CHAPTER 1
The Solution: Constructive Energy

I'm at the top of the steps, at an elevation of 6,435 feet above sea level. I see my destination, just under 100 feet below me. I'm about to take my first step down, when I have an out‐of‐body experience. I am witnessing a miracle. Twelve individuals are working together completely in sync. Their communication is cohesive. Their collaboration looks effortless. The diversity of their expertise welcomes inclusivity. Their execution is flawless.

I start to gain more excitement and join the rest of the crowd, all 8,000 of them. We're swaying back and forth to the beat of Jimmy Buffet and the Coral Reefer Band. We're smiling, singing, laughing, and dancing, completely present with the gift we are experiencing. I mentally exit my present reality and take a moment to reflect on my current sentiment. I haven't been to a concert in almost two years. Why does this energetic sensation feel so familiar?

Aha, now I know. This sensation reminds me of the “magical moments” I've created and witnessed throughout my career. Just this week I can recall the excitement I felt when one of my Gen Z clients called with tears of joy upon receiving her first dream job offer. What about you? If you think back on your career, what moments would you define as magical and memorable? Is there someone you admired who stands out for counseling you in a time of need? Is there a team you've worked with that has become your family due to the bond you created working on a project? Is there an instant you recall where everything just clicked, resulting in an innovative process or invention?

I think back to my time at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, where one specific question inspired all of us so‐called “CoStars” with creative solutions to increase customer satisfaction survey results. I recall how fostering an environment of collaboration advanced the way a major US automotive company now pipelines talent. How excitement shared by emerging leaders at Caesars Entertainment has created a lifetime of memories for honeymooners, families, and friends. The impact of these dynamic moments has driven me and billions of others to pour our passion into our work every day. There is only one single term that can describe this sensation. That single term is “energy.”

The universe is runnin' away

I heard it on the news just the other day

There's this new stuff called dark energy

We can't measure and we can't see

It's some elementary mystery

Train that we can't catch

But our heads are in the oven

And somebody's 'bout to strike a match1

The most recent “State of the Global Workforce Report” shows individuals are quitting their jobs at a record pace. Less than a third of the US workforce is currently engaged at work. Lack of motivation plus loss of productivity are costing the economy over $8.1 trillion globally.2 Each year, companies invest in trainings and courses, and individuals invest in self‐help books and retreats. While these resources are useful, their impact is short lived.

Why? Because most of the time, as a society, people are trained to focus on what's wrong—what's wrong in their personal life, their professional life, their bubble. They will criticize, complain, and even give up before taking action steps towards devising a sustainable solution. Their response is quite understandable. Challenges will keep on coming. What's the point in trying? Something is obviously missing.

Maybe it's all too simple

For our big brains to figure out

What if the hokey pokey

Is really what it's all about?

I propose that this missing element needed to effectively engage and inspire people and organizations is one's personal energy. This book is all about understanding personal energy, both constructive and destructive. How to increase your own individual energy—physical, mental, and emotional—which, in turn, increases the positive energy of those around you to build a motivational workplace culture.

The Definition of Personal Energy

Let's start by defining personal energy. Personal energy is the amount of vigor or capacity you bring to a situation. The energy you bring to a situation is based on the way you see things. The way you see things is forged by your life history, training, and genetic makeup. You may have heard the phrase about how some people “see the world through rose‐colored glasses.” You may have a friend who does this, and if this friend removed these glasses, their perspective of a situation would change, resulting in a change in energy.

To bring this to life, let's walk through a couple of examples. Patty McCord, former chief talent officer at Netflix, explained Netflix's startup culture as “radical honesty.” If you experienced and enjoyed this culture, you probably would respond with excitement and high energy as people shout feedback and questions at you throughout your presentation. If you haven't been exposed to this culture, it's very possible your perspective of the situation would be terrifying. Your reaction could range from fear to conflict, and even a full shutdown, decreasing your energy and motivation to continue presenting.

What examples come to mind as you reflect on events throughout your life? Has your perspective on a situation changed as you've continued to grow? One of my favorite videos that highlights a family perspective is of Indra Nooyi, former chairperson and CEO of PepsiCo, at the Aspen Ideas Festival. When asked how her family responded to her promotion at PepsiCo, she shared her mother's feedback and got the whole room laughing. Of course, her family was proud of her accomplishments! She was the first South Asian woman to lead a Fortune 500 company. However, their immediate assessment of Indra's responsibilities came from a place of family needs. In that moment, Indra's family didn't need Indra the CEO. They needed Indra the mother. Hence, her mother not only told her not to forget milk on the way home, but she also told her to “leave that damned crown in the garage!”

I loved how Indra shared this comment with the audience, as working parents immediately related. Numerous societies prioritize the well‐being of their family, from the elderly to newborns. Family needs many times are prioritized above work, school, sports, social activities, and even personal needs. If you've received this message your entire life, it's very possible you energetically react one of two ways when asked to assist with a family need. You might react with enthusiasm when you have an opportunity to help your family overcome a challenge and be of service. Other times you might feel frustrated or exhausted from prioritizing everyone's needs above your own. Both reactions are understandable and can fluctuate based on the context of the situation and your outlook about the request. The difference is that one reaction gives you energy, while the other leaves you feeling depleted.

The Difference Between Constructive and Destructive Personal Energy

These two reactions are classified as two different types of energy. Although they're commonly known as positive and negative, their effects are constructive and destructive. Destructive energy derives from stress, causing your body to pull from or use what current energy you have stored. Constructive energy has the opposite effect. Rather than reacting to stress, constructive energy is the personal energy that your body builds and creates throughout the day when it maintains an unruffled state. Both types of energy are constantly at play and are advantageous and disadvantageous, depending on how you're experiencing a situation.

Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of each type of energy, starting with destructive energy. How can destructive energy be advantageous? When an unforeseen event comes up at work and needs your immediate attention, you'll need to quickly pull from your body's stored energy. You may need this energy to address a conflict, push through a barrier (physical or mental), or even retreat from a safety hazard. Whatever the stressor, it's important to note that destructive energy can help you in this moment and can be essential when dealing with an immediate challenge or strain. The difficulty is, if you pull from your body's stored energy consistently, your energy gauge will reach empty, the way your cell phone battery does if you haven't charged it throughout the day. Destructive energy is not sustainable and needs constructive energy to be refueled.

Constructive energy strengthens your drive and propels you towards your goals. This energy is stimulating and expands your vigor to move forward. This energy allows you to be present to your needs and desires, as well as to those around you. By increasing your constructive energy, you expand not only your ability to lead your own life, but also your ability to lead others towards their objectives and targets.

How can constructive energy be disadvantageous? Overall, the challenges are minimal compared to the challenges associated with destructive energy. The drawbacks can create more risk in your life, and cause others to perceive you as self‐centered, or ungrounded. We'll discuss the benefits and downsides further throughout the book, specifically as we dive into the seven zones of...