THE JOY OF A CHALLENGE WELL-ACHIEVED
Last year while everyone was hunkering down in the stay-at-home economy, I chose to go out and explore. I hiked the Appalachian Mountains in northern Georgia
over several weekends, and it was a wonderful escape from the negative news. I found tranquility in the silence and magnitude of the forests. Yet those hikes were humbling as they were more challenging than I expected. I’m fit and exercise regularly (although maybe not as often as I used to!), so I assumed the hikes would be fairly easy. You know, I was expecting just a walk in the park. Boy, was I surprised! My hiking buddy and I may have been a little over optimistic regarding our physical abilities. The mountain put us in our place several times, and we had to adapt to each new challenge. It taught me that good hydration, a couple energy bars, an apple, and the right equipment made the 15 to 18-mile adventures much more enjoyable. The experience prompted me to reflect on what it means to take on new challenges and face adversity in all aspects of our lives. When we step outside our comfort zone to try new things, we learn that our true potential has not yet been reached. Each time we overcome a challenge, we get a feeling of satisfaction that builds our confidence. We can’t worry about what others think or listen to limiting beliefs. We have to “Just Do It!” as Nike would say. These are the moments that give one that feeling of standing on top of a mountain and seeing the world below. It’s a powerful feeling! … even if it took several rest-stops to get there. As a business owner, you envisioned your businesses from that high mountain top view with enthusiastic anticipation. I doubt you focused on the challenges that could detour your plans, even though you knew some
would be lurking ahead. So let me share the parallels I saw between the challenges I experienced on my hikes and being a business owner. As a hiker I experienced heat exhaustion, washed-out trails and boulders in the trail, poisonous snakes, and lack of physical energy to get over the next peak. As a business owner, we cause heat exhaustion when we burn ourselves out working long hours or implode our business by growing beyond our existing resources. The path detours occur when a major client leaves, a supplier goes out of business, or a successful marketing channel is no longer available (i.e. a Google algorithm change!). The snakes are new competitors, a dishonest employee, or changes in market demand. The loss of energy can come from the lack of sufficient cash flow, market leads, or personnel. Challenges will always be part of our lives and our businesses. We achieve greater success when we prepare ourselves, learn new skills, and effectively use our resources to overcome our challenges. Sometimes we face challenges we cannot overcome on our own and need to seek assistance. If you slip off the trail into a crevice (aka a problem) and struggle to stabilize your footing or gain leverage to pull yourself out, don’t let pride keep you stuck! Seek the help you need. That help will get you out of your predicament quickly and launch you towards new accomplishments. This type of collaboration is powerful and a lot more fun than struggling on your own.
So, onto the next challenge. Be prepared, be fearless, and enjoy the climb!
5 WAYS TO FIT EXTRA MOVEMENT INTO YOUR DAY
No. 3: Stretch in doorways. Our shoulders and neck can quickly get sore from the amount of time we spend slouching in front of our screens. An easy way to relieve the stress is to press your hands on either side of a door frame, then lean forward as far as you can. If you don’t have a doorway to use, you can try doing shoulder shrugs or neck rolls right at your desk to ease some stress or even just clear your head. No. 4: Do more calf raises. One of the easiest exercises to do in public or at home are calf raises. Do this by simply raising your feet high off the ground one at a time. Squats and lunges are also easy to do but may require more flexible clothing than you’re wearing and a space where you can move freely. No. 5: Walk for all of your phone calls. Sometimes, people start walking naturally while they’re on a phone call. Why not make it an intentional movement every time you take a call? Studies show that walking will keep your body in high gear by encouraging energy and productivity!
If you're restless at your desk, extra exercise and movement might be exactly what the doctor ordered. Even just a little bit of unplanned movement every day can help boost your mood and maintain good blood circulation. Here are five ways you can fit in extra movement without losing your productivity!
No. 1: Park farther away. It might be more convenient to park as close to your destination as you can, but parking farther away can add some extra steps. It’s a small difference that certainly can’t replace regular cardio, but it doesn’t hurt either! No. 2: Drink more water. Drinking plenty of water is healthy for flushing out bacteria in your system, but it’s also a great way of helping you get up from your desk. The more water you drink, the more times you’ll have to refill it in your kitchen or at the watercooler. And, on your way back to your workspace, take the long way around to say hi to your coworkers!
2 APPLETON: 920-944-6020 • NORTHEAST GEORGIA: 678-491-9744
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