INTRODUCTION
It seems as if there are an endless number of books telling us how to solve our problems.

We have books showing us how to manage our weight, improve our relationships, eat healthier, stay in shape, and plan the best possible financial future.

One would suppose then, with all this information so readily at hand, that most of our problems would be long forgotten, right?

Well, it sure seems like things should work that way. In fact it even makes a lot of sense. However despite all the information that’s out there to help us improve our lives, many of us still continue to smoke cigarettes, eat too much, exercise too little, spend more than we’re making, and still don’t floss everyday like we know we’re supposed to do.

And just why is that?

Simply because know-how is only a part of what we need to get motivated to change our behaviors. Without other essential parts, motivation remains low and our bad habits persist.

Think of it like this. Say you were standing in front of a locked door, holding the key to it in your very hand.

Now even though you know that the key will open the locked door, it simply cannot do so until you are motivated enough to put it into the lock and turn it. Until then, the key is virtually useless, despite the fact that it can without a doubt unlock the door.

And so it is with many of our troubles.

An abundance of research and information are readily available to us these days that may indeed be the “key” to one of our problems. Unfortunately, none of it will do us a bit of good until we are motivated enough to put it all into action.

As a physical therapist, I have been walking in and out of patient’s rooms for some fourteen years attempting to get people to change their health habits and have witnessed this many times. A lot of individuals are well aware of what is healthy and good for them to do, but just have trouble doing it. The big stumbling block? A lack of sufficient motivation to carry out what they know will positively improve their lives.

Since a practical book on this subject would be most helpful to many people, I have written a short story based upon my experiences motivating people, and perhaps even more importantly, the research.

It is my goal that you will be able to take the simple wisdom contained in “The Sixty Second Motivator” and use it to live a healthier and happier life.

Jim Johnson, PT