Energy multiplied
I love it when my experiences fall into positive loops. Re-discovering some encouraging facts that I already knew. Recently, I reinforced the belief in three life powers: imagination, connections and laughter.
THINK. Geekiness called! My kids and I spent the bulk of previous weekend in a comic convention in Dublin. Each of us had our own priorities, and we all got what we were looking for. My son's savings diminished as a result, but he felt this was exactly the right reason for it.
Imagination has no boundaries, it seems. I was admiring the most meticulous cosplays and the most sophisticated art merchandise. The breadth of themes was stunning, from niche comic books, hand-made graphic designs, 3D-printed collectibles up to mainstream anime figurines, steampunk costumes and video games. Thousands of people storming the shops, panels and celebrity meets & greets. Not a single stand left without fellow geeky customers.
I hold a conviction I know this universe pretty well. Turns out, I could not recognize 2 out of 3 characters parading the floor! So many creative rabbit holes I never even knew existed. It's beyond encouraging that the human mind can produce such an amazing variety.
Also, I have never seen so many overweight (but completely self-confident) Spider-Men!
Competitiveness and winning have always been present in my life. From simple board and card games, through the rush of teenage basketball leagues, street running races, up to business outcomes at work and investment returns, my energy gets rather amplified than depleted by trying to race to the top.
I was both curious and grateful for the opportunity to visit McLaren Technology Centre, leveraging the partnership between McLaren and Dell Technologies. An emblem for excellence taken to a millisecond impact, history of McLaren racing has many inspiring moments. What I reflected the most on was how one takes a dream and makes it real through relentless pursuit of team excellence.
Team culture is always a hotbed for performance. As I witnessed an on-stage conversation between Dell Technologies UK MD Steve Young and McLaren's Chief People Officer Daniel Gallo, what struck a chord was the inhibiting impact of fear of failure. Indeed, a line can be thin between unsubstantiated bravado and measured experimenting. But the encouragement to go beyond the well-known, comforting ways opens new paths to excellence. Milliseconds worth a championship trophy.
FEEL. Relationships have an outstanding potential for healing. Two of my longtime friends live in London. We don't see each other much; as a matter of fact, I have not seen one of them in person since pre-pandemic. One might assume that we need regular proximity for the quality of the relationship to sustain. Well, here is what happened.
Both my friends endured some serious health issues recently. Both have busy lives. We share some experiences and interests but are very different in others. I was both curious and anxious how would the reunions play out.
As simple as that, it felt like we just saw one another. Conversations sparked and continued at pace, with balance between past anecdotes, present day reporting and ideas for the future. I felt kindness, curiosity and care. It felt like a safe haven. I still attended all the business meetings and kept my inbox clean-ish, but I made sure I prioritized these connections.
Energy from others. Defies all laws of physics - multiplies, when shared!
DO. Laughter is a cathartic force. In my usual 'squeeze every minute' approach on business trips, I ended up booking a last-minute seat for West End's 'Book of Mormon' musical. Controversial, provoking and somewhat contrarian, the show is also full of hilarious lines and songs. Not everyone's cup of tea, I must warn though.
When I was leaving the theatre at a late hour and after an intense day, I felt so much lighter. It was not only how the show's sense of humour tapped on my laugh strings. The sheer fact of committing time and attention to witness on-stage performance, undisturbed, provided a much-needed tension relief. And Salt Lake City is not a place; it is a metaphor ;-)
Imagination, connections and laughter. People in costumes, filled with geeky joy. Relations that need very little dusting off. Energy that compounds. Stop and notice, it's all out there.
