Energy Management

A mentor of mine once said "energy flows where attention goes". It's an interesting concept. A recent Wall Street Journal article seems to echo this concept, tracking corporate performance to CEO life events. When the CEO suffered a personal loss, such as a death in the immediate family, corporate financial returns also suffered.

I found it fascinating that the WSJ quoted at least one CEO as saying that the link between personal and professional life was 'ridiculous'. Such (at least in his mind) is the separation of the two.

And yet as humans we each only have so much attention, so much energy. We each get 24 hours in a day. We each get so much personal energy. Even with willpower, drive and focus. While I can certainly compartmentalize my life (an argument with my husband can be put on hold until after a work presentation), as a human I can't help but pay attention and 'spend' some energy when a personal loss occurs.

Today, on 9/11, this makes me question where I'm focusing my energy: on the death and destruction that occurred six years ago today? On the clouds scudding across the sky outside? On the work in front of me?  Just for today my commitment is to pay more attention to where my thoughts are focused, and to notice if I'm managing my energy well, or squandering it.

Where's your energy today?