THE UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO
As a kid growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, I can remember Sunny Delight and its commercials touting it almost as the “healthy” energy drink of its time. Fast forward 30+ years later and now there is a whole market full of “energy” drinks, but let’s be real. In life, true energy doesn’t come from a drink. Nine months into COVID 19 pandemic living, it’s easy to understand why so many people aren’t feeling that same energy level like they were pre-pandemic. I used to talk a lot about how finding your energy is an important part to success and leadership, but it is even more important today with so many people struggling with the impact the pandemic has had on our lives. People need balance in their life that brings with it positive energy. For me, I get involved with activities or volunteer for organizations as a way to build energy. It’s things like coaching my son’s soccer team or volunteering for the Penn State Alumni Association. It may sound counterintuitive and some people will ask, “but you are spending time doing on x, y, or z”. Spending TIME is not the same thing as spending ENERGY. Some of the most energizing activities can also be the most tiring. After spending 4 days keeping up with 135 young leaders at the youth leadership camp I run each June, I am dead tired. However, the experience is one of the most energizing things I do all year! After I catch up on some sleep, I come back with a renewed spirit to take on life. You have to find those things in life that you find fulfilling and builds up your energy. It may be participating in a community group, participating in activities, or being a member of a professional organization. It may be a part of your professional job you find extremely fulfilling or exciting. It may even be a simple as taking part in regular exercise activities or training for a half-marathon. There are energy drainers too. It may be things at work or things at home. It may be a family issue. It may be less than positive influences in your life. They are all things that drive your inner energy levels down. You know what they are based on how you feel after those encounters and situations. You have less energy and less motivation. You can’t avoid all the energy drainers in your life. They key is to minimize how often they occur and how you let them impact you. Right now, everyone is talking about COVID fatigue and it is real. Guidelines to help protect the health and safety of everyone in our communities may be preventing us from doing those activities that build up our energy. I know firsthand as we didn’t have my leadership camp last year and nothing is certain for this upcoming June. As we head towards a potentially long winter staring at additional restrictions, it is important that we look inside ourselves and find those things (or new things) that will help us build our energy to get us through to the other side. How each person recharges their inner battery is unique to them. It’s about understanding your energy at multiple levels – both mental and physical… Maybe there are more. The key to success is to find out what those energy drivers are for you.
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About Shawn:My philosophy as an IT leader today is that I believe you must first and foremost be a business leader. It is my goal to be a strategic partner with the business to help it make money, save money, and be the absolute best in the industry at what we do. Having the technology competencies and experience is just your entry fee to sit at the table. Every day, I am bringing 20+ years of IT experience to the table in the areas such as:
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