|
By Rotarian Mark Johns
Cruising at about 26,000 feet, the captain came on the intercom and
said, “Ladies and gentlemen, if you’ll look out the right side of
the aircraft, you’ll see a refueling operation in progress about
6,000 feet below us.”
Sure enough, a military C-5, a huge, lumbering giant of an aircraft,
was being gassed up, in flight. For just a couple of minutes, I
observed something I’d never seen from that vantage point. And it
gave me inspiration for this column!
It occurs to me that we all need refueling from time to time. We run
low on energy, motivation and ideas, and we need to get our tank
filled again.
For some of us, an exercise program helps with rejuvenation, getting
the blood flowing, the heart pumping and the endorphins going.
Perhaps you are among those who find renewal by being in nature. A
couple of days spent walking, hiking, birding, fishing tends to
clear the mind, cleanse the body and remind us of what a wonderful
world we live in.
Some seek out seminars and motivational events. Honing one’s skills,
learning new tactics and being in the company of a group of others
who face the same challenges and have the same frustrations, is
therapeutic.
Some of us are renewed by reading stories of others who have faced
challenges such as we face and have found ways to not only cope with
them, but to gain victory over them. We find new hope and
inspiration from their success.
Still others are refueled by confiding in others, sharing
experiences, acknowledging fears and frustrations to friends,
trusted acquaintances or paid professionals.
A C-5 aircraft and your car both have instruments that indicate when
it is time to refuel, but when it is time for you to refuel
yourself?
In my experience, there are at least three clues: loss of energy,
lack of motivation and a feeling that you’ve tried everything and
don’t know what to do next. When you find yourself with those
symptoms, its time to take action. Read an inspiring book, get
outdoors, exercise, talk with someone you trust, take a course,
attend a seminar.
We need to be at our best because to customers, co-workers, family,
friends, fellow Rotarians and those we serve, we make a difference.
About the author: Mark Johns is a sales
consultant, speaker and author of Twenty Timeless Truths of Selling.
He is a member of the North Austin (TX,
|
Time
To Refuel