October 21,
2008
Harvard Business School has
been studying the difference in success or failure for people of similar
backgrounds for over 30 years. Their studies find that 3% of people are
successful, 30% are moderately successful and 67% just exist. The
significant difference for the 3% who are successful is that they have
written down, specific goals. The 30% who are moderately successful have a
general idea of where they are going but don't have formalized goals. The
rest are happy to watch the world go by.
Here's the interesting part:
The 3% who have written goals are more success as a group than the entire
97% who are either moderately successful or are just watching the world go
by.
Even more interesting to me
is that people in the 30% moderately successful category only need to put in
a small effort to jump into the 3% group. The Harvard studies go on to
report that the secret behind the extra little effort is developing habits
and strategies that support the goals you set.
This same pattern holds true
for people who decide to get fit. The top 3% are 100 percent committed to
doing whatever it takes to be consistent with their exercise routine. They
have established their goals in writing and take all the steps to achieve
them. The 30% who are moderately success are still making progress, but
sometimes feel stuck.
If you're in that 30% who are
relatively consistent with your exercise and nutrition,
you certainly have my admiration. And if you're are ready for the next
level, here are the steps to get you into the top category of fitness
success:
1. Put your goals in
writing. Look at them
twice each day. Where do you want to be in 6 months from now? How do you
want your body to look and feel? Get very specific and write it down.
2. Visualize yourself in
your ideal body. In
your mind see yourself exactly how you want to look; feel what it's like to
have an abundance of energy and vitality, free from excessive stress.
Realize that our subconscious mind drives much of our behavior and it does
not know the difference between something that is real and something that is
vividly imagined. Whatever you picture in your mind and consistently think
about drives your behaviors, actions and mindset, and ultimately your
outcomes.
A great visualization
technique is to invest 10 minutes every night, while lying in bed with your
eyes closed, visualizing in detail how you want your body to look. Start
from the ground up and focus your visualization on how you want your legs to
look, and then move up to your hips and thighs. Focus attention on your
midsection, then your chest arms and shoulders. Finally, visualize your new
lean and vibrant face. See and feel how you want to look, act and feel as a
healthy, fit, energized new person.
3. Get help!
Unless you're a mechanic, you
probably don't service your own car, just like you probably don't do your
own taxes or perform surgery unless you're an accountant or physician. So,
unless you have an exercise science background, you stand to benefit
substantially by going to see a
qualified personal trainer. Beyond the obvious knowledge, trainers
provide accountability, motivation, support, and are your partner in health
and fitness, keeping you on your path toward achieving your goals.
So where are you? Which
category do you find yourself today? Regardless, take a few simple actions
today to get to that next level.
Have an awesome day!
Click here to watch how "Old School" training
gets you fit Fast!
Your friend in fitness,
Brian Calkins
NSCA-CPT, ACE
