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.

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Essays

Musings

Developmental Stuff

ORTIYKMWOYBNTO

Balancing Act^®: The Newsletter

(No. 327, October 2026)

THIS IS THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF BALANCING ACT!

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.a lanweiss.com

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:

Essays
Musings
Developmental Stuff
ORTIYKMWOYBNT-O Department

Follow me on X. YOU CAN FIND ME HERE: https://x.com/BentleyGTCSpeed

Join the thousands who read these “quick hits” every morning. Over 9,500 followers! Why aren’t you among them? AND FIND ME ON Facebook.

Listen to my free Podcast Series on iTunes or on ContrarianConsulting.com: Alan Weiss’s The Uncomfortable Truth^®. And watch A Minute with Alan^® and Alan at 80™ daily on all social media and my blog.

Halloween

The holiday began as the ancient Celtic Samhain two millennia ago. It was the end of the harvest and beginning of winter. And, back then, they did wear costumes of animal skins. It also means "holy evening" because it became All Saints Day. When I was young we all would buy ten-cent masks if our parents didn't make costumes, and trick or treat in apartment houses, hoping for a nickel and sometimes getting an entire quarter, besides the candy. Today, kids go only when chaperoned by parents, who make sure the candy and fruits given out haven't been tampered with. (On the positive side, they also sometimes go for charitable contributions.) Sometimes we seem to be advancing into worse times.

Obfuscation

Let me translate something for you. when a buyer tells you that "the team" looked at a proposal and determined the time or content or methodology weren't what they needed, it's actually a buyer who's too timid and/or unprofessional to personally tell you "no." You're better off just moving on.

Rhetoric

Try to use colorful language. People remember it better and take heed. Instead of "that can't be done," try, "you can't square a circle." Instead of "they're not fast enough to understand innovative ideas," say, "they're two sandwiches short of a picnic." You must see the differences, because they're as obvious as a ham sandwich.

Difficult Conversations

There are conversations we are uncomfortable with, to the point of not having them, about: medical issues, performance reviews, relationships, errors, failures, politics, sex, religions, and so forth. It's worth having them, despite temporary pain. If you fear the dentist's needle then you're destined to live with lifelong ache. If you fear the pain of divorce, then you're destined to live with a failed marriage and empty life.

I often ask my clients (and prospects in initial meetings) what business they're in. Some look at me in concern, as if I can't read the sign on the door.

But Dyson is not in the vacuum cleaner business, they're in the air movement business, creating hand dryers, hair dryers, and so forth. IBM is not in the "business machine" or "punch card" business, and a huge part of their profit comes today from consulting services. Contemporary cruise ships, with thousands or passengers and everything from water slides to dinner shows, aren't in the cruise business, they're in the hospitality business.

What business are you in? It may not be the one you started out with, and/or it may have significantly changed its mission. To say, "I'm a coach" is pretty mundane and ubiquitous, but to say you're in the performance improvement business is a lot more interesting, removing you, one would hope, from commodity and moving you toward uniqueness.

The Savannah Bananas are a baseball team, but they are in the entertainment business, no less than the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team. Are you in the investment business or the financial security business? I heard a teacher who was on strike once explain in a coffee shop that she was a "professional educator." Gee, I'd prefer a teacher for my kids, not someone looking to "escape" the classroom and become a less-taxing guidance counselor or a union official.

Clients don't care a lot about what you DO, they care about what you're capable of CREATING for them.

AI is going to eliminate jobs just known as titles—actuary, accountant, insurance agent, air traffic controller—but not those known as contributors of important and unique results.

If I were on Dyson's board today, I'd be advocating for airflow systems through lightweight vests powered by long-life batteries to keep people warm even in extreme cold without heavy layers of unhealthy and restrictive clothing.

Of course, maybe they are....

Development Opportunities

My New Book, The Courage of Your Talent, will be released in October!

You can preorder here on Amazon: amazon.com/Courage-Your-Talent-Self-Esteem-Constantly-ebook/dp/B0GXRNT7DY

In today's volatile business environment, professionals face relentless pressures that erode confidence and self-esteem. Too often, worth is confused with performance—rising with each "victory" and collapsing with every "defeat." This book challenges that cycle, showing how true self-esteem can remain steady, resilient, and empowering without tipping into arrogance or slipping into imposter syndrome.

Drawing on proven techniques, it demonstrates how resilience means bouncing forward from setbacks rahter than retreating, and how self-worth must be distinguished from efficacy. By breaking free from herd mentalities, external validation, and self-doubt, leaders and teams can reclaim their autonomy, project confidence, and thrive in times of disruption.

The methodology outlined here equips readers to:

Gain rapid acceptance of ideas and accelerate career growth in any organizational setting
Improve health and well-being by reducing stress, guilt, and fear
Achieve greater success in entrepreneurial ventures, partnerships, and solo practices
Develop a clear, independent perspective on business and the world
Build trust in one's own judgement, enabling faster, more confident decision-making

This book is a practical guide to cultivating self-esteem as the foundation of resilience, adaptability, and leadership. It empowers professionals not just to survive change--but to lead it.

BOOK BONUS PROGRAM: Purchase now in advance or when the book appears but before December 1 in these numbers for these benefits:

Copies:

3	Free attendance at a 90-minute Zoom session on the topic. (Value $400)
6	One hour (or two half-hour sessions) one-on-one with Alan via Zoom. (Value $2,500)
10	Free attendance in Alan's monthly, 2027 Zoom workshops. (Value $3,000)
20	Complimentary participation in The Den, a 45-minute, one-on-one meeting every week for eight weeks. (Value $4,500)
50	Alan will critique a book, website, podcast series, or video series, existing or planned, with detailed recommendations for improvement and a powerful "draw." (Value $7,500)
100	Dinner with Alan and a following morning (three hours) of in-person coaching. (Value $15,000)

You can preorder here on Amazon: amazon.com/Courage-Your-Talent-Self-Esteem-Constantly-ebook/dp/B0GXRNT7DY

The Courage of Your Talent: The Zoom Session

I never assume people are "damaged." But I do know for certain that many people do not exploit their talents nearly sufficiently. They mask their talents through false humility, senseless, fear, self-imposed guild, and heightened stress.

In The Wizard of Oz the lion needed courage. The Wizard gave him a badge, nothing else. But the badge enabled the lion to call upon the courage that was innate but that he could not previously access. This was not so much a gift as a revelation.

Join me for 90 minutes for this unique and dynamic session based on my new book being released in October, The Courage of Your Talent: How to build your self-esteem, trust your own judgment, and constantly succeed in business (and life).

I’ve helped thousands of people directly, and hundreds of thousands through my books, podcasts, newsletters, and videos, improve their self-esteem and trust their own judgment.

Ego is external, and built to impress others based on what we wear, how we speak, what we drive, where we live, where we go. It is fragile and can be smashed or weakened by personal setbacks, malicious others, errors and mistakes, and other external events. But esteem is internal, it’s the belief in your own worth irrespective of your most recent “win” or “loss.”

Esteem declines not because of external events but because of internal neglect. A constant, appropriate level of esteem will see you through life’s journey successfully, but it requires deliberate attention and an avoidance of the neglect in which some people are unconsciously engaged.

I’m not providing outcomes or outlines here. I can put you on the right road on this journey in just 90 minutes. Of course, it’s up to you to stay on that road. But I can help with that, too.

I’m keeping the fee low: $400. I want you to want to do this. Spending this time with me can change your life. Why should you believe that?

Trust your judgment.

Date and Time: October 15, 10:30 to noon US eastern time

Video and transcription and visual photos to all who register.

Fee is $400 until September 30, $500 thereafter.

Register here: https://alanweiss.com/store/quick-pay/

Live Events: 2027

1. Las Vegas—February 10-11: Escape Velocity Intellectual Property

Creating world-class IP daily
Application in all media
Cataloging for use
Trademarking/copyrighting for safety
Application globally

Walkaway....with the ability to cretae emphatic, contemporary IP daily that will build your brand mightily.

2. Boston—May 19-20: The Future Is A Global Practice

How to create remote work anywhere
Creating global, passive income in any language
Highly profitable global appearances
The most highly effective personal travel
Creating international examples and case studies

Walkaway....with a game plan to work as much or as little as you choose overseas in person, and maximize your ability to do so remotely. Have every foreign vacation legally deductible and highly profitable.

3. Miami—November 18-19: Creating Your Life Strategy

Creating a future that is a calling
Preventinve and contingent planning for profitable growth
Examining and adjusting your beliefs and values
Determining who is in your future
Who do you want to be?

Walkaway....with perhaps the first true picture of a wonderful, personal future with processes and techniques to modify and alter based on changing conditions. Begin accumulating the resources you need now to be happy then.

Two days each

$2,500 each ($2,000 prior to Oct. 1, 2026)

$6,000 for all three ($5,000 prior to Oct. 1, 2026)

Register Here: https://alanweiss.com/growth-experiences/2027-live-events/

AI: AlanIntelligence®

The response to my special pricing for AI: AlanIntelligence® on my site has been so great that I'm maintaining the $450 fee for the summer with full access for lifetime to my body of work, including book contents.

Here's what people are saying:

"Alan,

This is pure genius! In less than an hour, I got help with three projects:

Webinar creation
Updated Business Plan
A prospect who's raising objections about fees.

I love it. This will be a tool open on my desktop/phone like ChatGPT.

Ed Tate, CSP

(Certified Speaking Professional and former Toastmasters® World Speaking Champion)"

In addition, I'm providing a very special session you can read about below on how to command any room, under any conditions, at any time. The fee is $500, but if you sign up for it I'll include AI: AlanIntelligence® for free, as my gift.

https://alanweiss.com/store/quick-pay/

2027 Zoom Learning

Jan 14: The Downside Myth

How to recognize and assess the upside
Changing your default
Changing others' default
Change does not include neutral

Feb 16: How to Magically Raise Fees

The art of the rebate
Non-cash lucrative compensation
Raising option 1 near nosebleed
Developing immense value

Mar 16: The Empire Strikes Back

Tactfully dealing with stupidity
Applying overwhelming social proof
Rebutting in the moment
Asking, "What will make you happy?"
Avoiding the shoulda/coulda/woulda

Apr 13: Odds are 12:5 the Customer's Not Right

How Nordstrom got fed up with returns
Gentle corrections using facts
Firm corrections using authority
The line is the sand for respect
Reframing the issue

May 18: Using Debt Intelligently

Finding the best sources
Refunding through making and not taking
Interest rates are not the top priority
Maximizing your credit score (harder than you think)

June 8: Raising Your Local Profile

Why this provides a higher and wider profile
Learning how to bid with flare at auctions
Serving on boards and leading boards
Civic pro bono work

July 6: Collecting Powerful Social Proof Daily

It's the news, stupid
Never disregard "irrelevant" items of interest
Creating analogous lessons
Staying contemporary

Aug 10: Shedding Stress

Distress and eustress
Only the dead have zero stress
How to prevent the usual infections
How to shed it when you get it

Sep 14: It's Not What Happens to You That's Crucial

Getting off the floor
Rallying resources
Why it's not as bad as you think
What doesn't kill you makes your stronger

Oct 12: The True Metrics for Your Life

Ignoring alien metrics
Permission to change expectations
Unbundling concerns
When to hold and when to fold

Nov 16: Alan's Top 10 Success Practices

I'M NOT REVEALING THEM UNLESS YOU SIGN UP!

Dec 7: The Wizard: Brains, Heart, Courage

Tailoring your feedback sources
Cognitive renewal and growth
Releasing true emotions
The courage of your talent

$3,500 for the year until December 1, then $4,500

$450 per single session

$5,000 with six coaching sessions

Order by October 15 and receive a FREE SESSION on December 17, 2026 on Creating Urgency:

Dec 17, 2026: Creating Urgency

Moving unmovable objects
Galvanizing action
The straw man on the burning platform
Irresistible incentives

Register Here: https://alanweiss.com/growth-experiences/zoom-workshops-2027/

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.

IT'S NOW IN MY VOICE! IN RECOGNITION OF THAT SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT, I'M OFFERING A SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP: INSTEAD OF THE CURRENT $1,200, JOIN FOR THE ORIGINAL CHARTER PRICE OF $450, FOR TOTAL ACCESS INCLUDING MY LIBRARY. YOU CAN DO SO HERE: https://alanweiss.com/store/quick-pay/ No annual fee, you can use this resource forever!

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 was having trouble with some computer equipment under my desk, and I asked my son-in-law, who's expert in technology, for help. He crawled under the desk to turn over a unit so that he could obtain the serial and model numbers for further communications with customer service.

Trying to be somewhat useful, I said, "Just read them off and I'll record them on a pad."

"Why would you do that?" he said, "I'll just take a photo with my phone."

"Oh."_