Tom Peters once said that if you’re not totally drained after giving a speech — if you don’t feel like you need to collapse on a bed — then you didn’t give it enough energy.
My current exhaustion is a total physical experience. My legs are tired, arms tired, feet tired. This is different than just mild mental tiredness I feel after above-average intellectual exertion.
The past few days have been intense — speak in Dallas, fly to Raleigh, speak Duke/UNC, fly to Philly, speak Temple/Wharton/Drexel, now to Jersey for a couple off days before New Orleans this weekend and Boston next week.
Fortunately I’ve been able to maintain a high level of energy for all my interactions. I’m meeting some amazing people (young and old) and am constantly re-charged by their enthusiasm and intelligence. And I’m ready to kick-butt over the next two weeks.
Suffice to say, my life at the moment is a blur of hotel rooms. But it’s worth it.
I agree with Tom Peters, but I feel it applies to teaching too. Last night, I taught a great adult ESL class. The students said the time flew by; I felt it went amazingly well. I gave it all of my energy and enthusiasm. Then I came home, worked at my online job, worked on the WWII home front speech I gave today to high schoolers, and it just wasn’t there. Usually, I thrive on sleep deprivation, but not this time. I give the presentation twice more tomorrow, and I want it to be good–amazing–exciting–extraordinary. Maybe I can’t expect that performance every time I teach, but it’s what I want.