Daily Intent

People are the most important part of my profession.  They are the information source.  They are the driver.  They are referrer.  They purchase.  They connect.  They talk. 

Getting in front of them is imperative.  Enjoying their company.  Brainstorming the best ways for them, me, and us to go about our businesses.  Hearing tips.  Witnessing best practices.  Sharing upcoming events.  Trading clientele.  

This all constitutes business development.  Each interaction is important.  High energy levels and a positive mindset going into each joining of the minds are consequential.  However, we all understand the challenge in maintaining this level of energy and emotion. 

Some meetings are intense; some full of road blocks; others are uplifting; and a small few are negative, frustrating, and/or disappointing.

To ensure greatness in energy and emotion throughout a day of meetings, I like to implement the mentality of my friend Elaine, an 8^th place Boston Marathon finisher. 

Completing a marathon is largely mental.  One’s body is capable.  However, the mind is often weak. Well beyond a tired thought, a body can still travel.  Elaine, thus, breaks the marathon into three parts.  Each part providing a bench mark, or short term goal to deter the mind from faltering and to reward and incentivise positive thought processes.

With her mentality, 26.2 miles is no longer 26.2 long, tiring miles, but an easy Sunday 10 miler, followed by another easy Sunday 10 miler, finishing strong the last 6.2 miles with any energy remaining. 

Take a moment and understand the power of this mentality on a Elaine’s emotion…

When her legs are feeling a little fatigued at mile 6 as a result of a tough hill, or mental boredom has already set in (this is running we’re talking about, it happens), she has trained her mind to believe only 4 miles remain until the easy 10 miler is over.  Then she forgets about the first 10 miles and how her body felt and moves on to the next 10 miles with a fresh attitude.  The key is to forget about the emotions experienced the 10 miles before.

This thought process is far more positive than “I still have 20.2 miles left and I’m feeling this tired?!” 

So how does this relate?  I use this marathon wisdom in order to enter and exit meetings affectively.  I now optimize my “Meeting Marathon Mondays”.  Upon completion of the first meeting, I leave this meeting’s emotions behind me. I enter the next meeting with renewed energy and focus.  I am capable of excelling at this second meeting no matter the first’s outcome. 

How might you optimize your energy levels throughout a day of meetings?   

Live and Be Well,

Jeff Bochsler