Business walk on the Rocks

I watched a video the other day about chat walks. Taking your business meetings and making them outside meetings. Inspired by this talk, one has only to think about some of the following items:

• Decide on the location of the walk
• The length of time available to walk
• Who will you meet with
• What you will discuss
• And the weather, of course

The amount of stress alone saved in taking a chat walk is worth its weight in gold. It also helps to cut your blood pressure down, beef up your cardio, raise those happy endorphins, and bring a level of wellness to your entire body.

Steve Jobs once quoted :

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.

Save a back – your own! You have to get up away from that desk, put the mouse down, lace up a pair of tennis shoes, and head out the door. Find some place, any place, where you can take your meetings to another level; one that risks going outside and breathing in fresh air, and feeling the warm sunshine on your skin. Walking has been proven to enhance your mental health as well as your physical health.  It is something you can do seasonally in any weather. 

Moab, Utah, Slickrock Bike Trail. During the early spring and fall months, you will see several walkers on the bike trail. Great place to take a meeting. Plan for a couple of hours in the cool of the morning or evening. Take plenty of water, and don’t forget your mineral sunblock.

Soaking in the learn – from the sun

Going it alone

Some like to walk alone, and that is perfectly alright.  Fresh air, clearing your mind, and planning your next meeting in a more relaxed and calming state – a perfect escape for many. 

 It gets exhausting having to answer to those who tend spin things their own way, or for some form of prestigious gain.  They are often running their own individual coup to accomplish those tactical gains.  Dust off those cobwebs and all the voices and concerns that aren’t necessarily required.  The great outdoors is waiting.  

Dust off the cobwebs

I understand not wanting to walk with others who try to flatter or coax a decision in their favor,  or won’t stop talking about themselves, or others.  Avoiding the disrupters and cultural thieves is a self-preservation technique, especially when the stakes are high, and could have costly outcomes.  

I’ve held many a business meeting with my cell in hand, and earbuds snuggling placed,  and the great outdoors in front of me.  I’ve learned that by not staring at a wall, you tend to make better decisions. At least decisions that are more purposeful, and reflect the open environment in front of me, my free mind.    

 Is change a distraction to cover up disruption?  I generally ask myself, what are they hiding? Who are they throwing under the bus? Do they caress or flatter a secret need?  How great is their urgency for change?  Who does it affect? 

I’m headed outside!