In Ontario, Canada we have an election coming up. 

On June 3, we are faced with a choice of mediocre (at best) options to lead our province of 15 million people.  The topics are well discussed through mainstream media,  leading the charge on every party’s platform is health care.  

Political parties are debating on where billions should be spent in bolstering our failing health care system. No one is arguing that money should be spent on increasing capacity, recruitment and retention of nurses and health care workers, mental health initiatives and increasing access to basic services for those without benefits.

What is staggering is that no one, and I mean no one is talking about the portion of health care that is preventative.

Correction, they are.....they are talking about taxing gym memberships??

In 2012, researchers at Queen’s University estimated that physical inactivity cost the Canadian government $6.8 billion annually from the direct costs of treating preventable chronic conditions and indirect costs such as loss of labor and disability claims.

According to research presented to the House of Commons, every dollar spent on physical activity saves the government $6 in treating chronic illness.

Access to regular physical activity should be tax deductible.

The benefits of regular physical activity are indisputable, including to the provinces bottom line.

In the late 1980's public education in Canada severely reduced access to Physical Education. That has not worked out so well for the generations since (understatement).

Why is no one addressing the prevention side of health care?

The solutions are not rocket science. Incentivize access to facilities, programs, education and health lifestyle habits.

Let’s face it, the last 2 years have created some situations that we have not faced before.   Our relationships, careers, our kids, friendships, hobbies, finances, stability in multiple areas have been affected.

The last 2 years notwithstanding, everything has sped up in expectations, information and day to day pressures.  All seems to be coming at us at breakneck speeds.

Unless we monitor and filter.

Regardless of how well we have navigated change, bad news, stress, or tough times, injecting ourselves with a light or positivity becomes critical if we are to be our best selves.  The light comes from what we feed our brain. The information we let in directly correlates to how we feel, to the energy we have or don’t.

There is a saying of “garbage in, garbage out”, and this applies for sure to our mood, our ability to keep perspective, our outlook and overall well-being.   

The challenge of course is that we don’t realize the impact of the drip dripping of garbage in.

Here are 4 ways we can filter the garbage in and nourish our soul.

·        Monitor what you feed yourself. Simple not easy, but sugar, processed foods, alcohol and all the other temptations of our western lifestyle and diet takes its toll if not monitored. We need to give ourselves a chance.

·        Build activity and/or mindfulness into your day. At 10-15 minutes a couple of times a day, your body & brain will get what it needs.

·        Turn the news off.

·        Bring something positive in daily. Podcast, read, conversation, humor.

Taking control and not let the tail of the world wag the dog of ourselves will impact our mood, health and protect our soul.

Many organizations offering fitness are waiting longer than ever for their commercial gym equipment. Those needing parts for their treadmill are also experiencing unusual delays.

The vibrations of the last 2+ years are still being felt in fitness equipment supply. The fitness equipment market was estimated to be valued at a $11 billion dollars in 2021.

The equipment you see in gyms, hotels, universities and other facilities as well as in your homes all adds up to be a significant industry employing hundreds of thousands around the world, and serving millions of people.  The last 2 years have wrecked havoc with fitness supply, like many industries, and the discomfort has not subsided.

Recent interruptions to production in factories in China due to COVID, where the majority of the of the world’s equipment is made along with challenges in transport and rapidly changing demand have all added up to rocky times within the industry.

Who is prospering in these uncertain times?

Those manufacturers with diversified manufacturing locations, target markets, stability in infrastructure and strong cash positions are progressing despite these challenges. Those fabricating their own components, assuming they can access raw materials, is also helping to withstand the storm.

Organizations with stubborn pig-headed determination to overcome, strong leadership, engaged employees and strong handle on cost management will come out on top.  Those with non diversified revenue streams, component fabrication outsourced and who hesitate in adapting have not only lost market share but have had their existence threatened with all the changes in the last 26 months.

There have been more changes within this industry in 26 months than in the previous 40 years, with more adjustments  still to come.

The lifeblood to any business is revenue, generating revenue.  Sales is the art of generating revenue. If you google a book on sales, you will find thousands of options, resources to teach us how to improve our selling skills and efficiency.

While the resources will let us know that anyone can excel at sales if they put their mind to it, the reality is that only certain few will make a living in sales. The few who develop a mastery of selling skills demonstrate certain characteristics that set them apart.   Same in the gym, only a small percentage of the population go to the gym on a regular basis.

Achieving your fitness goals requires a similar mindset and approach to succeeding in sales.  In fact, when we compare, much of what is required to progress in sales is similar to what is needed to keep moving forward in the gym.

·        Those most comfortable in the gym have built up confidence over time. In sales, no one is comfortable at the beginning, practice, study and experience builds confidence.

·        Success in the gym requires frequent, consistent practice as in sales.

·        Much in the gym will be new, and somewhat uncomfortable at the beginning, as in sales.

·        In sales, if you work on your skills today we will typically not see results today. Same in the gym.

·        Often, we will be disappointed in sales, as we will be in the gym.

·        We feel better when we confirm an order in sales, as do after a workout.

What the sales books will not tell you is simple. Want to do better in sales? Go to the gym!

Gyms are one of the few places in the world where everyone is focused on a variation of personal improvement. They are a hub for the promotion of health.

The gym has evolved from a hub for bodybuilders, to being mainstream.

There are gyms in hotels and resorts, at the workplace, on boats and in office buildings, in schools, colleges and universities. We can find gyms in condominium and municipal buildings and at the YMCA. We have gyms open 24 hours, some big and some small. We have gyms for athletes, for women, for seniors and kids. There are gyms in correctional centers and military bases, in police stations and fire halls. There are now portable gyms that move around and outdoor gyms, and of course there is the home gym.

The gym is a haven for many, a torture chamber for some, the best part of the day for certain types and part of the routine for others.   

The benefits of going to the gym lie not only in the physical, but also the mental. The self-esteem, the reduced depression, the improved capacity to think and focus.  There is the social part and being part of something bigger than oneself, a community.  Then there is the healing power of regular workouts at the gym, how it keeps the brain young and reduces chance of dementia, helps with addiction, sleep and pain.

While many look at the gym as serving a fringe few and for those focused on appearance, the benefits run deep and can impact everyone.  Fortunately. there are multiple settings in which we can find a place where we can work to improve and better ourselves.

It would serve us well to make it easier for more people to get to a gym, we would all stand to benefit.

A common step in searching our fitness advice or consult is to seek the services of a personal trainer.   

Personal trainers:

Trained professionals who advise on exercise as a prescription to better health.  The range of certification can vary and can the topic of much controversy, as there is not 1 benchmark for qualification like, for example, passing the bar exam to practicing law. The range and scope of practice can also be somewhat controversial. A personal trainer, for example, can often provide nutritional advice but many are not trained or certified to do so.

A personal trainer is like any other profession, there is a wide range of competence based on certification, knowledge, experience and skills.

Many consider a strength & conditioning coach a fitness coach. 

The S & C coach has much in common with the personal trainer but traditionally have worked with athletes as opposed to the general population.  The S&C coach has been focused on preparing an athlete for the demands of competition.

The evolving role of the S&C coach however is to work with the adult population as well as kids not just athletes.

At its very core, the S&C coach prepares their client for the physical demands put upon them.  That could be the 50 year-old who wants to move well, or the pro/college athlete or the young 10 year old who wants to make the local baseball team.

A fitness coach covers all, finding one becomes a subjective exercise in matching your needs to the skills of the coach.

We can all benefit from a fitness coach. Which one is best for you?

We are told that exercise and lifestyle choices support high quality of life as we get older, but where do we go for advice, for coaching?

There are a ton of choices, none of them clear.

Online is a quagmire of men with their shirt off and ladies with little clothes … so how can we figure this out?

Full disclosure:

I am not soliciting a fitness coaching program. I am sharing my experience in working with a coach after many years in fitness and as a coach and teacher myself. My health, energy, ability to move, and overall fitness improved dramatically and we all deserve same.

Hiring a coach changed how I viewed exercise, and I was a believer to start with!. This coach got coached for the better!

Some highlights from my journey, maybe they can help you?

1.      Getting in better shape is accelerated, sustainable and safer with coaching.

2.     A coach will help with moving well and without soreness or pain while helping with physical goals. Low body fat but being hindered in movement is not progress.

3.      If we could do it all ourselves, we would have already.

4.      A coach gives you a different set of eyes, assesses and provides perspective.  A baseline is provided, targets set, feedback and guidance provided.

Before we can find a good coach, we need to agree that the time is right to get a good coach .

Don’t know about you, but time is ticking!

If you liked this, stay tuned as more is coming on how to find a good coach, as well as what constitutes a safe training program.

At the core of the youth sport experience is providing opportunities for young people to engage in something new, something they enjoy, something that enhances physical, emotional and social development.

How can we improve the situation?

1.      Personal responsibility

When adults get involved in youth activities, the only agenda must be one of contribution. Making the situation better needs to be the goal.

Providing a better situation from one we found is within all of our power and it starts by each of us (parent, coach, volunteer, officials, board members) taking a vow of personal responsibility.  The vow of personal responsibility is simple: make things around us better. Simple not easy.

2.      Alignment of purpose

“All organizations start with WHY, but only the great ones keep their WHY clear year after year.” Simon Sinek.

A clearly defined purpose on why the organization and team exist is critical and reinforcing this at every level consistently. Alignment of purpose shares meaning throughout the organization and stakeholders, including participants.  

3.      High standards

Rewarding young athletes for improvement as opposed to punishing when not hitting the desired outcome is a higher standard ensure high levels of participation. Encouragement and praise. We all respond well to being encouraged.

Our society has falling into constant critique from all angles endlessly.  Youth sport is no exception.  Encouragement with progressive ideals is empowering and progresses towards the purpose of the organization.

4.      Skilled communication

In all walks of life, those that communicate well, thoughtfully, with skill, in both written and orally become unstoppable.

Poor communication staggers a team, slows down an organization and minimizes evolution while diminishing the experience.

Establishing the above pillars, to any degree, will make the situation better.

·        Sitting a lot each day?

·        On the computer or phone hunched over?

·        Do the same activity repetitively?

·        On your feet a lot?

Most of us can check one or more of the above then we qualify as the years add up.

Qualify?

Yep:  We pass the test, make the grade and head to the front of the class.

We have too much muscle tightness, and it is very uncomfortable, defers pain and can get to the point of preventing us for doing what we want.

Tightness is defined as an inability of a muscle(s) or muscle groups to move through a full range of motion for a specified body part.

And we qualify for the tightness train!

Unless …we do yoga, or we have a massage ball/tennis ball or foam roller or one of those fancy guns. Or, we have mobility routine …ankles, hips, shoulders, neck.

Being tight is connected to a lot

Low back pain can be tightness around the hip. Heel pain can be due to tightness in lower leg or in the foot. Neck soreness due to shoulder tightness, numbness in hands and wrist due to tightness forearm area (hello keyboard warriors!).

I have experienced all of this over the years by the way.  You?

The tightness led me to a chiropractor, massage therapist, physiotherapist and osteopath at different times looking for relief. They all helped, but often it returned.

It was only with daily routine (10 minutes or more) with the massage ball, foam roller and mobility work did the pain and discomfort go away.

It’s not fancy or sexy to build massage and mobility into your day, but it is a critical component that most forget. 

So, let’s loosen up!!

In the last 20 years email has become a critical tool for workplace communication. it has replaced the phone for sure.

Email allows us to communicate efficiently and to the point (if we do it right). Documents, links, reference points are all easily attachable to further our point.  Sloppy emails are counterproductive. Like anything else, it is a skill and needs practice.

While I don't have stats to back it up, my experience links quality of email skill to income level.

Here are 7 ways to write better emails.

1.      Have a clear subject line.

It highlights the purpose of the email.  That highlight is good for the reader, and good for you the writer. It clearly defines the purpose of your communication.

2.      Don’t change the subject without changing subject lines.  

Want to confuse your reader? Change the topic in the reply sequence.  Modify the subject line if you are replying on a different topic than the original.

3.      A greeting is always nice. 

Hi “first name”, or “good morning first name” is always appreciated and sets a nice tone. Maybe a “hope all is well”, “hope you are having a good day” can be thrown in. Everyone likes to hear from someone who is positive.

4.      Re-read your emails before hitting send. 

Grammar, punctuation, and spelling and are important. They say a lot about the care you put into your communication. While not all people care, those signing paychecks often do. 

5.      Keep emails as short as possible.

Short words. Short sentences. Get to the point. If you hit reply to the same person more than 3x, probably time for a call.

6.      Don’t email angry. 

Don’t have full worlds in CAPS. Don’t email after disappointing or upsetting news.

7.      Don’t email bad news.

Bad news needs a better medium than email. We are people after all!

Initiative has become a highly coveted, yet underrated leadership skill.

Taking action without being prompted. The opposite to reactive. Doing something on your own. Initiative.

In a world where just about everything can be provided for us and is at our fingertips, identifying and teaching initiative has become a coveted skill.

In the realm of leadership skills, initiative may be the long lost one. Initiative’s cousins include problem solving, creative thinking and confidence.  A confident person takes the initiative. 

Hiring for initiative:

Hiring for initiative means having an employee committed to getting things done.

Entrepreneurship requires initiative. No one started a business without taking initiative.

4 ways to develop initiative or teach it in others:

Self-confidence.  

In the world of youth sport, building self-confidence in your athletes means putting them in situations in which they have a high chance of succeeding.   It means teaching them the fundamental skills that will increase competence and success.  In the workplace, few employers have the time to teach initiative, unless youth are a  big part of the workplace.

Knowledge. 

Knowledge breeds confidence. Improving and building a knowledge base on what to look for in a situation is a precursor to initiative.

Recognition 

Recognizing a situation, and where action can improve the situation is another building block to initiative.  Recognition comes from learning, knowledge and experience.

Ambition.

Initiative comes from a want to improve a situation. A person with strong initiative skills is someone who is intrinsically motivated.

Initiative is the one skill that can open doors and create opportunity. Developing it, finding it and cultivating it becomes a building block for progress in our own careers or in developing others.

At 57, I have made decisions to ensure physical training is a big part of my life, 40 years and counting.  While it was instinctive for me from very young to be active, it is not for many, and certainly not as we get stop moving regularly.

Here are 5 ways to stay strong, move well and keep energy high in our later years:

1.      Train to move. 

To train is to have a purpose. Movement, and moving well, without pain should be the number 1 purpose in daily self-care.  Athletes do it for a living, the rest of us need to adopt that same practice.

2.      Evolve your training.

Strength training, conditioning (cardio, intervals, metabolic work) are not what they were in high school. The research on all these areas is powerful.  

3.      Train for tomorrow.

Coach Dan John writes about this. The goal of training is not to push yourself to exhaustion but be able to do it again tomorrow.

4.      Training is a daily thing.

Consistency trumps all in how we feel and what we can do. Training can be broken down to 10- 15 minute sessions on mobility or strength or …. Breaking your training down to micro sessions can help get the movement your body craves on daily. Feed it.

5.      Your body adapts but give it time to recover.

Recovery days are big as we get older. A long ride or walk one day may need something massage or mobility focused the next.  That counts! Listen and understand your body (no one else will): that sore back maybe because you are tight in the muscles around hips.

In over 25 years in sales, I estimate seeing 50-60 salespeople/colleagues come and go . This means they come into the profession with hopes and dreams and leave when it does not work out.

The challenge of finding a stable career in sales comes down to a few things.  Lack of training is one, lack of focus on the skills required to be successful is another, unrealistic expectations is a third.   Perhaps the most critical mistake of all is the definition of the job.

A salesperson is responsible for generating revenue.  Sales refers to the exchange of a product, or service for money. Traditionally, a salesperson is defined as someone who persuades someone else on a transaction.

Therein lies the first obstacle to a nice career in sales.

Persuasion.  Day in day out, it can get tiring to wake up with the sole purpose of convincing others. As a salesperson, I can share features of the product or service, I can anticipate and answer questions, but persuade?

Who wants to be convinced? The old saying is true, many love to buy but hate being sold.

For the sake of clarity: sales is less about selling and more about helping. 

Helping the customer understand how they can benefits from the service or product. 

Sales can be a very rewarding career in many ways. Especially when you commit to helping those who could benefit from what you are offering.

Stop selling, start helping.