Coffee Talk Tuesday #84

Grab your cup and let’s have our Coffee Talk Tuesday!

If we were having coffee together this week, I’d tell you that…is it Friday yet?! Somehow, my Monday and Tuesday have become 14+ hour days and I’m super looking forward to the end of the week. As many of you know, my schedule is somewhat flexible for my MBRT job, so sometimes I have off Friday, or like this week, Thursday is my day off. However, I still teach classes on my ‘days off’ so there you go.

If we were having coffee together this week, I’d tell you that I’m definitely feeling yesterday’s PWR chest & triceps workout. The format is an adjustment, with the supersets, pyramids, and burnouts, but I like that you move on instead of repeating the blocks. I did like the repetition when I first started BBG because I knew what I had to look forward to, but toward the end I was craving something different. I’m so glad that the PWR program exists in the Sweat family! Working with the cable machine is new to me, and I can’t believe how different my muscles feel using the cables vs. a bench and free weights. Wow! I definitely did not feel this sore when I did bench chest press for BBG.

If we were having coffee together this week, I’d tell you that for the first time in TEN years, I’m having a low-key May 1. In the admissions world, May 1 is THE day — Decision Day. Students are supposed to choose their colleges by this day. I wish the best to my friends still in admissions, and can say it’s definitely a big sigh of relief to be outside of the college side of this world on this day! #SorryNotSorry

If we were having coffee together this week, I’d tell you that I’ve been thinking about a note that I wrote after this past week’s Pathways Conference. On Friday, I represented MBRT at a conference about equipping young people with the skills they need to compete in the global economy. While I walked away with some helpful tools to take into the classroom, I also got to mull over a few thoughts that expand into other areas of my life – personal and fit business.

One of the thoughts came during a session called “Coaching Young People for Success.” The point of this session was to share a success in engaging students about themselves instead of just the task you need to accomplish (the “what’s in it for me” idea that makes them take more ownership of the ask). He also ventured into the “why” speech that Simon Sinek made so popular and accessible during his memorable TED talk a few years ago. Here’s a fun snapshot of the thoughtful questions he asked:

• What gives you energy?
• What makes you stand out (skills)?
• What drives you (values – health, freedom, truth, serving, recognition, peace, wisdom, nature, loyalty)
• Do you like to help people? How?
• Rank these in order – people, data, ideas, things
  • And then he showed the responses to these rankings could help you dive into understanding if you like action, strategy, creativity, harmony, order, or leadership

He had tons of energy and I really enjoyed his presentation. I love when presenters get you thinking about yourself and don’t require awkward participation. I always pick up great presentation tips at these conferences!

The other thought I got to mull over (how’s your coffee?) was this: be intentional. Nothing new around these parts, but it was a great reminder during the student success story presentation at lunch. He used this idea of being intentional to show how he went from high school to college, to securing great internships, and becoming the best version of himself.

–> With intention and patience, almost anything can be accomplished.

So, my challenge to you is this — be intentional this week. Schedule your workouts, if you feel like you need energy and movement. Plan your meals if you are feeling sluggish and fluffy. Schedule time with people who fuel your creativity and passions, because this makes your energy skyrocket. Be intentional about scheduling downtime (I need to listen to my own advice this week! Mama needs a day off, even the coming weekend is too busy for my taste).

Think of a goal you have for yourself this week (sleep more! eat more vegetables! exercise more! catch up with a friend!) and write down how you will be intentional about making sure it gets done. And please share your goal! If you share a goal with others, you’re more likely to accomplish it.

So – what is your goal for the week and how will you be intentional about achieving it?