BALANCING ACT: BLENDING LIFE, WORK, AND RELATIONSHIPS® A free monthly newsletter about balancing life, work, and relationships based on the books and popular workshops conducted by Alan Weiss, Ph.D.

 
 

Balancing Act®: The Newsletter

(No. 313, August 2025)

BALANCING ACT: BLENDING LIFE, WORK, AND RELATIONSHIPS®

A free monthly newsletter about balancing life, work, and relationships based on the books and popular workshops conducted by Alan Weiss, Ph.D. Past copies are archived on our web site: http://www.summitconsulting.com

Copyright 2025 Alan Weiss. All rights reserved. 

ISSN 1934-3116

Balancing Act® is our registered trademark. You are encouraged to share the contents with others with appropriate attribution. Please use the ® whenever the phrase “Balancing Act” is used in connection with this newsletter or our workshops.

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Balancing Act® is in four sections:

  1. Essays
  2. Musings
  3. Developmental Stuff
  4. ORTIYKMWOYBNT-O Department

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Essays

Self-Interests

We all tend to act in our own self-interest. Even charitable giving, intending to help others, creates a positive feeling for us. This is health. Countries are the same way, they may form alliances and joint ventures, but they are acting in accordance with their self-interest. It seems that the two US political parties, and perhaps those elsewhere, see their self-interests not as helping the country, but rather as staying in power. That’s why we’re in such political polarization. If their self-interests were the citizenry’s health and welfare, then they’d have more reason to collaborate and cooperate.

Inappropriate Behavior

The CEO of Astronomer and his Chief People Officer (whatever that means these days) were famously or infamously caught at a Cold Play concert on the Jumbotron “canoodling.” He’s married, and resigned immediately. There was no immediate communication from the company, so rumors abounded (common when no one takes charge of messaging). However, I can tell you from my experience working with thousands of senior people in hundreds of companies: Some people knew about this relationship. They are never “secret.” And this is the price paid when otherwise good people don’t want to speak or are afraid to speak out. This is not a “healthy” environment.

Turf Battles

When the dog behind the back fence, Bear, finally managed to dig under it and confront my dog, Royce, with whom he would bark ferociously when they both happened to be in their respective yards, I panicked. But then they kept chasing each other around, jumping, not making a sound. They were having a good time. That’s what happens when you experience life as something more than merely making a lot of noise to protect your own turf.

One More Dog Story

Royce is a two-year-old white German Shepherd. Like almost all shepherds, he will defend you with his life but also allow the grandchildren to pull his ears and tail. A repairman asked me what type dog he is and, when I told him, replied, “There are no white German Shepherds.” I explained he was AKC-registered, and if they were a separate breed they’d be the 16th most popular. “No,” he said, “the dog is probably a Samoyed or Husky.” Apparently seeing is not believing and, of course, Royce knew this guy was a repairman.

Musings

I've found that people often constrain their own decision making. They see their own choices as "binary," that is, we can do either this or that, go here or there. This is because they don't "open up" their own option by asking "Why are we trying to decide this?"

For example: “Should we go to the Jersey Shore or to Florida for two weeks?” Why is this decision being made? It’s being made to choose a family vacation that will be enjoyable, within the budget, and interesting. Perhaps the decision, then, is: “Where should we go on vacation?” This brings in an island in the Caribbean or a mountain cabin with hiking and fishing on a lake.

At work we often ask, “Is Joan or Jim the best choice for this assignment,” instead of, “Who is the best choice for this assignment?” In 1993, when IBM was in major trouble and needed a new CEO to replace John Akers, who was fired, they asked, “Who is best for this job?” and for the first time in IBM history, an “outsider” was chosen, Lou Gerstner, from Nabisco, a food company, and he saved IBM.

Stop arbitrarily limiting your choices in life. Ask a wider, more inclusive question: “Why are we making this decision?” We can always narrow a range given our budget or amount of time or specific needs. But we shouldn’t default to narrow choices.

I was a political science major in college and had always been excellent with language and debate. So the choice for me became which law school to attend, and I was accepted at Rutgers Law with a full scholarship, which in today’s dollars was hundreds of thousands. But over that summer I asked a different question, sheltered from family and friends: “What did I want to do in life?” I found that being an attorney wasn’t on the list.

To the dean of admissions' horror, I turned down the scholarship even when she pursued me to the staircase trying to change my mind.

I haven't done too badly since.

Development Opportunities
Million Dollar Consulting Remote College 2025

NEW!! Million Dollar Consulting® Remote College 2025:

September 10th: 9 am to Noon, September 11th: 9 am to Noon, September 12th: 9 am to 10:30 am

I’ve been providing this seminal educational and business development event for over two decades, with many people attending several times because there is so much content and so many changes to consider. That certainly applies today more than ever. This is my third virtual session. You will gain and learn and master:

  • Personalized approaches to your attraction, acquisition, implementation, and expansion of business.
  • Creation of increased revenues through a thorough exploration and a model of the three components of a new business.
  • Creation of an organized, guaranteed referral system and sample promotional approaches.
  • Building your brand to increase unsolicited inquiries from qualified buyers.
  • Increasing your media exposure.
  • Positioning yourself as an expert with a powerful brand.
  • Creation of a “larger picture,” abundance mentality.
  • Increasing the size of your proposals.
  • Decrease your labor through increased advisory work and appropriate creation of remote and passive offerings.
  • Improve your standing as a “results leader.”
  • Improving the quality of your life.

That’s right, 2.5 days that will produce a lifetime of results. There is preparatory reading I’ll provide and more I’ll recommend. You’ll also receive three books and extensive prep work,  30 days of post-program coaching from me (which will be extended if you’re already in a coaching relationship with me).

The fee is $12,000. (Graduates of the College may return for $6,000.) 

Please register here: https://alanweiss.com/shop/gexp/2025-million-dollar-consulting-college-remote-workshop/

An Alan Live Experience: Beyond Success

AI: Alan Intelligence™

My unique AI resource which will direct you to the relevant aspects of my entire body of work to answer your “real time” questions about proposals, value based fees, conceptual agreement, avoiding “ghosting,” and thousands of other issues with text, audio, and video resources, all of which you can download. Please go here to gain lifelong, constantly growing access to my work, including referral to specific pages in my books which you can access online: https://alanweiss.com/ai-alan-intelligence/ If you decide at any time to engage in one of my two elite, personal coaching relationships, I'll deduct the full fee you've paid for this resource.

An Alan Live Experience: Beyond Success

Six Figures to Seven (6-2-7)

This is by far one of my most popular programs (along with the Million Dollar Consulting® College and Master Class). I’ve delivered it a total of six times on three continents, each time different, because the focus is on contemporary events and the near future. Join me to learn and apply how, for example, to: 

  • Charge over $100,000 for nearly every project.
  • Go beyond coaching to the more lucrative advisory work.
  • Build a brand that's on every buyer's mind.
  • Develop novel and new IP weekly and AD HOC.
  • Use language to control any conversation.
  • Stimulate evangelism as a sales strategy.
  • Create instant eBooks.
  • Dramatically improve your speaking and videos.
  • Overcome esteem issues dealing with buyers and fees.

There will be role plays, so if they make you fearful, I’ll have a “safe haven” for you (out in the hall). There will be a practicum, so if working on client issues makes you nervous, bring medication (enough to share, of course). So man-up. Woman-up. Human- up. Whatever. I cannot guarantee that you will accept and apply what I share with you. But you will have already paid me, so what the hell? I will promise that if you apply even some of my techniques consistently and completely, you’ll make a minimum 50:1 return on this investment. Social proof? Just ask my clients: https://alanweiss.com/testimonials/

Location: Chicago (Palmer House) Dates and Times: September 17-18, 9am to 4pm. Continental breakfast and lunch are included along with 30 days of follow-up Q&A based on program content and including a free Zoom session for registrants, based on the program.

Your investment: $5,000 https://alanweiss.com/shop/gexp/six-figures-to-seven-2025/

 

Alan Weiss's Zoom Workshops 2025

Zoom Workshops 2025:

2025: Join me on August 12th for our next installment. If you can’t attend “live” you’ll still receive the video and the AI Companion transcript. 

https://alanweiss.com/growth-experiences/zoom-workshops-2025/ 

August 12: Conversation with a star, Colleen Francis.

 

LEARN MORE

 

An Alan Live Experience: Beyond Success

An Alan Live Experience: Beyond Success

What happens when you’re meeting your aspirations, when your lifestyle is fabulous, and your prospects are excellent? How much is “enough”? Is there a “retirement”? How do you change (or sell) your business and IP? Are philanthropy, volunteering, and service right for you? Are you able to care for family and important others? What will keep you excited and positive—and “youthful”? We’ll explore this and more over two days of intense discussion and exercises in a small group. We’ll get together in New York for two 9-to-4 days, September 24th and 25th, including a reception. As you know, you’ll learn a lot from your colleagues and peers in that room. $7,500. https://alanweiss.com/growth-experiences/beyond-success/

LEARN MORE
 
Million Dollar Consulting® Global Online Program

Million Dollar Consulting® for the World

I’ve provided 14 modules with videos from me, from your colleagues globally, slides, and text. They include everything from launch to self-esteem, proposals to fees, closing business to creating a brand. No upsells! It’s only $115. What do you think about a 10,000:1 ROI? We have over 500 people from 47 countries. https://milliondollarconsultingcourse.com

LEARN MORE
Million Dollar Consulting® Global Online Program ADVANCED

Million Dollar Consulting® for the World ADVANCED

The new program contains over 60 videos and has 15 modules focusing on what to do in the buyer’s office, overcoming crises, financial planning, and much, much more. https://alanweiss.com/growth-experiences/advanced-global-learning-program/

LEARN MORE
Million Dollar Consulting® Global Online Program GRADUATE

New: Million Dollar Consulting® for the World Graduate

Another 12 modules with videos by me and your peers on contemporary issues such as Raising Fees Aggressively, How to Be Consistently Interviewed, Maximizing Happiness, and Managing Multiple projects. Join the people from 57 countries who are availing themselves of this inexpensive way to dramatically grow their businesses in any economic times. How does 100:1 ROI sound? https://milliondollarconsultingcourse.com/graduate-learning-program/

LEARN MORE

I'm an Old Cowhand...

I thought that my driveway alarm system on our bridge wasn’t working properly and needed new batteries. Experience from past household repairs told me to bring everything I needed in one trip, so I marched down 150 yards with three different kinds of batteries which might be appropriate, both a Phillips and flat head screwdrivers of two different sizes, for a total of four, and some WD 40 in case of rust.

When I arrived at the site of the mechanism, I couldn’t figure out how to open it and was on the verge on prying it open with one of the screwdrivers when I felt with my hand a change in the feel of the surface of the unit.

It's solar powered.

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