Banish the Energy Vampires!

I love what my friend Jon Gordon says about "Energy Vampires" in his phenomenal book "The Energy Bus"....."Your success and life are so important that you must surround yourself with a positive support team. No one creates success in a vacuum and the people we surround ourselves with have a BIG influence on the life and success we create. If you want to be successful, you have to be very careful who is on your bus. After all, there are people who increase your energy and people who drain your energy. I call the people who drain your energy ENERGY VAMPIRES and they will suck the life out of you and your goals and vision if you let them. " Jon's operative words are if you let them. Today I let one of them take me off track (momentarily) at work. I allowed myself to get sucked in and waste tremendous energy because one, solo, singular, individual voice rained on something I'm incredibly proud of - our Wellness Warrior program. Momentarily, I forgot about the stories of success, the 88 participants (which represent 50% of our workforce), the lives that have been changed (and are still changing), and the incredibly positive impact that the WW initiative has had on our organization and culture. I allowed myself to listen to and actually give credence to a naysayer. Rule #5 in "The Energy Bus" is Don't Waste Your Energy on Those Who Don't Get on Your Bus. I wasted energy worrying about what one person thinks, energy which could have been spent on and invested in those 88 who are already card carrying members and bus ticket holders. There's an old story which goes like this...."A man goes to a village to seek counsel from a wise man - he says, "I feel like there are two dogs inside me. One is positive, loving, kind, and gentle and the other is angry, mean-spirited, and negative - and they fight all the time. I don't know which one is going to win"....to which the wise man replies, "I know which one will win - the one you feed the most, so feed the positive dog". I love that story as it reminds me to stay focused on feeding the positive dog inside of me and other people. I need to be more aware of those around me with agendas, political intents, and way too much time to spare, people who end up sucking the life (and fun) out of others. My good friend Lisa Slocum calls these folks "Fun-Suckers". This is about changing lives, making an impact on the world, being the change I wish to see, and modeling the way for others - Christ's way of servant leadership and humilty. So I'm back on track, another reminder and life lesson that we all need from time to time. Even Mr. Energy Bus, Jon Gordon, who called me after "Training Camp" was released just to get confirmation from ME that he did the right thing in writing a book that will change thousands of lives. I talked him off the cliff that day and I was blessed to have had so many friends and fellow WW's who took the time to talk me off the cliff today. The dark side isn't a place anyone wants to get used to.....way too many Vampires! Keep the Faith, never lose sight of the light, and BELIEVE!

PHIL 4:13