How Your Business Is Like A Fitness Routine
July 31st, 2013 by Diane Conklin under Business - General. No Comments.
Thinking about your business the same way you think about your health may seem like a strange analogy , or even illogical, but when you really break it down and think about it, there are a lot of similarities.
When you implement an exercise program, whether you’re just starting out or have been exercising for years, it requires you to be consistent. For example, let’s say you begin an exercise program riding a bike. You begin by riding your bike three or four days per week for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. Over time, you gradually increase the time on your bike, and after a couple of weeks of consistently riding you ride three or four days per week, but increase your time to 30 to 40 minutes at a time. In another couple of weeks you ride for 30 to 40 minutes, but you increase to four to five days per week. You continue this cycle until you’re spending an hour a day riding your bike five to six days per week.
Consistency is the key here. By remaining consistent, you improve your ability to ride for a longer amount of time, or whatever it is you are looking to improve. The added benefits of consistency are that it creates discipline, habit, focus, and it creates a lifestyle.
The same concept applies to your business. Consistency creates discipline and focus for your business. It creates a business style, and being consistent in your business creates commitment on your part, on the part of your team, and on the part of your clients and customers. When you’re consistent and your clients see you doing something over and over again it creates credibility. They know what to expect from you, from your team, and from your business.
Another concept found in both fitness routines and business is developing the ability to stretch yourself. When you exercise you’re consistently stretching yourself. If you ride your bike an extra five minutes, go a little faster, or ride a little farther you’re pushing and stretching to do a little bit more.
Again, the same concept of stretching applies to your business. Take a look at your business now and where you want it to be in a month, six months, or even a year.
There’s always a way to stretch in your business, too. Can you get to the next level? Can you fill the next event? Can you do the next promotion and make a certain dollar amount? There’s always a way to stretch to do a little bit more.
In a fitness routine, you stretch yourself by adding small incremental increases in a consistent manner, over a period of time, to improve your muscles and your health. Use that same lesson in your business. If you change something in your business, maybe two or three small things every week, or even once month, you will see consistent and steady growth in your business as well.
Stop thinking you have to make big, giant leaps in your business to be successful, and instead think about consistency and focus. Think about the small, incremental things you can do to grow your business, and you’ll achieve the growth and success you’re looking for.
