Flip the Switch – Energy, Amplified

Most people think energy is something you either have or you don’t.

But what if I told you it’s something you can build—on command?

Seriously. You can practice it, train it, even trigger it like a switch.

Let’s prove it right now.

Quick Challenge

Everyone reading this—unless you’re flying a plane or driving a forklift—please stand up.

Now hold that pose.

Try to feel sad. Depressed. Angry.

Difficult, isn’t it?

Exactly.

That’s not magic. That’s biofeedback. Your body just told your brain how to feel.

And you know what?

That means you have more control over your energy than you think.

The First Time I Tried This

I was sitting alone in my home office, listening to Tony Robbins’ Personal Power II.
I felt silly, but I followed along. And the result?

A realization that hit me right between the eyes:

We all have a choice in how we feel.

And better yet—we can practice it.
Like a warm-up.
Like a muscle.
Like a tool you pull out when the moment matters most.

But Let’s Clear Something Up

This isn’t about faking it.
This isn’t about becoming some over-the-top hype machine.
This is about projection.

In stagecraft, “projection” means turning up the volume on your natural self so others can feel it.

Not to perform.
Not to pretend.
But to connect.

If you’ve ever seen Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk on “power posing,” you know what I’m talking about.

But this isn’t about standing like Wonder Woman.
It’s about feeling like Wonder Woman.

The Truth About Talent

Years ago, I toured with Up With People.
When we interviewed potential cast members, some of the questions we were forbidden to ask were:

• “How many years of vocal training have you had?”
• “Where did you study dance?”
• “Have you ever acted before?”

Nope. None of it.

The philosophy was:
Find people with positive energy. Teach them the rest.

Everyone has innate talent that can be discovered, shaped, and projected.

You’ve seen this play out on The Voice or America’s Got Talent. Ordinary people come alive when they turn on their energy. Sometimes all it takes is a great coach and belief in yourself.

So how does that help you?

Think of Yourself Like a Car

Neutral = Being yourself at home.
First Gear = Casual social interactions.
Third Gear = Job interview mode.
Fifth Gear = “I’ve got something important to say—listen up.”

And sometimes, you need to jump from Neutral straight to Fifth.

That’s where practiced projection comes in.

A Little Story

At a seminar once, the speaker had us walk around the room silently for five minutes… making eye contact only.

No talking.
Just presence.

It was weird. At first.

But then, something shifted.
You could feel each person’s energy.

Some open. Some guarded. Some electric.

That’s the part of communication nobody talks about:
We’re always broadcasting.

The only question is—are you aware of what you’re sending out?

Sometimes It Takes Courage

I saw Entre CEO Jeff Lerner say in a master class that he wasn’t naturally a dynamic person socially.

He said the thought of making marketing videos on camera terrified him. It was way out of his comfort zone.
So he created what he called his “Success Character”—a version of himself who could lead confidently in front of the lens.
Not fake. Not invented.
Just the part of him that was ready to show up strong.

He didn’t become someone else.
He became more of himself.
With purpose. With projection.

That’s what I want for you.

Not hype.
Not performance.
Just the most engaged version of you, activated when it counts.

And yeah, at first… it might feel a little awkward.
You might stretch in a bathroom stall before an interview—looking up. Smiling.
You might overdo it once or twice.
That’s okay.

You’ll calibrate.

Eventually, you won’t have to think about it.
People will just feel something when you enter a room.

And they’ll lean in.

Final Thought

Before every on-camera interview I’ve ever hosted, I say the same thing:

“Television drops your natural energy 10–20%. So if you're naturally laid-back, on-screen you’ll seem reaaaally laid-back. Bump your energy up just a little, and you'll be just right.”

That’s the idea here too.

Don’t fake it.
Don’t force it.
Just find your gear… and flip the switch.

Want more ways to activate your energy without selling your soul?
Stay tuned right here in the Energy category — we’re just getting started.