Dear ERA. I have a confession to make: I’ve been too complacent with my business lately. I’ve been far too comfortable in my own capabilities with not too much drive to push myself forward. I’ve been stuck in a rut. Confused. Unsure of how I will get from better to best.
It was that moment of frustration that brought me back to my local spinning studio after a year-long hiatus. I felt a wave of guilt and insecurity as I clipped into the bike. Guilt because I let myself go over the past year. I had reached 290 lbs. Insecurity because I wasn’t sure I could still do this.
I crushed it. It wasn’t just a good workout – it was the best workout I’ve ever had. I was elated but confused. How could I have possibly done the best workout routine I’ve ever had… a year after being the most sedentary I’ve ever been?
Kian – my trainer – shared with me some key points after my workout. One: I was in tune with my will to succeed. Two: I had accepted failure as a natural progression to growing stronger. And three: I need to now make a recommitment to the routine.
Willpower is your strongest asset
Whatever may be holding us back right now, understand that our will is vital to breaking boundaries and pushing limits. When we train, growth only happens in the brief moments when we push through the pain. In your business, push through obstacles that obstruct your growth trajectory.
The last three or four reps is what makes the muscle grow. This area of pain divides the champion from someone else who is not a champion.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Failure is vital to growing stronger
When we train at the gym and reach those final reps, we’re literally tearing at the fibers in our muscles until they fail from exhaustion. We relax those muscles for a few days to recover. And from failure, we grow and become stronger. In your business, learn to welcome failure, rebuild your fibers, and grow stronger.
Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.
Winston Churchill
Repetition leads to breakthough
Strength training isn’t a one-time event. Training requires a commitment to repetition. We can never give up if we are to ever achieve our goals and grow. We find ways to keep ourselves accountable to the work-out regimen. In your business, the smarter you work and the more often you push through uncomfortable moments, the less it hurts over time.
Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.
Thomas Edison
Strength training is more about tearing down the mental barriers we put in our way than it is about our bodies. We get there with force of will, acceptance of failure, and commitment to repetition. In a lot of ways my avoidance to train mirrored my complacency in my ability to grow as a professional. For this reason I’ve challenged myself to slim down to 202 lbs. by Fuel 2020 for the sake of taking my business to the next level!
What will you commit to by Fuel 2020? Share yours with #FitByFuel
Hero image courtesy of Beau Runsten.
Dave, great post. Touched on all the keys to success. Folks should hang those 3 Key Points on their mirror so they can read them every morning. Your weight loss goal is mind blowing, That’s 88 lbs my Fuel. Post the 3 Key Points on your mirror, this will be an outstanding accomplishment.
Thanks, Paul! I’ve got back to the gym – the hardest part now is keeping the nutrition balance in check. The reminders on the mirror are a great idea.