New HVACR Career: Door-To-Door Inspirational Speaker
No, I did not make up any of these great sayings. Not at all. Rather, I'm trying to gather some of the better ones that great people have said since the beginning of time. It's all part of my homework for the new career path I plan to travel upon retirement in 15 years or so.
In my estimation, there is a great void in this grueling world of running a contracting business. It's time for a traveling door-to-door HVACR inspirational speaker.
Filling A Void
Come on. How many times have you felt lousy or frustrated with the way things are going in your business? Are there not times you want to scream because more money may be going out the door than coming in? How many times does a certain employee drive you nuts?Let's face it. Running a contracting business is not easy. (Nothing new there, right?) However, what if a person were to come around your shop and inspire you, as an owner, on a daily basis? Weekly basis? As-needed basis? Morning-only? Afternoon-only? All of the above?
Hearing a motivational speaker - a good one, that is - in a time of need can save not only one's self, but one's business. Maybe your spouse is your present motivational speaker. Or, your children. Or, your best friend. Of course, many of you are able to keep yourself going. You are your inner motivational speaker.
However, not all business owners are so lucky. Sometimes you need to hear encouraging words from someone outside your immediate environment. It might just take an outside person to reach you within.
Enter the traveling inspirational speaker.
More Than Knowledge
The idea popped into my head after listening to Ginger Owens, an "intellectual fitness trainer" from Syntelligence Inc., who addressed more than 50 people at the recent Masters of the Game Conference, put on by Lennox, in Pittsburgh. In truth, like most inspirational speakers, Owens did not say anything new. She admitted that what she was about to say was "all basic stuff."She began her talk by asking if the following is true or false: Knowledge is power. While many thought the answer was true, Owens reminded one and all that having knowledge is one thing, but to actually do what one knows ... well, that's the hard part. After all, everyone knows that one should eat correctly and exercise daily. But, does everyone do it?
She pointed out that the formula for performing at the highest level is PQ (physical quotient) + EQ (emotional quotient) + IQ (intelligent quotient). In other words, we have to take care of ourselves physically, emotionally, and intellectually in order to perform at our best day-in and day-out. If you forget one aspect, it just can't be done.
"Why do we think we are different than a car?" she asked. "It has to be maintained. So does our body." Hence, everyone should pump up their respective PQ, she said.
Owens pointed out that 50 percent of today's workforce is not happy with their job. If such facts are accurate, she questioned how one could even perform at all - much less at a high level. "It should be ‘I want to go to work,' rather than ‘I have to go to work,'" she said. Translation: One needs to elevate one's EQ.
In regard to IQ, Owens said everyone needs to increase this, be it via training or other means. The idea, of course, is to keep learning in order to keep improving. Before ending her talk, Owens stated the best way to stay on that road to high performance is to put together an action plan - and then follow it up with action. Amazingly, she received a standing ovation from the participants.
Again, nothing new. However, all worth repeating. And repeating. And repeating. Especially when one finds oneself needing a boost. Which could be daily. Hourly. Every minute. Every second. Monthly. Whenever.
I'm taking bookings now.
Mark Skaer is senior editor. He can be reached at 618-239-0288 or markskaer@achrnews.com.
Publication date: 12/19/2005