Vince Poscente's Speed Blog

Intelligent Evolution - for Health, Wealth and Oxygen

In the spirit of intelligent evolution I’ve spent the better part of 2009 creating a concept that has three key ingredients to help you evolve yourself. Here’s what I recommend:

 

1. Diversify revenue for your financial health. If the last 14 months taught us anything it’s to have a diversified revenue stream. The real estate, Wall Street and retail sectors of the economy were hit the hardest. Broadening your income stream is critical to long-term financial health. Income from recession proof industries makes for a sound financial decision.
2. Simplify wellbeing for your physical health. The notion that physical health must be an uncomfortable regime for the uber-driven is misguided. Ensuring you simplify the way you maintain health is key to simplifying life.
3. Feed the brain wisdom and oxygen for your mental health. I have been a student of the brain for twenty years. Finding ways to maximize your potential centers all around the health of that grey matter between your ears. What we feed our brain is the final part of intelligent evolution.

 

This short list might seem overwhelming. How you do this alone can be a challenge! This is where my neighbor comes into the story.

 

Trey White is my friend and neighbor. He is also an astute businessman and serial entrepreneur. His long list of business victories makes him a model for wealth building potential. He just launched a company called EvolvHealth. I was immediately interested because of the concept. Increase oxygen in the human body and you create a richer experience in life. The flagship product is simple. Bottled water infused with all natural Archaea Active™  - which has been shown to increase oxygenation at the cellular level. An outstanding product with in vitro testing conducted by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and Futurceuticals® - I was sold.

 

This summer I took the EvolvHealth flag up to the roof of the world in the Himalayas. At 17,600 feet above sea level you realize the importance of oxygen. On the way up, the treeline gives way to minimal plant life, which turns into a desolate terrain. Oxygen is life. The more oxygen you have the more you live, thrive and evolve.

 

Hence, I started Team Invinceable to leverage Trey’s brand new business offering. Plus we actively accomplish financial, physical and mental health for our members all at the same time. This invitation is not one that I offer lightly.

 

I am gathering a core of eight experts in the world of financial, physical and mental health to be part of our team. My invitation includes a promise that I will coach you on financial, physical and mental health for your first 90 days.

 

If you dedicate yourself, I dedicate my time to you.

 

Intelligent evolution is the way to thrive financially, physically and mentally.

 

If you want to discuss this with me personally, check out this link EvolvYou.com then email me for us to connect.

Books Will Not Survive

The Age of Speed is driven by our insatiable need for instant gratification. If we can have it now, that’s a good thing. The debate over paper bound books vs electronic books has been bouncing back and forth like a rumor at a healthcare debate. But digital products like the Kindle and Sony Book Reader will eventually be the death panel for paper books.

 

The biggest argument for book readers has been “loving the feel of paper in their hands.”  It’s a nostalgic notion not unlike the romanticism of riding on a train or in a boat or on a horse. These same people would still readily and primarily hop in a car or travel on a plane. The experience of reading a book is not about the paper folks.

 

The coveted experience is the escape. When you read a book, the only thing that you have consuming your focus is the story or content.

 

Books on laptops or desktops have not, nor will they ever, replace conventional books. Why? Interruptions and convenience. The dominant downside of the Age of Speed are the number of times we are interrupted in a day. Putting multiple functionalities on one computer (ie communication, video, pictures, business applications, etc) have obvious benefits. But add a book, especially a fictional narrative and you lose the escape experience. It’s tough to escape when you have, “You’ve got mail” dinging away.

 

I also predict the books on PDAs like the Treo, Blackberry and iPhone will not get past the early adopter phase. Again, interruptions will destroy the experience of reading a book. A new text message will ding. The phone will play that goofy tune only you think is cute. People will realize they can’t sufficiently dive into the escape experience of the novel.

 

Actually, let’s back up and understand that we humans are driven by an experience. We will buy expensive tickets for a Paul McCartney concert weeks in advance just to experience something we associate with our younger days. Which is what we did recently. Oh, by the way… it was amazing to look around and see how many people where texting while McCartney was performing. So much for “escape.”

 

This is a case in point. If the distraction is available, it doesn’t even need a ding to interrupt us. As your thoughts wander while you read a book or enjoy a concert the simple access to twitteremailtextingchattinginstantmessagingfacebooking is enough to ruin the escape with a compulsive look.

 

The biggest mistake Kindle and Sony Readers could make is to try to become a multifunction unit. Keep it a tablet to read and escape. Leave the PDA at home. Escape and enjoy.

 

And to all you books made out of paper. It was nice knowing ya.

 

Now I’ve got some inventory to unload. Buy those old fashioned books while they last. Why? According to Brian Tracy, the one thing all rich people have in common is a library.

 

So stock up so you can be rich and nostalgic all at once.

 

Click here.

 

The Art of Dating and your Customer

The #1 asset in your business is your customer list. How you nurture this list is as important as anything you do.

We’ve learned the fastest way to move any small business from "Doing OK" to dominating a market are business tools that AUTOMATE efficiency. Automating anything with your cherished customer list however can be a minefield.

For our company, we used a technique that I used in my single days (and we’re not talking a half bottle of Aqua Velva, smooth lines and my hairy Italian chest… growl).

We decided to list off everything we wanted in an automated customer list tool – call it our “perfect mate.” We decided to aim high.

First we wanted our partner to build and communicate with our list in a personable manner.

Second, we wanted a business tool that runs while we're sleeping, climbing mountains in the Himalayas or during quality family time.

Third, we wanted it to stuff our sales pipeline full of qualified leads.

Fourth, we wanted business tool that enticed leads to contact us when they're ready to buy.

Can you relate to this list? Where do you look to find this “perfect mate?” I reached out to my Facebook network and an entrepreneur in Halifax introduced me to a company in California. This was a fairly recent but we could not be happier in our new customer list building/communicating/converting relationship. In fact, we’re still in the honeymoon phase but I want to introduce you to the Flowtown business tool and the brains behind it, Ethan Bloch.

Flowtown got our perfect fit list and agreed to help us “deliver 24/7/365.”

Here’s advice they offer (and have agreed to share with our readers):

Create a professional landing page that’s designed to capture leads. Next, establish a never-ending follow-up sequence where no lead slips through the cracks. For example, when you get a lead on Monday, your system automatically sends an email with the information your lead signed-up for. Then, on Tuesday, it sends an email explaining how to get more out of the previously sent information. Follow this with an autoresponder sequence that continues to follow up for the next three months.

Let’s say, six weeks later they become a customer. Ensure your system automatically removes them from Follow-up Sequence A and puts them on new Follow-up Sequence B; which takes them through the steps of being a new customer.

It also puts them on an upsell sequence that gives them more opportunities to do business with you.

This is a sales funnel we’re automating with Ethan and his company; Flowtown.

That's speed. The best part is they tailor the messaging on an ongoing basis. We feel extra special, warm and fuzzy.

How’s that for a “perfect mate?”

Now I feel like a cigarette. ;-)

Mutton Bustin Advice - Words of Wisdom from a 10 Year Old Cowboy

A crowd favorite at the rodeo is the Mutton Bustin competition. Sandwiched between Bareback Bronc Riding and Bull Riding, Mutton Bustin has a little tyke hang on for dear life while a jittery sheep launches out of a chute. Joining the Mullen family at the Strathmore Rodeo I got a lesson in how to handle our challenging times. My teachers were Colby (the 6-year old Mutton Buster), Gunnar (the 10-year old Mutton Bustin coach) and Cary (Colby’s dad).

Cary Mullen is an Olympian, speaker and real estate developer. Since I’ve known Cary he has wanted to find the ideal spot to build a world-class resort on the ocean. He found perfect weather, location and economic factors in Puerto Escondido, Mexico. A few years ago he locked up the land and proceeded with his Vivo Resort dream. As he progressed with his plans, the outside world had other Mutton Bustin ideas.

First the recession hit, then H1N1 flu in Mexico got significant press, then the drug cartel wars got even worse press. The fact is, the drug wars and flu epidemic are non-issues in Puerto Escondido. This bad press had to be throwing Cary off his plans. But talk to him and you immediately get a sense that everything, even the struggling economy really isn’t a factor. “People still want to retire at an affordable price in a safe, luxurious environment,” says Cary in his affable way.

How does he make progress while three obstacles seem to stand in his way?

Allow me to introduce you to Colby. Colby is a rambunctious six-year old who marches to his own drum. Colby’s nerves about his rodeo ride were calmed by his older cousin Gunnar who said the following:

"It's okay to be scared. I still get scared, but it'll be okay. If he goes left, then just go with him. If he goes right then just go with him. Squeeze him with your legs. Stick your chest out. If you’re falling to the side just hang on. Don't let go. Just hang on."

When the chute opened the sheep’s speed surprised Colby and laid him flat out while he still hung on. Then Colby slipped 90 degrees to the galloping sheep. Colby still hung on until the sheep fell over after running out of room. Colby scored a 93.5 from the judges and won the 2009 Strathmore Mutton Bustin buckle.

Gunnar’s advice hit home with more than Colby’s triumph and Cary regarding Vivo Resorts. You and I would be well served to remember this wisdom as we face our own day-to-day challenges.

"It's okay to be scared. I still get scared, but it'll be okay. If he goes left, then just go with him. If he goes right then just go with him. Squeeze him with you legs. Stick your chest out. If you’re falling to the side just hang on. Don't let go. Just hang on."

An Immigrant's Perspective - When and How the Economy Will Turn

I emigrated from Canada to the USA in 1995. (You could say you’re protecting the wrong border.) Yet with my good fortune to speak to organizations across the land I often get asked what’s in store over the next while. With my Green Card in one hand and my iPhone in another I have a perspective on how united we stand.

But I can’t say we started off on the right foot. I used to be a tad cynical.

Growing up as USA’s northern neighbor it felt like being the little brother of a star football player who gets all the girls and can chug a keg for the sport of it. On top of that, regularly hearing Americans say they live in “the greatest country in the world,” referring to the President as “the leader of the free world” and calling the Super Bowl winners the “World Champions” coupled with baseball’s “World Series” smacked of braggadocio.

But hey, ask anyone in most countries where they’d emigrate to; the United States of America tops the list.

I have spent 14 years getting to know my American neighbors as brothers and sisters. Here’s what I’ve learned and predict:

• Americans don't tolerate boredom. Bad news gets boring after a while. I think that magic shift from fear to confidence with the flow of cash will come from American’s who get tired of the pause button.  This mode of not building, buying or creating something will get old sooner than later. American’s are far too ambitious to wait around for too long.

• Awareness breeds clarity. After 9/11 I heard a phrase repeated in many circles. “Why don’t they like us?” This lead to another question. “Who are they?” Gradually but perceptibly American’s generally looked beyond their border to better understand the outside world. This global recession was kick-started by unchecked greed on Wall Street but will recover by Main Street’s curiosity about how we fix this globally with the greatest capital of all – human capital.

• Adversity begets growth. The recession has inflicted a good deal of pain. It’s not all Wall Street’s fault.  We nurtured a debt culture and embraced it like a two year old covets his bankie. Our recessionary wake up call has us all rethinking what is really necessary. Delayed gratification is back folks. A healthier set of values and priorities are settling in. The USA has always grown stronger from adversity.

A friend and fellow entrepreneur, Bruce visited the other night and he noticed I was feeling down. Without diving into the reasons, Bruce just repeated a quote he’d heard. “Know the difference between being preoccupied and occupied. Preoccupied is thinking the same thing over and over. Occupied is doing something about it.”

The United States of America won’t be preoccupied for too long. It’s time to do something about this mess we’re in. Otherwise we’ll be bored silly.

Necessary Adjustments

When you feel out of sorts it’s difficult to focus on moving forward. Mild discomfort can make it hard to concentrate. Major discomfort makes it nearly impossible. Yet, alter, adjust or reposition and you’re golden.

You are probably sitting as you read this. Before long, staying in a given pose gets uncomfortable and you’ll eventually make a little cheek shift. Although this is an unconscious act, it would be quite conscious before long. Most of us are experiencing a fair bit of discomfort nowadays. It’s tough to ignore. Yet a simple alteration, adjustment or repositioning would allow you to clear your mind and carry on with amazing ease.

Men will readily identify with this next story but I imagine any woman with under-wire discomfort can relate – kinda sorta.

It was the year before the Olympic Winter Games in Albertville. The 1991 World Cup in Les Arc was buzzing with host broadcasters eager to prepare. Even our team was gearing up with brand new, tight rubber speed skiing suits. When I say tight, I mean, no-secrets tight.

A brand new speed suit is 2/3rds your body size. It becomes a new Olympic event trying to get it rolled onto the body. After 45 minutes of GynastiCatortionism the suit was on and I hurried out to the first qualifying run on the speed skiing track.

In my new, ultra tight rubber suit and smooth leather racing gloves donned I found myself struggling for a pinch hold. “Vince Poscente in the start area,” announced the starter. Ugh. I couldn’t concentrate but I had to get to the gate. Time had run out.

For the record; all men do this, not just skiers in tight rubber. Some are subtle (Pianists and Talk Show guests) and others are not (Baseball players and Hip Hop singers). In everyday life it takes a deft little tug on the pleats and it’s back to where a guy can concentrate.

Up against the start banner I had to resort to an all out, two-handed assault on the region in question. I looked like a cross between Beyonce and Steve Martin doing an interpretive dance to Bohemian Rhapsody. At last I gathered up a two-hand fold of speed suit and turned distraction into transcendence. Now I could give attention to the race.

I looked up and was surprised to see a French cameraman and sound guy, openmouthed, looking around their equipment as I adjusted mine. Ooops.

I gave the international sign for a guy’s gotta do, what a guy’s gotta do (a slight shrug, smirk and raised eyebrow) then blasted down the mountain. Of note; I completed the race with a new national record and my highest world cup ranking ever.

Remember this: when things aren’t right, you gotta do what you gotta do. It’s faster to readjust, realign and reposition. Get your mind on track and break some records of your own.

Meetings Make the Economy Go Round

Recently a host of meetings across our land have been cancelled or postponed. A reason that is popping up more and more is, “We don’t want to look bad.” According to one speakers bureau owner, “All of a sudden, holding a meeting is unfashionable.” But there is a HUGE economic disadvantage to canceling meetings.

Let’s get one thing out of the way. Of course we don’t want taxpayer’s bailout funds to go towards self-serving executives wanting to add to their vacation plans. But economic stimulus is not about bonuses for underperforming executives.

Hard working employees are losing the chance to grow their companies and celebrate their success at a time when the media is intent on beating home a message of doom and gloom. Sales conferences are being cancelled at a time when they are needed the most. Remember, “Nothing happens until somebody sells something.”

Cancel a meeting and you stop the flow of funds to other industries such as travel, hospitality, food service, printing, production, entertainment, training and development. Bailout funds are intended to get the economy moving yet any effort to spend a dollar is held with suspicion and even contempt.

Please take a moment to read below.  There are jobs at stake! 

Stop Congress from banning companies from hosting events and conferences! 

Senator Kerry has introduced legislation that would ban all 421 firms including the nation's largest banks that received money from the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) from hosting, sponsoring or paying for conferences, holiday parties and entertainment events. Click on this URL to take action now! 

There are 10,000 of you that get this Full Speed Ahead eBrief. It takes you 70 seconds to read it each week. It would take you 70 seconds to oppose this proposed legislation. Your name will add momentum to money that needs to start flowing again.

Thank you for your consideration.

Leaving One Side in the Cold

One-sided stories are like a painting half done, one-legged pants or hockey with only one skate.  Finding the complete picture can slow things down at first but ultimately will speed things up.

You might have read about the executive excesses, junkets and boondoggles that have underscored the greed on Wall Street. The hue and cry: In a time where individuals and companies need to spend responsibly, the atrocity of things like a $35,000 commode must stop. Wait, before you raise your pitchforks and garden hoes with the rest of the mob it’s important to note - the “commode on legs” ex-Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain bought for his office was actually an early 18th century French chest of drawers originally intended for a chamber pot.

I’m not defending the poor timing of Thain’s excessive purchases (or Wall Street bonuses for that matter) but it’s curious Thain's instant turnaround to personally pay the corner office redo was buried. Lazy media only seemed interested in one side of the story. Combine this with a consumer’s desire for sensationalism and the mob assembles with torches raised.

The other side of the story: Thain popped a few million dollars in the companies he hired and services that in-turn fed this money back into our economy. In the end it was a good thing where the money went. “But what about the workers?” yells the guy with the bullhorn at the front of the mob.

Good question! Consider Wells Fargo and the one sided story of a boondoggle to Las Vegas. It turns out the media didn’t seem to care it was an employee recognition event for high performing Tellers, Personal Bankers, Financial Advisors, Credit Analysts and the like. Here we have profits made by hard working employees converted into an event that would have circulated money into convention and hospitality services. Instead, the good people at Wells Fargo are forced to cancel all employee recognition events for the balance of the year. This will only serve to demotivate a dedicated workforce and slow down an already hobbled economy.

Think back three years ago when 60 Minutes featured skier Bode Miller, gold medal favorite in the Turin Games as being “wasted” during a race. Never mind that it was a statement taken out of context. It was a hangover after winning the overall world cup title in 2005. The media distraction was so intense for Miller his reflex for pushing back at anyone telling him what to do contributed to his lackluster performance in the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. No gold medal and a nationwide uproar.

Our economic (and gold medal count) salvation will be in our collective desire to seek a big-picture solution where everyone can win. This abundance mentality can be difficult when financial ruin stands at your door. But let’s step back and make an informed decision for everyone involved. Put down the pitchfork and put one-sided stories in the chamber pot where they belong.

Let’s mutually look for ways to have money and goodwill circulate for a speedy recovery.

Respond - Win. React - Lose.

I first noticed the respond vs. react juxtaposition in an Aikido class. Lynn Sensei kept saying, you must respond, not react.

When you flinch, recoil or push back you’ve reacted. Do this and you’ve lost control. Yet if you step off the line, keep your extension and blend with the energy you’ve responded and maintained control.

In an unstable economy companies make decision to either react or respond. Reacting by canceling a meeting might seem like control but it sends the exact opposite message. The organization’s shift to panic mode with sweeping budget cuts leaves a damaging effect. Companies canceling meetings is a huge mistake!

It’s better to respond. Economize the budget but maintain control. Bring your team together under more austere terms and motivate them to rally around the challenge. Lead by example. Prove that you are in control and responding to the situation.

We face choices of reacting or responding everyday.

Look at leaders, teachers, customer service representatives, parents, teenagers, spouses, newspaper editors - anyone with a pulse. Evidence of reacting versus responding is quickly evident.

One time I was speaking to a group and there was an interpreter for the handful of hearing impaired people in the hall. If you’re hearing impaired… FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED. (sorry, couldn’t help it…) She was lower and off to my right, yet still visible to all 1,000 people in the room.

For some speakers this might be distracting. A reaction would be to move further away on the platform or comment on how distracted you are.

As you know, my filterless dorkiness is always waiting for a chance to jump in and play. In mid sentence I turned to the interpreter and said, “Shmur, shmur, shmur.” The interpreter stared straight ahead and made a rubbing action with her hands.

I jumped in and said, “Cool, this means shmur.” Then I said, “Oogada boogada.”

All eyes shifted to the interpreter who continued to stare straight. She then proceeded to hold her index finger towards the right side of her head and rotate said finger in a clockwise fashion (a.k.a. the international sign for cuckoo). She glanced sideways with a knowing grin.

The place erupted in laughter. The playful interchange was a dance of responding as opposed to a reactionary tussle. She stepped off the line, blended with the energy and continued on with her job.

What stuff in your organization or personal life is pushing you to react? Take a moment to think of a response that keeps you in control of the situation.

Response keeps the pace up. Reaction grinds things down to an agonizing stop.

When you respond you win. When you react you lose.

This blog is posted for those of you who want to react or respond.

Inter - ruption

There’s a reasonable chance that before you finish this article (in 70 seconds from now) you will be interrupted. Although we have found our way to tolerate interruptions, I believe…

Hold on.

My text message just dinged. It’s my buddy with Cowboys tickets for next Sunday.

I’m back.

A recent study found; people get interrupted every eight minutes. In another study specific to task interruptions, people were interrupted on average 11 minutes into a task. They were able to get back on task 30 minutes later, if at all. Translation: you and I are interrupted about 50 times per day. That means that you…

Hold on, it’s the home phone.

It’s Nordstrom’s make-up counter calling to tell my wife the new Lancôme night cream is in. FABULOUS!

I’m yours again. Where was I?

Oh yeah, interruptions are slowing us down. This is not news but it seems to be largely ignored in our world today. We allow the interruptions and somehow, at the end of a day, wonder why we are so exhausted while feeling like we accomplished less than we should have.

Interruptions last five minutes in a typical day. If you do the math, that’s up to four hours or 50% of every workday. But get this, researchers found that 80% of interruptions were rated as “little or no value.” We’re being sucked into the black hole of interruptions and we don’t even know it.

If there’s one thing that…

Hold on. My daughter needs help on scanning a photo.

I’m back.

I forget the “one thing” I was going to say, but I bet it was good.

Anyway, if you add up all the little or no value interruptions, we have about three hours of every workday wasted. (The phone just rang, I’m ignoring it).

This means that every person wastes about 744 hours every year on interruptions.

Multiply this by the number of people that you work in your company.

10 employees = 7,440 hours wasted.
100 employees = 74,400 hours down the drain.
1,000 employees = 744,000 hours in the “little or no value” abyss.
10,000 employees = 7,440,000 hours of a major corporate disease.

Interruptions are a drag. They are a drag on execution, efficiency, productivity and even mental health. Get this; frequent email interruptions cause a drop in IQ two and a half times greater than the drop in IQ from smoking marijuana. You know it’s bad when HR breaks out the bong.

Listen; before I get interrupted again, the point is to take control of your time. Happiness in the Age of Speed has a lot to do with how you manage interruptions. Turn the email dinger off your PDA and computer. Turn off your cell phone while you are supposed to be present with that person sitting across from you or talking with in your car. Improve one thing each day until I visit your email box next week.

Whew, we made it without one last interrup… RING, RING.

Take The Center or Step Aside

With an oncoming force or an attack, instinct has us fight back or defend. Instead of deflecting, sometimes it’s best to take the center.

In Aikido, there is a technique called irimi. It is a powerful move where you enter a challenging situation instead of stepping aside. It is the quintessential, proactive move. Yet irimi’s are counter intuitive. Moving forward into an attack seems to be contrary to our nature.

Do you remember when Governor, Bill Clinton was asked if he ever smoked ganja? He was on the Arsenio Hall show and had just finished jamming on his sax with the band. Bill was so cool. He lounged in the interviewee’s chair and they were chatting about his younger years in the band.

Blind-sided by the doozy doobie question, “Did you ever smoke marijuana?” Bill Clinton said, “Yes.” He was just being authentic and engaging. Then he froze for a millisecond and followed with, “But I didn’t inhale.” Neither did anyone else in the studio when it came to the oxygen in the studio. An awkward moment hung in the air, then the interview continued.

Immediately after, every single politician across the land was fair game for the same question. Even in Canada. The answer was universal and comical. Every politician scrambled for higher ground. “I would never. No. Absolutely not. I refuse to answer that demeaning question. Why don’t we address the real issues on the voters minds?”

The best answer I heard was by the fun loving Premier of Alberta. Ralph Klein was never known for mincing words. He was direct, unapologetic and a character. When asked if he smoked the wacky tabacky he said, “Yes, but I got so paranoid that I didn’t like it.”

Using irimi in our lives is challenging but essential in those critical defining moments. Irimi-type moves in everyday life are something you can do. If you are attacked at a meeting, blindsided by moody acquaintance or challenged by a situation do not react. Instead, respond.

Immediately decide whether you will take the center or step aside. If you use irimi and take the center, do it with authenticity and truth. Keep judgment and assumptions out of the equation. Then step off the line with humor or harmonious response.

I’ll get plenty of chances to choose irimi or step aside in the next few weeks. When The Age of Speed was launched last year it stirred up a polarized response. The odd review was flat out mean spirited. With a new and improved The Age of Speed being launched in paperback next week, there will be more reviews.

If there happens to be a bad one I’ll either step aside, use irimi or react with a mature and clever quip:

“Oh yeah smarty pants? Well, I know you are. So what am I?” Followed by blowing a raspberry, of course.

Maybe there won’t be any bad reviews and I’m just being paranoid…

Beating the Busy Blues

I’ve found myself cringing every time I say to my kids, you’ll have to hurry. And I seem to be saying this all the time. “C’mon, we have to hurry. Quick, brush your teeth. You have to go potty? Well go fast.”

I marvel at people that can gracefully float from one task to the next. Actually, I don’t know anyone who does that but if I did, I would marvel. With this assumption that these superhuman task-to-task floaters exist, I silently berate myself as I stack one “hurry up kids” after the next.

 

In two weeks The Age of Speed will be launched by Random House in paperback. The media tour will begin and interviewers will want a sneak peek at time saving tips in the book. And here I am, the guru of speed and find that I keep having to explain myself. In the Age of Speed it’s not about being perfect, fast and uber-efficient. It’s about doing the best you can with the time you have.

I heard a story that I was unable to verify. It was about a radio interview with Stephen Covey (author of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People). When asked by a reporter what percentage of his day he practiced the Seven Habits he supposedly said, “Oh, about 60%.” What a great, honest answer. He knows what works and does what he can to live a rich life.

Enriching our lives is what most of us want. An enriched life is what we want for our kids.

Recently I came across a new application that speeds up video so that you can view YouTube, Flash or other online video at your own pace. It’s in beta form at the moment. It is supported by Enounce and has a “speed slider” where you control the speed with patented signal processing that prevents “chipmunking” of the audio. Sounds cool. As we launch into another piece of technology that will save us time, let’s never forget the importance of savoring the experience.

My pre-teen kids love YouTube. I immediately wondered if the Enounce app would be a benefit or a curse? Would they use it to save time or would they miss important nuance? But ultimately this is not my choice. How they use their time is their choice. Just the way a BlackBerry is a great tool or a horrible distraction. You choose how to use technology to save time. Hopefully without compromising the richness that life and connection with others has to offer.

My promise to you is that these newsletters never take more than 70 seconds to read. I know you’re busy. You might be in a hurry. Besides, I’ve got to run too. My son needs to get to his guitar lessons. It takes us 17 minutes to drive there if we hit green lights all the way.

“Max. Max? Hurry, we’ve got to go or we’ll be late.” (Or not.)