“If people around you aren't going anywhere, if their dreams are no bigger than hanging out on the corner, or if they're dragging you down, get rid of them. Negative people can sap your energy so fast, and they can take your dreams from you, too” (Magic Johnson).
Gather solutions. Discovering solutions rather than focusing on problems gives new energy. Take a moment to remember a challenge you faced when you also discovered a solution. Ten to one, you felt fired up as you breathed new hope, new desire and a fresh perspective.
Recently, a client told me about the negativity of her staff and their energy sucking habits of downplaying their value to the company. Once again, the Eyore habits of “poor me”, “unnoticed me”, and “undervalued me” were derailing her efforts. Together, we developed new ideas for engaging her staff, building their energy, and bringing two goals to distinct fruition. Just having the focus on solutions and new ideas energized this client. She jumped up, flung her arms wide, and hooted with expectation for her next staff meeting.
Yield to your highest values. Let them be a beacon to your goals. Give yourself the needed thinking time to know what values are most important to you and then position your goals to honor those values.
"It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are" (Roy Disney).
Many of us rattle off a fine sounding set of values, but we don't live them on a day to day basis. The disconnect creates inner turmoil which leads to stress which depletes energy. When you’re honest about what’s most important to you and when you invest time and energy to goals that are congruent with your values, then the energy boost beats caffeine!
For example, if time and attention to family is a key value, then a goal of making district sales manager that involves significant travel is not a goal that’s congruent with your value. If flexibility and control over your work is a key value for you, then an eight to five position in a corporation is not a good fit. The disparity of our choices with our deeply held values is a double edged knife. We feel the pain of increased stress as well as depleted energy when we live in a way that conflicts with our most deeply held values.
Our values are ever with us; ensure that your actions honor them.
There are dozens of specific strategies to share that can increase your energy for accomplishing more with the time you have available. However, as is so often the case, we make changes not because of the number of strategies, but because of what we actually put into action.
Review the six ideas of ENERGY and make a commitment to at least two changes; you’ll feel the energy boost!
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