The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon

Happy Monday! Roar, here. 

Here’s an idea from me, an action for you, and a question for us all to consider this week. 

An Idea from Me

Have you heard of the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon? This phenomenon, also known as the frequency illusion or frequency bias, is a cognitive bias in which, after noticing something for the first time, there’s a tendency to notice it more often, leading you to believe that it has an increased frequency of occurrence. It occurs when increased awareness of something creates the illusion that it’s appearing more often. 

More simply, it’s when a concept or thing you just found out about suddenly seems to pop up everywhere. 

You’ve probably experienced this phenomenon many times. You listen to a new song, and then hear it everywhere you go. You buy a new car, and suddenly you see that car in every intersection and parking lot you enter. 

Use this phenomenon to your advantage. Surround yourself with the concepts that you believe will help your business and brand. 

Need to increase sales? Read/watch/listen to anything you can get your hands on that has to do with improving sales. As you become more familiar with these new concepts, you’ll see them pop up everywhere—just as the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon promises. 

Then suddenly, you’ll be at an event, and someone will bring up the sales concept you just read about, and you’ll have something valuable to say. (And who knows where that conversation may lead…) 

On the contrary, if you spend your down time watching Netflix shows about Russian spies, then all you’ll have to contribute to the conversation is what kind of weapon is best used in a fictional raid. 

An Action for You 

Remove one unnecessary distraction that’s keeping you from enjoying the benefits of the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon. (This can be as simple as limiting your tv consumption from two hours per night down to one.) 

A Question for Us All 

When’s the last time you experienced this phenomenon in a positive way? And what were the circumstances that you think brought it on? 

See you next week,

Matt “Roar” Gardner 

Real estate investor-agent, Author of Supersonic Real Estate: Light Your Afterburner to Accelerate Your Investor-Agent Career (Coming Soon!), and keynote speaker