24 Oct

Tendencies, Patterns, Behaviors & The Interrupt.

I spent a lot of time on the road in October with one more trip ahead. When I travel for work I can do it the “fun” way where I mix in personal interests and seeing old friends or I can do fall back to my tendencies.  Hint, I have more fun when I interrupt my tendencies.

The Tendency

I recently spoke to a great group of people from the International Truck Parts Association in Phoenix and my original flight had me in and out in 2 ½ days. I have a lot of freedom and control over my schedule which is an incredible gift. At times my tendency is just book the flight and get in and get out.

Here’s why. I hate planning and I don’t enjoy researching event calendars to find music, activities, or hikes in the places I’m visiting.  And so sometimes after a brief search I give up, book a flight in and out of town. That’s one of the patterns behind my Restless Saboteur.

The Interrupt

And then, I realized “Wait, I don’t want to live like this. I don’t want to live in airplanes and hotels, do ‘the work’ and go home.” And when I found the Philadelphia Eagles (#FlyEaglesFly ), my hometown NFL team, were playing in Arizona a day later I extended my flight and had a stranger give me a great deal on a ticket.

By chance I found the incredibly beautiful Bryce Thompson Arboretum[AP3]  and hiked their facility. I was greeted by rain and thunderstorms in the mountains of the desert, and I love rain in the desert. That same night the little town of Glendale, Arizona where I was staying had a great CCR cover band, Fortunate Son, for free in their little downtown. That’s a work trip that led to a fulfilling trip.

Oh, and Eagles fans have a terrible reputation and are largely not enjoyable to be around, which was reaffirmed. The fan next to me was the archetype of this persona. You’ve likely seen him or someone like him on my favorite reality TV show “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.” ????

New Behaviors

Now I have a list of things to make my travel planning easier because I know the pain points of travel are eased when I mix in my own personal fun factors.

I spent this past weekend in Denver speaking to the Denver APA I saw old friends, went fly fishing with one of my besties on my new favorite stream called “Secret Creek” (I’m not telling you the real name ????), and saw some fall colors. Win-win-win.

My tendencies get in my way sometimes. I’m glad I can name those tendencies as forms of self-sabotage, interrupt them and craft a more fulfilling life.

What’ the interrupt you need to make?


Anthony Poponi is a happiness expert, energetic professional speaker, workplace consultant and founder of Focus on the 40 programs and resources. He specializes in putting joy in our workplaces and in our communities through workshops and keynotes that leave his audiences buzzing. Being a hard act to follow on stage is always his goal.