Four years ago the gym I worked at decided that personal training was no longer a full-time position and capped their trainers’ hours at 25 per week.
Prior to this, the cap was 40, which I had been sitting at for about a year.
In one swift kick, I had a part-time job.
After a brief attempt at scratching my way into a role that would allow me to keep my hours, it became clear that it was not going to happen. The gym didn’t value training enough to make accommodations for someone in my position regardless of what kind of money they brought them.
Long before this all happened, I had thought that one day I would like to open my own training studio.
I didn’t know how or when, but just that I would like to someday.
When my hours got cut, things changed and those plans got accelerated.
It was time.
I had tons of questions.
Where would I do this?
How do I legally make a business?
How can I afford the needed equipment and facility rent?
How do I transition my entire client base?
But, it was easy.
Not because I had all the answers.
But I knew people who did.
I was very fortunate to be surrounded by numerous people both in my career and personal life who were successful and had worked very hard at it.
Not your typical 9–5 worker who does the Olympic sprint to their car at 5:00:01 p.m. or the person who thinks a 10 hour work day is long.
People who had done what I wanted to do.
When they ran into problems, they knew how to work them out.
They weren’t afraid of the grind and encouraged a life of independence.
Over months and years of spending time with someone they start to rub off on you.
Motivation, drive, work ethic, diligence, patience, all of it.
Which ironically are all the traits that also help someone succeed in fitness.
Attitude and work ethic of those around you can either make you undeniably strong or can be completely toxic to you and what you are trying to build.
I have been extremely fortunate to have had fantastic people around me to help me get where I am today.
YOUR AUDIT
Most people are not completely happy with where they are in life.
In their minds:
-They weigh too much or too little.
-They don’t have enough muscle
-They aren’t good enough at their sport
-They don’t make enough money
-They don’t have the things they want.
-They don’t have the perfect relationship.
They feel “behind”.
If you are not happy with where you are, in any way, it’s time to make changes. Perhaps ones that are not easy to make.
I want to be clear that although this can be fitness related, it is just as relatable to your career, personal relationships, and all other facets of your life.
The old cliché saying about how you are a product of the people you spend the most time with is very true.
Start adding to your network of friends based on what you want to be and what changes you want to see in your life.
I cannot emphasize this enough.
There is not a more significant game changer than being around people who have done what you want to do.
You also need to begin trimming the negative people from your life who are holding back your progress.
This does not only mean people who are verbally negative, but just as significant are those who have a negative effect on you non-verbally.
Consider this:
Imagine if you worked at a place where everyone is motivated, has positive attitudes, wants to make more money, will always put in extra work if it is needed whether they are asked or not, is always willing to help anyone who needs it, and wants to keep moving up one way or another.
Now imagine if your co-workers are frequently late, are okay with doing the baseline amount of work or sales to keep their job, can constantly be seen wasting time, and take care of their end of the day duties thirty minutes before their work day is over.
What work environment is going to make you want to succeed and progress forward?
Those are the effects of being around non-verbal negativity.
Now imagine when those around you add verbal negativity:
-Always complaining about being tired
-Whining about how they don’t get paid enough
-Complaining about customers and other employees
-Upset about how far the drive is to work
-Griping about how bad the health insurance is
-Angry about having to stay an hour late occasionally
Whether you think these things affect you or not, they do. Far more than you probably even realize.
When you get caught up in the cycle of negativity, you become one of its players.
I am not telling you to refuse to talk with and spend time with some of your friends and co-workers anymore, but perhaps it needs to be limited if they are holding you back from being your best and achieving the things you want.
When you are trying your best with a new fitness program and one of your know-it-all friends constantly hounds you about how everything you do is wrong, maybe it’s time to decide how good of a friend they are.
Remember, you can think of someone as a “good friend” yet they can still be a terrible influence on your attitude, work ethic, and progress in your life.
There is a big difference between those who truly want to help you and those who claim they want to help, but deep down do not want you to succeed.
The latter is FAR more common than you might think.
There are many “friends” out there who act one way, but in reality do not want you to:
- Be in better shape than they are
- Have a better marriage
- Make more money
- Have a nicer car, house, boat, etc.
- Have a more successful career
This is not healthy competition. This is deep rooted insecurity that makes many “friends” unable to drive you to be your best.
However, healthy competition is a great thing.
If you are the top player in your life at something, there is nowhere to go.
Whether that is in fitness, a sport, or in your career.
Try to find someone who can provide some healthy competition with you to keep you hungry and constantly pushing forward.
These people should not only challenge you to make progress, but also have a real desire to want you to succeed.
YOUR CHALLENGE
Let me wrap this all up with a bow and tell you what you need to take action with.
1. Start spending more time with people who are where you want to be and have done the things you want to do. If you know someone who has been successful and has been and done things you want to see happen in your life, do not miss out on an opportunity to have them help you further yourself.
2. Begin trimming people from your life who are negative and potentially holding you back from making more progress in your endeavors. Think about the five people you spend the most time with. Now one by one ask yourself if that person has a net positive impact on your life or not. I don’t mean is he or she a “nice person”, but are they pushing you to become better in a positive manner or pulling at you to come down to their level?
3. Have healthy competition in your life. Having people around you who push you in fitness, work, or relationships, to better yourself and make forward progress is a necessity in growing.
The benefits of these three things will have a significant impact on your life. Do not sit by idly without taking action as you will leave many great things on the table.
If I can answer any questions or help you out in any way, I would be glad to help. Email me at:
Or visit my website for more information at: www.JonWalters.CO
jonwalters.co 