Like most people, you too have probably experienced moments of bliss when communication was just perfect. You felt at one with life and everything around you!

The past seven years we've been searching for what it is that makes such a "fusion" occur, especially within sales and in a business setting. We wanted to reach higher - for something much better than what we see in the business world today.

However short these glimpses of insight may be, they're real and filled with such good and powerful feelings that there are hundreds of descriptions to be found about them: Some describe it as "butterflies of joy", "ecstatic and rare excitement", "a magical flow of ideas", "pure conviction" and others simply as "quiet moments of tranquility and peace". Over the years our research team has chosen a descriptive term that embraces and captures the entire scope of it: Energation!

“To closely interact through passion, connection and intuition, reaching understanding and commitment beyond natural ability.”

There's a lot to be said about energation. In fact, it's such a huge topic I wrote a book about it. The common denominator, however, is dialog. Whether it be internal dialog through self reflection during a private moment or an excellent conversation with another person, there is always some kind of interaction and thinking activity that precedes energation. In all simplicity we've found that it's a process of exchanging energy in combination with communication. If we merge "energy" with "communication" we get "energation".

That said, energation is a shared state of mind and a mutual experience that is sometimes hard to describe. Thus we get all the differing explanations and descriptions of feelings and sensations. Still, when it occurs both parties can instantly recognize it. It's in the air. Our research has revealed three layers of energy. In our experience, energation occurs most often when all three are flowing: PASSION - CONNECTION - INTUITION (and in this sequence).

One Energy per Dialog

Each of these energies is a direct result of a specific type of dialog. PASSION grows out of the Operational dialog. CONNECTION grows out of the Opinional dialog and INTUITION grows out of the Optimal dialog. During the next few weeks I'll be sharing what each dialog is about. Stay tuned for more ;-)

Key Principles of Energation

Three key principles characterize energation.

# 1 - AVAILABLE TO ALL

Maybe the most exciting characteristic of energation is how it's completely independent from physical condition and social state. We may be rich or poor, male or female, old or young, in prison or out in the free, in war or in peace, hungry or filled up, cold or hot, sick or healthy. Regardless of circumstances, it's seems to be equally available to all. Energation is pretty much synonymous with happiness, but not the kind of shallow happiness we think of "on a daily basis". Energation is the perfect balance of outbound and inbound energy.

# 2 - PROACTIVE STEPS MAY INCREASE FREQUENCY

By engaging ourselves in Operational, Opinional and Optimal dialogs we begin to balance the 3 Energies behind effective communication - PASSION - CONNECTION - INTUITION. These dialogs are so closely linked to their respective energies, our focus should not be on the energy itself, but rather on mastering the dialogs - then energy follows as a direct result. Energation may occur, but not per se.

# 3 - REMAINS OUTSIDE PERSONAL CONTROL

Even though much can be done to stimulate energation, it remains out of our direct control. Whereas it will not occur without our consistent effort, it cannot be forced or manipulated. This does not mean it cannot be facilitated, rather it means we only have indirect control. Skilled communicators know how to create the atmosphere needed for energation to enter the scene.

Even though energation does not always work the way we would like it to, communication is always at its best when we tap into Passion, Connection and Intuition.

Why do we seek this unique kind of shared experience? Because energation is the ultimate way to foster enduring commitment in others. Energation has a lasting effect beyond any other way we know of. It motivates unlike any other element in human interaction. Energation is influence in the keenest sense of the word. It helps the people around us become self powered - gives them perspective - it ignites their character!

Being on the same wavelength is what energation is truly all about.

Let me assure you: Skilled communicators tap into energation all the time. It just hasn't been explained like this before. Not only does it help win the business. Energation makes selling a worthwhile and mutually uplifting experience. This is what you've been looking for. This is what you want!

(Read more about energation in the 3E members area - a sneak peak before release end of Oct 2008.)

In almost all sales literature you'll find clever advice about sales processes, techniques, models, structures, systems, programs and blueprints. The remainder of sales literature aims at human traits such as PMA (Positive Mental Attitude), enthusiasm, networking, values, politics, win-win and the like. Thus, in short, we find two categories:

1. Methods and
2. what I like to call "Effort and Talent"

As important as these two categories may be, the key to leveraging great performance - I mean SERIOUSLY outstanding and UNSTOPPABLE performance - lies in reality elsewhere. Where do you think unbelievable results come from?

Beyond Method, Talent and Effort

Introducing the subject in this way also reveals a most interesting aspect; each one of us intuitively and instinctively already knows, but it seems hard to put into words, and even harder to implement in the corporate world. Deep inside we know it's not method - methods are important, but not the ultimate and deciding factor. We even know it's not effort and talent, because they too are often waisted and held back. It's something else. What would you say it is?

Just think about it... Of course we need method - method is crucial. We also need effort and talent. Effort and talent are not only necessary, they're foundational. But... and this is my point; there's something way more important and significant lying underneath that determines whether or not someone succeeds beyond normal..! (Remember, we're not just talking about success. We're discussing unusual and remarkable success.)

Before I give you this pearl - this diamond of unique and simple value - I need to emphasize one crucial point, to help understand why this is so valuable, not only in today's business world, but also in every other setting; marriage, family, politics and every type of human interaction. What we see is this:

Whether a book or training event focuses on method, effort or talent, in reality it makes no real difference on performance. Good stuff finds good people anyway. In the end, real improvement in "average people" stems from another source altogether!

Influence is Energy

The One-on-One slogan "Influence is Energy" summarizes all there is to say about what really makes the difference. I've seen people be trained in the most extensive and excellent research-based programs and models, supported by management, economic as well as human resources, enticed by incentive programs and backed by values and follow up coaching. Does it ring a bell? Regardless of how much method, effort and talent an organization has or puts in, no TIPPING-POINT RESULTS will come unless something triggers individual energy.

Amazing success is born - first and foremost - when you IGNITE CHARACTER. A truly dedicated individual is not able to not influence others. Therefore, there simply is no such thing as the one and only perfect salesperson, because every one of us has the built-in capacity to influence others in our own unique way. We each have peak performance when intuition permeates our burning desire and every-day actions. That does not mean that methods, effort and talents are without effect. They are indeed the muscles and tools of success, but even muscles and tools are no good without a beating heart and the blood to provide the needed oxygen.

Apply individual energy to method, effort and talent and you've got a combination that works. Energy, however, is too often missing - in fact, almost always missing - and it's only haphazardly found even among high performers.

• Why do methods not work on a stand-alone basis? Because without unleashing individual power, methods tend to restrain rather than free influential ability.

• Why does effort and talent not work on a stand-alone basis? Because without the engine itself to wake them up, effort and even talent merely remain "mis employed tools" without purpose.

First release energy, then apply method, effort and talent!

During the past 7 years we've discovered a set of principles that trigger energy in individuals and organizations making them influential through empowering character. It's not quick fix, but it's a LOT quicker than "quick fix", because quick fix only has a short term effect and no real bearing on true and lasting success!