Post originally appeared on Standard Bank BizConnect
Push yourself because no one else is going to do it for you. If you apply these principles to your life and business, you’ll succeed where may others have failed.
I’m a Crossfit widow. By this, I mean that since my husband joined Crossfit last year, I’ve had a lot more time to myself to focus on my business. If you know anything about Crossift, whether you’re an athlete or not, you’ll know that it is a lifestyle, a family, a thought-process – a passion.
If you’re rolling your eyes at the fluffyness so far, let me rephrase. It’s an obsession. Crossfit is an obsession. And then I came across this: ‘Obsessed is a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated.’ – Unknown
Watching the Fittest In Cape Town Crossfit competition, and being someone who believes in seizing every opportunity to grow and reflect got me thinking of the similarities between becoming the ‘fittest Man / Woman of Earth’ and becoming an expert in your field of business. You’re probably wondering where I’m going with this, but humour me and read on.
Here are some invaluable lessons I’ve observed that I hope will help you to grow yourself and your business – because this is my obsession – to inspire confidence in you so that you are able to live a life of magnitude and impact so that your business flourishes.
Lessons from watching Crossfit
1. If you’re to be the best in your field, you’ve got to be obsessed about being the best. You need to eat, breathe, dream and (always) talk about your dreams, hopes, ambitions.
The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do.
2. You’ve got to research and not be afraid to ask for advice from those who are further along than you are. There are no excuses. Just choices. If you want to succeed, you’ll figure it out – even if it takes a lot longer than you’d hoped.
3. Retrain your brain to see pressure as a privilege – an opportunity to hone in your focus and use the adrenaline to drive you. Shift your perspective. Replace nerves with excitement.
4. Set your goals high, but have fun in the process – it’ll keep you coming back for more.
Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion.
5. Don’t live with regret – give it your all every time.
6. ‘Active recovery’ is a thing. Take a day off to recoup, but keep your goals in mind and never get complacent – never get comfortable or slack off.
7. Encourage those around you. Always. Those are the same people who will support you when you’re at your lowest.
8. You’ve got to learn to be okay with being pushed beyond your limitations, even when it’s painful or uncomfortable. If you want to accomplish anything in life, there will be discomfort.
9. Giving up is not an option.
‘Don’t stop when you are tired, stop when you are done.’ – Marilyn Monroe, actress.
10. Going too hard too quickly produces burn-out – consistency is key. Slow progress is still progress.
‘It’s not about perfect. It’s about effort. And when you bring that effort every single day, that’s where transformation happens.’ – Unknown
11. Use every competition i.e. challenge, as an opportunity to learn and grow.
12. Supplement your body with the good stuff. What you put in is what you put out i.e. read, educate yourself, constantly be a student and develop as a person.
13. Celebrate personal bests. They’ll keep you motivated and upbeat.
14. You’ll have your off days. Tomorrow you’ll do better.
‘The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential – these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.’ – Confucius, Chinese philosopher, teacher and politician.
Here’s to living your best life and to growing impactful businesses.
