In traditional Chinese medicine, ill health is often associated with the blockage of one's internal energy, "qi". If one is ill, clearance of the obstructed "qi" will result in the normalisation and re-establishment of optimal functioning of one's body and most diseases should disappear. If one is not ill, the free flow of "qi" will further enhance the existing sense of wellness and well-being. Incidentally, the concept of the internal energy is prevalent in most Asian cultures. The Japanese called it "reiki". Even the Koreans and Indians have their beliefs in internal energy.

In the corporate context, "qi" is the passion, drive, ambition and human spirit. It is the same "qi" that keeps you awake when you are watching the World Cup matches and Olympics games. It is also the same "qi" that impelled Walt Disney to risk his reputation by creating Disneyland and Epcot Centre without any market data on their viability. It is the same passion and drive that caused Bill Gates to give up his Harvard University study in pursuit of his dream of establishing Microsoft. You do not create Disneyland or build personal computers because the outside environment demands it. These things arose out of the inner urge for progress: the drive to go further and do better as well as create new possibilities without any external justification.

Jack Welch, the former chairman of General Electric US recognised the power of energy in his later part of his career. In early 1980, when he first took over the helm, his emphasis was on maximising market share. His directive was for all GE's affiliates to be number 1 or 2. Subsequently, it was a case of maximising market value through productivity programmes such as the 6 sigma, Workout, etc. In the later years, Welch indicated that he would hire people with the two types of energies: those who are energetic and able to energise others.

Philip Morris is the leading manufacturer and marketer of tobacco products whose brands include Marlboro, Virgina Slims, Benson & Hedges, Merit and Parliament. Philip Morris' executives are both charged up with passion and passionate consumers of its products. They see themselves as independent and mavericks 'cow boys', depicted in the Marlboro billboards. Philip Morris has 45% of the US market and 12% of the world market and Malboro name is the world's best selling brand. On the other hand, besieged R J Reynolds diversified away from the core business of cigarettes without a care for the staff's passion for its products Today, R J Reynolds Tobacco has lost market shares and announced in September to retreat from stiff discount-brand competition and planned for massive retrenchment.

To compete effectively in the future, companies need to maximise the energy of their staff as well as to exploit and tap the energy of their customers. The unblocking of the internal energy is like releasing the creative juices and energies of the staff. In the modern day corporation, the ideas and creative juices are the raw materials that can be packaged into blockbusters.

You can also unleash the internal energy of your customers too. Once the customers are all charged up for you, they can become the channels for your products and services by "word of mouth" and reference selling. When you win them over, they can become loyal long-term customers as well as evangelists who will win converts for your products instead of becoming the terrorists who bad mouth your products. The "word-of-mouth" selling is one of the most effective channels of selling as the customers can speak volume about the strength of your products much better than your own promotional/advertising efforts. The best part of it is that all these benefits are for free! This is the power of unleashing the internal energy of your customers.

Today, it is possible to release the internal energy of your customers through technology and one-to-one marketing. With the use of Internet and other online services, the vendors can literally know the individual's spending pattern, consumer lifestyle, preferences and other demographic information. They can draw much closer to each customer individually and have the unlimited opportunity to energise them.

Stay healthy and do not allow your corporate internal energy to be blocked.