Business Lessons Learned at the Gym

Gift Basket Network Success Express

Business Lessons Learned at the Gym

I Hate Exercise . . . But. . .

I’d much rather curl up with a good book than go for a hike or, heaven forbid, to the gym. But after developing sciatica, I learned that if I didn’t want to hurt, I had to build those core muscles. So, like any good business person, while doing those hated exercises, I looked around the gym and learned some business lessons that I’d like to share with you.

1. Hang around people whom you want to be like.

When I walk into the door of the gym, I see others who, like me, are there because they know they should be but aren’t having any fun. But the real energy is with the group of those who are there because they love it. The more I talked with them and realized how far some of them had come, the more motivated and inspired I became.

Why? Because I learned that when you hang around people who are doing what you want to do, you automatically have a much greater chance of success.

Who are YOU hanging around? (Think about it.)

2. Consistency is the key for long-term success.

When I first started going to the gym, I expected results right away but I learned from the experts who were working out there that a strong body isn’t built overnight. It takes time.

And the more often I went, the more they remembered me as they realized that I was serious about this stuff and not just a “come a few times and quit” kind of gal. Our business customers also have memories. I like to call it “marketing memory.” As long as we market to them on a regular and consistent basis, the more they will remember us.

3. Ups and downs are a part of the process.

When I first started going, I was stiff and sore and swore I would never go again.

But I told myself that pain from exercise would go away a whole lot faster than pain from my sciatica.

I also know that if I quit and go back later, that initial pain from using stagnant muscles will return. But as long as I slowed down some weeks but didn’t quit, I could follow the down week with an up one and have success.

Marketing has cycles as well. You can hit it hard for a while, then ease back for a bit. Don’t worry when there’s a “down.” Just make sure to immediately follow it with an “up”. Get back on your marketing schedule or mix it up and do something different.

4. Hard work is part of the game.

Isn’t that the truth!  I don’t exercise because I love it. For me, even though it is a little easier now, it is still hard work and there are days when I wake up and say, “I don’t feel like going to the gym today.” But I just do it.

It has become part of my schedule, like waking up and having that first cup of coffee while reading the paper. All of us would love to have business success handed to us but that isn’t going to happen. Hard work, like exercise, is part of the game.

5. Model others who are already doing what you want to do.

Those bodybuilders at the gym don’t try to invent their own training programs from scratch. They look at what others who are successful do and they do the same thing.

Don’t reinvent the wheel when there are others who are already careening along down the business highway. Find other business owners who are doing what you want to do, and model them.

6. Find a mentor or coach for faster results.

I don’t know of any champion bodybuilder who did it without help from others. They all had a trainer or a coach who has been there before and could help them navigate the jungle. A good mentor or coach, who has already reached the level of success that you hope to obtain is priceless.

I know many entrepreneurs who have wasted thousands of dollars on websites, programs, and training that got them nowhere or pointed them in the wrong direction. Don’t make that mistake. Find yourself a good mentor who will show you the way – the right way – the first time.

7. Show off what you’ve got!

You can be sure that those hunks who have built their gorgeous bodies aren’t meek about their success–sometimes disgustingly so.

But take a lesson from their playbook and even if you aren’t as successful as you would like to be yet, show off what you DO have. Toot your own horn. You’re doing yourself and your potential customers a disservice if you don’t let them know what you and your business can offer.

 

2 thoughts on “Business Lessons Learned at the Gym”

  1. Andrea: Picking the best mentor for you takes time as well as knowing what your own goals are. Coaches and mentors are two different things although many people confuse the two. Coaches are usually paid while mentors usually aren’t. Think of a mentor as a trusted adviser, a supporter, a person who can lend experience.

    Take your time choosing someone and then ask them. If you’ve identified someone you think would be a perfect mentor, don’t worry about whether he or she is too busy. There’s no point in recognizing the need for you to grow and be guided professionally if you don’t shoot for a mentor who is successful and probably stretched for time. Have the confidence that the reply will “yes,” and get your pitch together. What have you got to lose?

    You don’t have to have just one mentor. You can have several. No one person will have all the answers, so choose a number of different mentors with different backgrounds and experiences to help shape your goals and outcomes.so that they are uniquely you.

    try to find a mentor who will challenge your thinking and show you there might be a different way to approach a problem, or an additional potential one you never knew existed.

    Some things to consider when choosing a mentor are:

    1. Integrity – Choose someone to pattern yourself after who has impeccable integrity. Then watch how they manage challenging situations, tough conversations and setbacks.

    2. Someone who share: Look for someone who enjoys sharing knowledge and expertise.

    3. Look for someone who is a good listener: .Great mentors tend to be people who listen to understand. They ask follow-up questions and they make sure they’ve understood before they react..

    4. Look for someone who will be honest with you. The best mentors best mentors are those who pull you aside and tell you what you need to hear – even when you don’t want to hear it.

    5. Make sure that the person you choose is someone that you respect.

    A good mentor can be someone who is 10 steps ahead of you in your industry, doing what you want to, in the way you want to. But don’t forget those who are at the same level as you and you can mentor each other. Connect with new people who you can help, and who will find it a mutually-rewarding and beneficial experience to support you.

    When I first started my gift basket business, it was a relatively new industry as was Internet communication. I belonged to AOL and participated in a group of wonderful people who shared ideas and helped each other. In today’s world, this doesn’t happen so much in facebook groups and forums. A suggestion would be to create a group of like-minded people that you trust and who would be willing to share.

    And one last, but perhaps the most important, thing to remember is that mentorship is a two-way street. You have to give as well as receive. Give your support to your mentor in whatever way you can — comment on their forums or facebook groups if they have one and be their cheerleader as well.
    . .

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