A fellow entrepreneur and regular client of mine recently commented that working out was like running a business. “I’m extremely motivated, focused, and goal-oriented when it comes to my business”, she said. “Now I’m doing the same for my fitness!” I then came up with 5 ways you can apply winning business strategies to your own personal health.
1. Set goals
Goals keep you on track for success. Just as you would set financial or achievement-based goals for your business, setting goals for your personal health keeps you motivated and focused. Sign up for a race event, make a deal with your spouse to work out 4 days per week for a month, or set performance goals for the gym.
2. Push beyond your comfort zone
I believe that the most success and the best results come from stepping outside of our comfort zones – even just a little bit. Our comfort zones are havens of safety and habit, but by bursting through them, we’ll experience adventure, excitement, new opportunities, and newfound confidence. Outside your comfort zone, you’ll reach your goals more quickly, feel more accomplished, and have more fun – whether it’s business or personal health.
3. Envision your success
Just as successful entrepreneurs envision their future business success, you can envision your health and fitness success. Athletes preparing for races do it all the time: sit in a relaxed position, close your eyes, and use all of your senses to imagine achieving your goal. How will your body look after losing 10 pounds? How will you feel while achieving your goal of running 10K?
4. Keep your eye on the prize
Focus, focus, focus. Just as you’re 100% dedicated to the success of your business, you need to be 100% dedicated to maintaining good health. Make no excuses (rather, find solutions), and keep in mind what you’re working toward. Better physical health will mean better business productivity. If that’s not a win-win, I don’t know what is!
5. Effectively manage your time
Running a business (especially as a solopreneur) is all about getting the most tasks done in the least amount of time. Apply this principle to your health and fitness. You don’t have to spend hours at the gym for optimal health. Instead, spend 20 to 30 minutes a day doing high intensity activity. Jump rope in your driveway, run as fast as you can for 30 seconds (then recover for 2 minutes, and repeat), or try high intensity home workouts like Insanity or P90X. As for nutrition, make large amounts of healthy meals on weekends, then freeze leftovers for use during the week.
LEAP OF THE WEEK: Choose 2 of the above principles to put into action this week. How will you increase your health, and as a result, your business efficiency? Let us know in the comments below.