Are you fit to run a business?
This week we hand over the blogging reins to Paul Chapman. Paul is a Marketing Strategist, founder of Marketing Jumpleads, speaker and Best Selling Author of The Game Changers. Here he is, sharing his thoughts about why fitness is so important when you’re running a business.
Are you fit to run a business?
There is a big reason that most business owners don’t achieve what they want that never gets talked about.
Let me say from the outset, when I have spoken about this before it doesn’t make me very popular but (and this is the way it should be) – I talk about it as I have personal experience with it. Now this could just be a factor that only affects me but I don’t think it is.
The simple truth is that most business owners are not fit enough to run a business. This has nothing to do with their competency; I am talking about their actual “health”.
And at this point let me just say that being a business owner isn’t any more ‘noble’ than being in employment, but the set of skills and the day to day challenges of running a business require very different things.
There is more to think about, more to process and more that is “in your head” when you run a business than there is in employment. As such, the energy you need to keep it all going is something that you need to think about – but most business owners don’t.
This comes from bitter experience.
If I am honest THE crucial factor for me and my ability to get more of the RIGHT stuff done ultimately boils down to the amount of exercise I do.
When I am fitter, everything is easier.
I eat better
I sleep better
I have more energy,
I think clearer, quicker and more creatively (crucial for a marketing strategist!)
I get less stressed
I can handle more things at once.
Everything I do is easier – and my productivity rockets.
The simple fact is when you’re not fit – you don’t have the energy.
Your brain isn’t as sharp and it simply stops you working at full capacity. And to add to the mix it also needs more down time.
As a business owner, what we do isn’t easy. It is mentally and often physically challenging – not keeping yourself in decent shape will only make it harder.
It took me a long while to realise it, but now exercise time is in my diary and as important as any other business growth function.
Huge thanks to Paul for taking time out to share his experiences with us. His passion for exercise as a business strategy is evident!
If you’d like to know more about how personal wellbeing is good for business then take a look at our remaining Business Breakfast Seminars.