Becoming Healthier and Becoming Better

When I first became an entrepreneur, there were many bumps in the road. But now things seem to be clicking into place and it all started with one simple decision: becoming better at what I do!

A very young and energetic entrepreneur

There’s just something about feeling strong and fit that seems appealing. Not only looking and feeling better physically but to feel more confident mentally and emotionally was never good enough. As a female entrepreneur, there were always bumps in the road, setbacks, and detours along the way. But now, finally, things seem to be clicking into place.

What changed?

Well, a lot of things really… but one of the biggest changes happened when I decided to become better. 

My mentor laughed at my tagline–Becoming Better Healthier and Becoming Better. This was my epiphany. That laugh paralyzed me. I didn’t have the courage to become a gold medal athlete, so I didn’t understand becoming better was only a small step. My mentor wanted me to take a big step, but I wasn’t ready. I just wanted to become better. My mentor was highly motivated, perhaps more egotistical. I was less motivated and wasn’t thinking like a professional athlete. I knew success was about small steps in the right direction rather than giant leaps forward.

My basketball team when I warmed the bench for the A-squad Varsity Team

There are parallels between sports and entrepreneurship. Understanding the similarities between entrepreneurs and athletes can be helpful when you’re feeling the stress and anxiety of being an entrepreneur. Successful athletes and successful entrepreneurs have passion, tenacity, vision which includes their strategy, self-confidence, flexibility, they’re above mediocrity, and have no fear. As entrepreneurs if we can follow the vision of a successful athlete who has a clear vision of themselves as a winner, we can envision the same end result regardless of how the odds are stacked against us.

The successful athlete will train for years for the opportunity to perform at the highest level. Both must skillfully move beyond fear and use it as fuel. Both entrepreneur and athlete are individuals who need to be determined and self-confident in taking any kind of risk on their way to success. Elite athletes push themselves to perform at an extraordinarily high level. Whether they’re winning gold medals or taking their team to the championships, elite athletes find ways to push their bodies and minds beyond what the rest of us are capable of.

What I discovered that had set me apart from being an olympic gold medal winner: 

• Having achievable goals and objectives gives athletes a focus and also highlights small gains which over time lead to major improvements. 
• Athletes need to be involved in the process and feel like they have a say and some control. 
• Small term goals which are easy to track allow athletes to gain confidence and sense of purpose

I spent my entire life proving to myself that I’m a good person. I lacked confidence in my skills and I was afraid to stand out. Individuals who are successful in any walk of life have many traits that stand out, and without question one of the main ones is confidence. It is the same in the sporting world and it is no coincidence that those who are successful in sports, have a great confidence in their own ability. Confidence can often be one of the key differentiating psychological factors between successful and unsuccessful performance.

How?

My Junior Varsity Basketball Team

• Preparation breeds confidence: Preparation is the foundation of confidence. This preparation includes the physical, technical, tactical, equipment-related and mental parts of your sport, and it means putting the necessary time and effort into every aspect of your training
• Mental Skills reinforce confidence: Inspirational thoughts and images will bolster your motivation, positive self-talk and body language to fortify your confidence, intensity control to combat confidence-depleting anxiety, keywords to maintain focus and avoid distractions, and emotional-control techniques to calm yourself under pressure

As Lewis Howes, points out in his book, The School of Greatness, there is a point in our lives where we realize that all we have is a choice. Too often, we get stuck in this idea of who we are or who we were, and we forget we can choose who we want to be. Be a product of your choices. 

The physical and mental fatigue you feel as an entrepreneur is real. However, you’re not tired because of everything you do; it’s the lack of doing things that gives your life meaning. You can set yourself up for success by consistently adding value to your life and making sure every action is aligned with the lifestyle you desire. You’re tired because you’re not doing enough of what gives you life.

We all make mistakes, but it is what we do after we make those mistakes that defines us as people. Taking responsibility for our actions–every single time–is an important step in becoming better humans. It can be difficult to make time for healthier habits when we’re always on the go. However, it’s important to remember that our health must be a priority. When I was asked what my values were in a networking meeting, I was quick to answer: Faith, Family, and Health. 

Becoming Healthier and Becoming Better is part of intellectual awareness.  

Is our greatest challenge in life to take control and make our lives be about something greater than ourselves? 

What I’ve learned is that when I make taking care of myself a priority, I’m actually able to be more productive and creative in my business. And when I’m at my best, my business is at its best and I’m at my best for others too. 

So how do we do this?

Well, it looks different for everyone, but for me, it’s about making time for things like exercise, meditation, and healthy eating. This doesn’t mean that I’m perfect all the time–I still enjoy the occasional gelato cone or Netflix marathon–but these days, I make sure that taking care of myself is a priority. And as a result, I feel better both physically and mentally, which makes me a better entrepreneur. 

1. Set realistic goals. When it comes to getting healthy, slow and steady wins the race. If you try to do too much too fast, you’ll quickly get burnt out and end up right back where you started. So set small goals that you can realistically achieve—like drinking more water or going for a walk three times a week—and build from there. 
2. Find an activity you enjoy. If working out is something you dread, you’re not going to stick with it for long. But if you find an activity that’s fun for you—whether it’s hiking, gardening, baking or something else entirely—you’ll be more likely to stick with it and make it part of your regular routine. 
3. Make time for yourself—and stick to it! We all have busy schedules but if we don’t make time for ourselves, we’ll never be able to focus on our health and well-being. So set aside some time each week—even if it’s just 30 minutes—to focus on your health. Whether that means going for a run or investing in a massage, find something that works for you and commit to making it part of your regular routine. 
4. Seek out support. Another great way to become better at anything is to find someone who is already good at it and mimic their behavior. If you want to become a better writer, find an author whose work you admire and study their writing style. If you want to become a better athlete, find a coach or trainer who can help you learn the proper techniques and provide feedback on your progress. Having someone whose opinion you trust will help push you to reach your full potential. So don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help when you need it! 
5. Be patient with yourself. Finally, don’t forget that Rome wasn’t built in a day! It takes time and effort to become good at anything worth doing. So cut yourself some slack and be patient as you strive for excellence. Remember that every journey starts with a single step – just keep moving forward and eventually, you’ll get there!
   

   Grade School Basketball–I’ve come a long way!

There’s no magic formula for becoming good at anything overnight – it takes time, effort, and patience. We must understand our goals are on a moving GPS. Change is inevitable. Anyone can bring meaning into their life with conscious effort. We always have the choice. We have to choose to become better. You can improve the overall quality of your health and inevitably find specific ways to prevent common diseases.

The last way that I’m suggesting is finding a more holistic approach in today’s digital world where consumers consume information from many sources on their devices. Your confidence as a female entrepreneur comes when you suddenly realize that you have more control over your life than you thought possible – and that’s a very empowering realization!

So if you’re looking for a way to improve your life overall, becoming better is definitely a great place to start.

Becoming Healthier and Becoming Better!

Lisa Carmichael ~ Owner & Creator of EPIK Mastermind lisarcarmichael.com