Increase Positive Energy Using This Racing Trick

Did you know that relationships involve drafting principles? You can increase positive energy using this racing trick. Do you ever wonder why race car drivers often stay in single file on the race track? They do it because it reduces the aerodynamic resistance. This is called drafting.

While researching drafting, I found information on autoblog.com that shared findings from Mythbusters: “They found drafting increases your miles per gallon up to 39 percent at 10 feet distance away from a big rig. At two feet apart however, they found miles per gallon actually went down.”

The Point

I was speaking with a new blogger friend tonight. Her name is Karla Grove, and she blogs at www.thissimplemoment.com. We were brainstorming, and I was sharing ideas from experience. We were having so much fun; I want to let you in on our conversation to show you the value of collaborating with others—when it is mutually beneficial.

Me: You are so fun to chat with. I enjoy working with newbies because they are still full of excitement!
Karla: Don’t ever lose that excitement – no matter what! It’s the happy heart energy that carries us through life, and life is exciting!

Me: You know how you drive behind a truck, so the wind hits the truck and not your car? What’s that called again?
Karla: That’s called drafting…LOL!!!
I can’t believe we are having this conversation. The timing is incredible. I was just having a chat with my 13-year-old about people who steal energy.
You aren’t one of those. I know because you are charging my energy too.
That’s energy-sharing.

I was going to share my thoughts with her when I realized it would make a great blog post. (Besides, she is in the opposite time zone and had to go to sleep.) So here it is, for you and Karla.

Definition:

Drafting – VERB
(in an automobile race) to drive or ride close behind another car so as to benefit from the reduction in air pressure created behind the car ahead.

I’ve been the race car out front that allows others to draft for so long that it’s time for me to do a little drafting. Because I am very aware of other people’s valuable time, I make sure to reciprocate. I try to give more than I receive. Sometimes, however, I end up doing more for others and not taking the time needed for my own business or life.

Lesson

It’s okay to draft off of others. The key is finding balance.

Just as I am doing, you too must try to stop yourself from volunteering too quickly.
Here are some tips to ponder:
1. Look at your schedule.
2. Visualize what is on your plate.
3. Assess the actual amount of time it will take to do what you’re offering to do.
4. Often, if you are made to feel an urgency that you have to decide now or lose out, chances are, it’s a sales pitch and it’s okay to let it go.
5. While many of us do things out of the goodness of our hearts, if you’re in business, you must put boundaries around your time, or something will give. One of the two that usually give is family time or your business.

When we find a balance between giving and receiving, we increase positive energy. When we increase positive energy, life gets a little easier. The mutual benefits are what strengthen our business and life. I love the visual of reaching down to lift each other up instead of stepping on others to get to the top. Let’s go together!

Are you with me? Are you ready to increase positive energy? Let me know in the comments below!

P.S. Curious about the details of drafting?
Wikipedia on Drafting
And more info on Treehugger.com

©Susie Glennan
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