We talk a lot about compelling events in sales.

If your customer doesn’t have a negative event or outcome that occurs if they don’t purchase your or your competitors product, they’ll most likely delay a decision.

The same goes for negative or bad habits.

That’s why it’s so hard to stop doing something we know is bad for us.

The negative effects are in the future, not right in front of us.

Why not just continue with a bad habit?

We’re not usually seeing the negative impact until it’s too late.

We need a compelling event and most of the time it’s a mistake or bad event or diagnosis.

So how do we create a compelling event?

Look into the future and work backwards.

How do you want to be remembered?

How do you want your kids to think of you?

What matters most to you – this habit or your long-term health?

Even then, it’s tough to break an engrained habit.

Don’t expect it to happen overnight but work to force in healthy habits to replace your negative behavior.

If you really want to change and have a plan for replacing your negative habit with something positive, you will.

You just need to create a compelling event for yourself where if you don’t stop, something negative impacts someone greater than yourself – your family, your job, your life, etc.

Create a business case for yourself with facts, goals, and positive outcomes from this habit.

If there are no positive outcomes and only negative effects on your life, the choice should be easy.