Submitted by Sabina Hitchen on | 0 Comments
(Pictured: Alexa Mcinerney in The Body Book by Cameron Diaz)
Last week when I was at my gym the unthinkable happened. At least what happened was unthinkable in my mind up until that moment. While working out, my trainer Alexa (pictured above) let me know that the next move we would be doing would require me to stand on my hands and lean against a wall, using core strength and my arms to hold me up. As I watched her demonstrate, I was mentally giving her the side-eye. I wanted to explain to her, "Sabina doesn't do handstands, or anything close to the like." I have never done them in my life. There are very few things that intimidate me, but the ones that do are often physical, due to my perceived limitations in my head (and a history of injuries and surgeries). Standing on my hands is definitely in that category of "things I cannot do". Or was. Because there I was, being asked to flip over and do what I thought I couldn't do, and instead of refusing or trying to talk my way out of it, instead of continuing to tell myself the same story about my abilities (and inabilities), I took a deep breath and did it. My first time up wasn't anything close to graceful, and the US gymnastic team won't be calling me anytime soon, but I did it. And then a few minutes later we did it again. Each time I became stronger and more sure of myself. Each time I trusted myself (and my arms). I stopped worrying about what I looked like and just focused my energy and determination on the task at hand.
After my session at the gym I was literally bouncing off the walls with a sense of pride and happiness. Part of it was because I had actually been able to pull of this new addition to my fitness repretoire, but most of it was because I had broken through my story of what I could and couldn't do, I dove deep into what I often refer to on #TuneUps as my "Discomfort Zone" and the impact was huge. I instantly began thinking, "what other items on my work/life To Do list could I adopt the same attitude towards?
While marinating in the good vibes brought on by my gym experience, I realized that much of what I am learning as I push my own pre-set limits (or allow my trainer Alexa to push them) can be applied to business as well. All of this challenging myself is producing amazing mental and physical effects just like challenging yourself in business can. That's when I knew that I had to take some of my favorite lessons from my sessions at Chalk with Alexa and share them with you today. Now drop and give me twenty! Just kidding, just drop whatever else you're doing and focus on the tips below:
Lesson One:
When something is difficult it doesn't meant it's impossible. It may be new, it may be slightly uncomfortable, you may feel like you're going to fall on your face figuratively (or literally) but it doesn't mean success or progress are unattainable. Keep going until it becomes less difficult, and you will start to master it. The more you face the things that most intimidate you, the less power they have and the more you break through to new levels of success. Which leads me to...
Lesson Two:
Often when something is challenging us it's because it's changing us. Embrace that truth when you feel a big challenge coming on. Sure, I could bounce around on the elliptical trainer all day long - it feels good, it's not too hard) but eventually will hit a plateau in my progress. When I'm not leaving my comfort zone and my routine, I'm not going to get any new results. Pushing ourselves beyond the norm, to when it's actually challenging us, that's the place where powerful change begins.
Lesson Three:
Trust yourself: You are capable of much more than you think you are, and until you learn to let of your fears and the perceived limitations you have placed on yourself and just go "all in", you may not be able to accomplish specific goals. Until you learn to trust yourself and dive in fully, you're actually making things harder for yourself! Let's take it back to the gym for a moment. When I was learning certain moves that were a bit difficult and made me nervous, I'd often hold back at first, not letting my muscles and body get fully into the actions they needed to perform in order to successfully do the exercise. The irony was that by holding myself back to protect myself, it was becoming impossible to complete the moves successfully. When I finally let go and trusted that my body could and would be able to work it out, I was able to to master it, my confidence level increased and each time I come back to it it's easier and easier - or at leach must less daunting. This will be the case with nearly everything you do in life. So trust yourself and don't hold back, you've got this.
Lesson Four:
When you want to give up there is always a bit more in you to give. Whether you're trying to get your product into stores, pitching the press, working on a marketing plan, designing a new product for your collection, trying to connect with people on social media or making edits to your Website and SEO plan, this small business work we do is hard. Sometimes you may be tempted to decide you've had enough of a specific task. I challenge you not to. Anytime you're ready to quit for the day, for the moment or decide to give up hope on something working out ever- like getting into a store or magazine you've been dying to get into - keep on going. Give it another try. Just take a breather gather yourself, take a deep breath, and try again. Know that you have it in you, and you owe it to yourself to push forward and try just a little bit longer.
Lesson Five:
The power and impact of a good teacher and professional guidance is limitless. If you want to make progress in an area of your life in which you aren't a pro or aren't experienced in, and you want to avoid the chance of unnecessary mistakes, you want to take yourself to a new and higher level, you want to avoid the random Google search for advice method of success, turn to a teacher. I was hesitant at first about getting a trainer. What could she do for me? Why don't I just watch YouTube videos and train myself? How much could she really impact me physically and mentally? Then I decided to give it a try Game. Changer. The progress I make on the outside and inside is multiple-times faster than trying it on my own. Having a pro I can trust to show me new moves (which often lead to faster results), to motivate me, to teach me strategies I would have never known without her sharing them, is priceless. That's what the power of good teacher and education can do for you. That's a large part of why we created Tin Shingle. Apply this lesson to your own life: Figure out where you need support in your business and find some method to get that support that suits your lifestyle.
Let's face it, making good decisions (which aren't always the same as easy decisions) is the name of the small business success game. These lessons represent good decisions that you can make for your business that will help it get stronger and healthier - just like they're helping me do for myself at the gym.
How does the gym influence you as a biz owner? Share in the comments below...
