracy will think I’m dumb for asking about something as silly as a survey.

• People won’t trust me when I say I don’t know how individual people answered.

• Nobody will respond to the survey.

• The presentation won’t communicate what I want.

• The slides will get in the way of the discussion.

• You don’t have any good discussion questions, and probably won’t think of any.

• There won’t be discussion without slides offering background info. The slides will get in the wa

• Nobody is going to speak up on the call.

• A few people emailed to say they are looking forward to the call. Crap! I hope they aren’t disa

What is Wrong With Me?

A Few Signs of the Resistance • Procrastination/ seek distractions

• You stay “In the box”/safe work

• You avoid discomfort

• You don’t speak up/don’t contribute

• You don’t ship (its never good enough)/perfectionist?

• Start committees instead of taking action

• Invent anxiety about the side effects of a new approach

How has the resistance impacted my life or career?

Fitting in is a short term strategy. In the end,

what you really want, is to stand out.

Good ideas have lonely childhoods.

What the Lizard Tells Me

It Could Be that the Purpose of Your Life Is Only to Serve as a Warning to Others

How has the resistance impacted your life or career?

How do you feel the LCDP helps to overcome the resistance?

Survey Results

Yes No

at you were nervous about asking, and then had people come up

97%

Yes No

make a comment in a large group discussion, but decided not to

90%

Yes No

Have you ever dressed, or acted a certain way to fit in?

90%

Yes No

Have had an idea at work you knew was really good, but in the end didn't follow through on based on early

feedback from others?

62%

Yes No

you ever procrastinated at work to avoid a difficult or unpleasant

93%

Yes No

ays leading up to our first week at FEI, perhaps feeling you didn't

72%

Helping Others Cope With Their Lizard Brains?

• Encouragement doesn’t work

• Educate them on the lizard brain / resistance

• Share your own struggles

• Help them understand their self doubt is normal

• Share your coping mechanisms

What strategies have you employed to quiet

your lizard brain?

Bonus Question

Other Questions to Consider

• What signs of resistance have you identified in yourself?

• How does this relate to your boldness with ideas or new areas of exploration?

• Are you a perfectionist and does it lead you to feeling like you are never finished?