How Did Trump Win? Energy?

          The pundits, the pollsters, the press, and most of the rest of the world were surprised by Donald Trump’s massive upset victory Tuesday.  How did it happen?

            I’d be the first to admit I don’t know, but (like everybody else) I have a theory: the candidate that generates the most energy wins.

            The Trump election would not be the first time that’s happened.  Nor is it necessary that all the energy be “positive.”  After all, that’s in the eye of the beholder.

            If you’re looking for a little post-election energy, you could take advantage of a chance to download for free the ebook version of Getting UP! Supercharging Your Energy.

            All you have to do is go to this link: 

https://www.amazon.com/Getting-UP-Supercharging-Your-Energy-ebook/dp/B01G5TUKQ8/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

and BUY the book for $0.00.  (Don’t click on “read it for free.”)  You can get the ebook for free until November 13. 

Oooops! The Free Book Deal Starts Tomorrow....I Hope

If you tried to download your free copy of the Getting UP! ebook today, you were probably as frustrated as I was.  A glitch in the system has moved the deal to tomorrow (November 9) until November 13.  Sigh. 
My apologies if you tried ... try again tomorrow!  Thank you!

Want a Little FREE Post-Election Energy?

Photo by Bill Beck

Whew! The election is finally over.

            Now, it’s time to recover and recharge the batteries.

            One way to do that is to download a FREE copy of my ebook, Getting UP! Supercharging Your Energy.

            You can get it by following this link to Amazon from November 8 to 12 only.  Just say you want to “buy” the book (NOT “read it for free”).  The “price” should be zero.  

         If the link doesn’t work, paste this in your browser: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-UP-Supercharging-Your-Energy-ebook/dp/B01G5TUKQ8/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1478451163&sr=8-1

Want a Post-Election Energy Boost?

            

Here’s just the cure for that “morning after” feeling the day after the election: how about joining me for a high energy breakfast at the Center Club November 9?

            The Susan Katz Advantage and the Maryland Association of CPA’s Business Learning Institute invited me to share some of the personal energy tips, tricks and tactics from my new book, Getting UP! Supercharging Your Energy.

            These are the same strategies I used to a bicycle across the US last year in just 18 days -- averaging more than 150 miles a day.

            What could you do with that kind of energy?

            The continental breakfast includes networking time with more than 100 other professionals and an autographed copy of my book.

            DATE: Wednesday, November 9, 2016

            TIME: 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.

            LOCATION: The Center Club, 16^th Floor, 100 Light Street, Baltimore.

            REGISTER: By November 1, 2016 for early bird rate of $45; $59 afterwards.

            It’s a perfect way to recover your energy after watching the election returns!  Sign Up NOW to reserve your seat.  If the link doesn’t work, paste this into your browser: https://www.macpa.org/product/blisk-leadership-speakernetworking-series/

Hungry For Change? 35 Years of ODB

           

Sr. Josanna Abromaitis 1944-2005

Thirty-five years ago, Sister Josanna Abromaitis SSND swung open the doors of a little storefront soup kitchen in Baltimore and invited about 100 hungry men and women in for a hot lunch.

            Today, on the anniversary of her death, Our Daily Bread is Maryland’s largest and most famous soup kitchen, having served more than 7 million meals over almost 13,000 consecutive days.  The program, which once served lunch to the Pope, has transformed thousands of lives, including both its guests and the 10,000 volunteers that make it possible. 

            Catholic Charities of Baltimore is celebrating Our Daily Bread’s anniversary with a free poverty forum October 26 at Loyola University of Maryland from 7:00 to 8:30 pm.  “Hungry for Change: How Our Daily Bread Transforms Lives” will feature Prof. Kathryn Edin of Johns Hopkins, author of $2 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America, and Sr. Patricia Chappell, Executive Director of Pax Christi USA.

            There will also be a panel with Harold Smith, former Catholic Charities Executive Director who conceived of the program, volunteers, and former guests who have experienced ODB’s transforming impact.  Since I was lucky enough to play a role in the founding of the program, I’ll be Master of Ceremonies.

            To register for the free program, please visit cc-md.org/ODB35.

What's a "Business Hour"?

           

             In the 21^st Century, energy is more important than time.  At least, that’s what I argue in my courses and my book, Getting UP! Supercharging Your Energy.  As proof of that concept, I offer you the “business hour.”

            After a recent business trip, I contacted Hilton Hotels about a possible problem with my bill.  In response, I got an email that promised, “We take your feedback very seriously and will do everything possible to resolve your concerns in a satisfactory manner as quickly as possible.”

            And then, after that hype, they added, “Please allow us 72 business hours to resolve this matter for you.” 

            Here’s the BIG question: does that mean three 24-hour business days or does that mean nine 8-hour hour business days (or up to 13 “calendar” days)? 

            Of course, I asked them in a return email what they were talking about. No response yet…that will probably take 72 business hours, too.

            The truth is, we really don’t care how long your process takes; we just want it done.  Now.  That takes energy. In the 20^th Century, you called somebody and they fixed the problem.   In the 21^st Century, we get “time excuses.”

            Here’s an even more ludicrous example from the same trip.  I made the grievous error of buying a snack on a United Airlines flight.  The attendant swiped my card but…no receipt.  I was told I could get that online.

            Well, after ransacking the United website, no luck. So I sent an email to their euphemistically-named “Customer Care Team” asking how to find my receipt.  They promised, “we will address your email and respond back to you shortly.”

            They then explain that “shortly” is “generally within 10 to 14 business days.” 

            It takes the “Customer Care Team” more than two weeks to find their way around their own website?  Of course, we know how long it should take The Friendly Skies to answer my question: less than five minutes. 

            But that’s five minutes of human energy. And by United’s careful calculus, their energy is much more important than my time. 

            As we used to say in geometry class: QED.

What’s on the Other Side of “Tired”?

             “I’m too tired,” the young woman said.  

              Since she was part of a talented group of younger leaders (and about half my age), the statement stopped me.  I remembered my father’s persistent comment -- “When I was your age, I didn’t know what tired meant” -- but I didn’t say that.
            “When I’m tired,” I replied, “I usually go for a nice 30-mile bike ride.” 

            That drew some quizzical looks from the crowd.  Yet all of us have discovered that, at times, we can go from tried to energized…in a matter of seconds.  That’s because “tired” is often a choice. 

            We think we should be tired, perhaps after a long day.  Then a friend calls and we’re ready to play.  Long distance cyclists know that you can “change your mind” about being tired…and go on for many more miles “on the other side of tired.”

            Franciscan Richard Rohr says “Pain is the rent we pay for being human, some say; but suffering is usually optional.”  We all get tired; sometimes, we choose to shut down long before we need to do so.

            Not a bad concept for Labor Day.