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Whether you’re motivating a team, convincing a client, or arguing with your family: if you want to win them over, shift to the future tense.

Praise and blame are delivered in the past tense – “You didn’t do this or that!” Values take place in the present tense –  “We believe in this or that.” Options, choices and opportunities are always expressed in the future tense – “Yes you have a point, so let’s try ‘a’ or ‘b’?”

The sooner you future-shift, the quicker you blend reason and logic with the all-powerful imagination, and the faster you reach your goal.