CTT #141: 5 Ways to Boost Success

It’s Tuesday! Grab your cup and let’s start chattin’.

If we were having coffee together today, I’d tell you that I’m in the middle of an 8-day math and PSAT/SAT boot camp for my Next Generation Scholars. Summer is FLYING by–this is my final camp of the summer! I’ve worked to plan a variety of activities – math camp, SAT verbal prep, service day with Habitat for Humanity, service day and fun at Turner’s Creek, helping connect students to camps within their academic areas of interest, and more. It’s been challenging and fun and I can’t believe it’s almost over for the summer.

If we were having coffee together today, I’d tell you that I’ve been thinking a LOT about process. In the fitness world, we say things like “be patient!” “trust the process!” and those things are 100% correct. Part of my job as a fitness instructor is to TEACH clients about the process. Frequently, I get clients asking how they can “reduce belly fat” or “tone up” or “lose weight by next week” and I completely understand these desires and requests. The part that usually falls short is the amount of work they are willing to commit to get these goals. There is no magic pill, it takes work. It’s a process. You have to set the goal, and then make a plan, and then (this is the part where many fall) TAKE ACTION. Every. Single. Day.

Wellness and lifetime fitness is not a “set it and forget it” process. However, I believe there are things you can do “set and forget” style to achieve wellness and fitness goals. One example: meal prep. Spend one day, set all of your food out, put it together, pack it up, and FORGET about it. All you have to do is pull your prepped food from the fridge and go about your day.

Success requires a commitment to the process. It requires you to show up for yourself. Where, in your daily life, are you failing to show up for yourself? This is a tough question, and requires some deep thought and reflection. It’s not easy to be self-critical, but it’s necessary. You DESERVE to put your best self forward, and you DESERVE to be successful. So, get out of your own way and let yourself find success.

One of the biggest barriers to success is fear. What if I do it wrong? What if I fail? Spoiler alert? You will fail. You will do something wrong. You will make mistakes. Failure leads to learning, which leads to success. I would not be who I am today without all the mistakes and failures along the way. Making mistakes has made me feel more empowered, and ready to be confident and OWN my success.

As a fitness professional, and as a program coordinator for future opportunities for students, it’s my job to help people find success. It’s my job to help you be confident. Here are a few tips and tricks to get started on the path to YOUR success:

5 Ways to Be More Successful

1. Make a goal. You can’t be successful without a goal. What do you want to achieve? What will make you successful? What defines success for you?

2. Show Up. Every Day. Be all in. Don’t half-ass this process. If you show-up halfway, you’ll get halfway results. If you show up every single day? You will get what you want. Do something every day to work toward your goal.

3. Listen to you. Close friends and family love you. They mean well. But sometimes, they don’t understand your vision, or they’re worried about what might happen if it fails. A little uncomfortable of a topic, but sometimes people want to see you fail. Misery loves company, and someone in your life who acts this way might be happy to see things not go your way. You know what? You’re doing this for YOU. It’s YOUR goal, and YOU are the one who can make it happen. Try to stay positive and think about being successful with your goal.

4. Write these three things. 1) What happens if this goal is successful? 2) What happens if this goal is not successful? 3) What scares me the most about this goal? These three things will help you define potential barriers that get in the way of you being successful. YOU are your biggest barrier, and these three items will help you get out of your own way.

5. Celebrate small wins. Treat yo’self. I’m all about this. If you’re constantly living the “suffer for the goal” mentality, the process will not be fun. I like to celebrate small victories along the way. It makes the process even more fun!

What would you add to this list? What makes you feel successful? How do you define success?