Q: List three things that bring you energy.
A: Hearing good news from a long-lost friend, such as an old-school card in the US Mail;
Receiving positive feedback when I have helped someone feel better;
Finishing a project that has a long-awaited tangible result.
Q: List three things that drain your energy.
A: Dealing with tax forms;
Any voicemail system that forces me to give a spoken response (and then the computer invariably insists “I’m sorry, I didn’t get that”);
Being stuck in traffic. Especially without good music.
Q: List three ways to overcome those energy drains!
A: Promise myself a free, or low-cost, reward after I wrap up the tax fiasco. For example, pizza for dinner;
Technique to (sometimes) get past the voicemail maze: press 0, and find out if I can speak to an actual human. Try saying “Representative” or even, “Let me speak to a person!” It’s worth a try;
Always keep a few CDs in the car. (Yep, old-school has its advantages.) Or sing instead… make the other drivers wonder what you’re up to…
