Written by Dr Allen Lycka, Author, Speaker & Mentor
Dr Allen Lycka is acknowledged as one of the leading cosmetic dermatologists in the world. In 2003, Dr. Lycka was diagnosed with ALS and given six months to live. After fighting the diagnosis, he is here today as a result of his courage and tenacity.
Reflecting on my personal journey, I realized the profound impact of what is now known as the E+R=O Mindset—Event plus Response equals Outcome. This framework, which I had unknowingly embraced, has become a powerful tool for guiding my personal and professional growth.
Indeed, practical tools resonate with beliefs you've inherently held yet have not recognized as coherent strategies. For me and many others, this encapsulates the profound impact of the E+R=O Mindset.
If I were to choose only one guiding principle, it would undoubtedly be E+R=O. This principle has been my cornerstone, shaping my approach to life's challenges and opportunities from my earliest memories.
My early life was stable. Although my parents loved each other, they didn't always agree, and there were many fights.
During these times, I learned to prepare myself mentally. My parents were distinctly different, which meant adjusting my mindset to fit their beliefs and actions.
This adaptation was my early, unwitting application of the E+R=O principle
Events constantly occur.
I choose my responses.
My responses shape outcomes.ty for my actions
I had to take 100% responsibility for my actions.
I realized that many aspects of my life were not under my control—sometimes chaotic and unsettling. However, I learned that I had complete control over how I responded. In their ways, my parents instilled in me the responsibility for my actions and their consequences.
This perspective gradually became a lens through which I viewed much of life. It wasn't a sudden epiphany but a gradual realization: I do not control my circumstances, but I do control my actions. By managing my actions, I can influence better outcomes.
This is the essence of the E+R=O Mindset.
Although this realization came intuitively, mastering it required time and maturity. Youth often leads to impulsive decisions and facile excuses. Yet, possessing the right mindset laid a solid foundation for developing practical skills, profoundly influencing my growth.
With the correct mindset, doors to numerous opportunities open; without them, visible opportunities can be obscured by perceived challenges. I have taught this mindset to thousands in various arenas, from sports fields to executive boardrooms. Emphasizing the importance of this foundational mindset is crucial as it supports all subsequent skill development.
The E+R=O Mindset is distilled into three core truths
I cannot control events.
I can control my responses.
I influence outcomes but cannot control them.
Grasping the distinction between control and influence is vital for anyone serious about adopting this mindset.
In practicing this mindset, consider
Can you control events? If so, why aren't you?
If you don't control your response, who does?
If you could control outcomes, why is everything different from what you desire?
Engaging with these questions deepens the understanding and application of the E+R=O principle. Starting small, its impact grows as you expand its application, leading to increased control, better recognition of opportunities, and reduced effort wasted on the uncontrollable.
This isn't just transformative for a team but for life. My journey with the E+R=O Mindset began amid the turmoil of a divided family and has profoundly enriched every aspect of my existence. It always starts with a mindset. Establishing the right mindset unlocks and accelerates the acquisition of new skills, as needed, at any stage of your journey. Get the mindset right, and everything else follows.
Nowhere is this more true than in business. Events constantly happen beyond your control. But it's not what happens to your business that matters; it's what you do with what happens.
I was once traveling from Toronto to Edmonton on an airplane at night. An immense wall cloud was beside our plane, full of thunder and lightning. But the pilot kept us parallel to the storm, keeping us safe. He used E + r = O reasoning.
Use this in your business to transform it.
Dr Allen Lycka, Author, Speaker & Mentor
Dr Allen Lycka is acknowledged as one of the leading cosmetic dermatologists in the world. In 2003, Dr. Lycka was diagnosed with ALS and given six months to live. After fighting the diagnosis, he is here today as a result of his courage and tenacity. Having been given a “golden ticket” Dr. Lycka used his experience to co-author the books The Secrets To Living A Fantastic Life with Harriet Tinka, Pillars of Success with number 1 New York Times Best Selling Author Jack Canfield and bLU volume 1 with Corey Poirier. He is the host and executive director of How To Live a Fantastic Life show with 4 million listeners per episode. He is a sought-after speaker.
