The local small business development center recently asked me to express my professional journey. As I thought about it, I found correlations between my own transformation and that of my business!
I am passionate about my business but as many of you know, passion is not the only ingredient to being successful. Any business owner knows (and busy mom’s, college students, and hard-working professionals) that gaining and achieving balance AND success is truly an art form. I started out with the intention of bringing a healthy lifestyle to others but soon found that there were many elements besides my core services that would determine whether I would succeed or not. I had to learn from my own experience of an unhealthy, pre-diabetic lifestyle that the building blocks to a fulfilling and energetic life started out with baby steps. I had to learn how to eat better, work out effectively, and understand nutrition and its impact on me. I have, in 10 years, taken my body to an unbelievable place… winning contests, reducing my body fat and adding years to my life. In the same 10 years I have had to learn the building blocks for my business. They included managing the money and inventory, mentoring employees and learning about lease agreements, just to name a few. I have been extremely fortunate to positively impact the health of hundreds of clients and I know this impacts us economically also. When you help one person, whether it be in health or business (or any other avenue for that matter!), the whole community thrives… in fact, dare I say, the whole planet thrives!
I feel empowered to provide jobs and add to the economic impact of our region. But most importantly I am proud to have learned the steps to have a healthy business along with my healthy body and that in turn creates a healthy world! I applaud all of you who, day in and day out, work hard to achieve, give back, and thrive. In each and every small detail that we undertake, there is an impact to those around us. I want to thank you for also choosing to be a positive force in our community! Together, we can make a difference!
Archive for the ‘motivation’ Category
A Direct Correlation Between Weight Loss and Business
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010A True Success Story!
Wednesday, April 21st, 2010By Wilma Young CPT
Changing our lifestyle to be more fit and healthy is a process. It stems from building your knowledge about proper eating, hard work and consistent choices. I was so happy for a recent revelation that one of my “star” clients had. She has spent the last year transforming her body and mind. She has dropped over thirty pounds and 3 pant sizes. Has muscle tone that rivals a college student and she is twice the age. Her physical changes are obvious to her family, friends and co-workers. But the surprise that revealed itself to us both happened this week. She had to prepare for a scope of the lower and upper GI tract as a regular routine test for a person her age. It required a “prep” diet that involved the elimination of all fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, protein shakes etc. All of the food choices she has come to rely on for mental and physical energy. The recommendations for eating were meat, white bread and processed foods that had little nutrition and fiber. By the time I saw her she was low in energy and feeling “punky” as she put it. She did not need to cut calories so that was not the issue. She knew at that moment that all of the foods she had been choosing over the last year that were full of enzymes, phytonutrients and life-force were an irreplaceable part of her health. That a few days without these items made her feel worn out and sluggish just emphasized how essential this ingredients were to her active and happy life. Her biggest dream was to eat oatmeal and salad again the next day. At this moment we had realized that not only had she transformed her body but also her mind and spirit. That she now craved the nutrition of good food as opposed to the “cheap” high that fast food or sugar provided was proof of what true success is! I guess the old adage is true, that you never know how much you miss something until it’s gone. That the life we choose to invest in is worth the uncomfortable stages we must go though. That in the end we have truly gained success when we know that the choices we make are the right ones and also the ones we want!
The Monday Morning Blues!
Monday, April 19th, 2010Wilma Young CPT
It happens to most of us. We have a hard work week and we want to let loose on the weekends. We feel we deserve a little rest and relaxation but what happens when we do a little too much? We eat a few extra bites, indulge in the appetizers we normally swear off of all week or nibble on the crackers and cheese put out by well meaning friends. THEN, Monday morning hits like a slap to the face and we are defeated. The need to berate ourselves with the internal “flogging” is an undeniable burden that leads to stress. This is the stress that causes our emotional roller coaster to take off. Then, you guessed it, our weight loss stops because we have increased our cortisol and start storing fat instead of releasing it. As a strong and relatively intelligent human being we know this is not the smartest way to handle our missteps. Yet, the child in us who has been use to a scolding when
she has done “bad” lets the voice inside take over. If we are not careful this is the turning point where we could fall off the wagon completely. In fact, it is especially important at this time to get RIGHT BACK ON! The key to a successful and healthy lifestyle is being able to navigate through the pitfalls that come up. To be able to evaluate and manage the social and environmental challenges we encounter and when we fail get right back to it is true success. There is no knowledge of success without the taste of failure. There is no peace if we have not known unrest or sunshine if we haven’t met the darkness. I want to offer you this. When you feel dark about your recent choices it is important to find your light again. Even if it is a flicker. It could be to wake up and do ten jumping jacks or make a healthy dinner for the family. Even thinking just a positive thought about yourself, like, I am a good mother, wife or friend can have a positive impact on your life. Maybe saying to yourself… I make a nice home for my family or I made someone happy today that was sad just by being there for them can be the turning point. It is important to get the light re-ignited at the first opportunity, even if it means you have to start that fire yourself. Remember, you are a light in this world, for your children, your community and for yourself. Do everyone a favor and let that light shine!!
If Beauty Is Only Skin Deep, Why Do We Spend So Much On Cosmetics?
Wednesday, March 24th, 2010Getting Past Mental Roadblocks
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010By Angie Lustrick
As the second month of 2010 comes to a close, where do you stand with your resolutions?
Have you made progress or did your motivation sizzle out?
Most people wait around for motivation to strike them like a lightning bolt. Well, I’ve got news: motivation isn’t something that happens to you – it’s something that you create for yourself.
If you don’t feel motivated to achieve your goals, it is likely due to mental roadblocks that hold you hostage. Read the following 21 Mindset Tips and prepare your mind for success.
1)Success comes first in the mind, so visualize yourself accomplishing your goals.
2)Remember, you are the only person who can hold you back.
3)Forgive yourself and love yourself despite past failures.
4)Decide what is important in your life, and focus on that.
5)Conquer each negative thought the moment it enters your mind, when it is weakest.
6)Give up the idea that things won’t go right unless you worry about them.
7)If you bring the body of your dreams to the point of resolve, then you’ll soon be living in it.
8)Look towards your future, if you believe the best is yet to come then it will be.
9)You become what you think about most.
10)The margin between success and failure is very small and easily bridged by determination.
11)Start your day by accomplishing your hardest task first.
12)Set small attainable goals, rather than one monumental goal.
13)Convince yourself that exercise is fun, and it will be.
14)Know your big reason why.
15)Create a motivating play list of songs to use as the sound track to your workout sessions.
16)Every decision you make leads you either closer toward achieving your goal, or farther from it.
17)If you think you’re a fat person, then you’ll stay fat. If you think you’re fit, then you soon will be.
18)Once you’ve set your goal, your attitude either pushes you toward accomplishment or failure.
19)If you don’t know exactly where you want to go, you will likely end up someplace else.
20)You can have the body of your dreams, but first you must give up the belief that you can’t.
21)You can only have two things in life: excuses or results.