Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Be more productive. Get healthier. Raise perceptions about you. Have more energy.

It's been a while since I have posted, and for all the best reasons. I've taken on a few new roles. One as a volunteer with the Arts & Business Council of Philadelphia, and another as a public speaker. As you might guess it has left me with a paucity of time, but a wealth of great experiences and a host of new acquaintances from which to draw inspiration from.

On to today's thought. How can one change allow someone to "be", "get", "raise", and "have" all of the above?

Easy.

Walk faster.

Every where.

It struck me the other day as I was going from place to place with a "make a hole" attitude screaming in my head that I generally move quickly when going from place to place. I used to think it's because I'm a native New Yorker and that's how we roll, but more recently I have been paying attention to the practice and have come up with some conclusions which have became the title of this entry.

Be more productive
Can there be an argument about this? You will get to places faster and that will allow for more doing and thus more getting done. Besides, if you look like you are on a mission it's less likely folks will want to stop you for a chat, which helps keep you on task and on course.

Get healthier
I can't verify this claim with clinical evidence (yet) but it seems like if you move quickly, cardio functions also rise as well. If you have a sedentary job, this might be the only "exercise" you get all day. use the time to pump things up!

Raise perceptions
Alright, I'm not advocating walking around quickly simply to look busy - you actually have to have somewhere to go and something to do - perhaps I should say instead of "walk faster" to "walk purposefully". Being on the move gets you noticed and perceptions are usually that you are doing something important...unless you only do it once in a while. Then it just looks like you have to pee. In fact, bio-breaks are the one time I don't want you to walk fast. This is a behavior that needs to be consistently applied so folks understand that you have plans, are going places, and you need to get there pronto. And that isn't the bathroom. Please, everywhere but, OK?

Have more energy
It doesn't matter how tired I am, walking purposefully encourages my brain to pick up the pace and I get "in flow". By the time I reach my destination my I'm charged up and ready mentally & physically.

Give it a shot & let me know if I'm on to something, I'd like to hear from you!

Cheers,
John