You must keep a beginner’s mind, curious and engaged, if you want to progress.
Unfortunately, a lot of people drop out after several months of training despite great progress. Especially among those who train mostly with machines or rotate between a few traditional exercises.
Unless you have a passion for pushing iron, working out like this can become pretty monotonous.
It’s a shame because believe me, there is so much to learn and do in a gym you will never see the end of it.
You must make a shift in your approach to fitness. Don't just scratch the surface, stop focusing on looks, and seek progress in movement and strength instead.
Much like in martial arts, you will always find more to learn and to what your body is capable of.
This is how you’ll stay driven. You will find great self-confidence and fulfillment in it too.
And the way you look will just be a guaranteed by-product.
When you keep your mind open and always ready to find something new, you’ll never get bored of it.
This is the secret to keep showing up and to progress.
3. Turn your problems into Red Bull.
When you go to the gym, don’t leave your problems at the door.
Bring them inside.
Worst case scenario, you release stress and find some perspective. Best case scenario, you beat them up and bury them there.
There are 3 reasons why I always hurry to my gym when something’s weighing on my mind.
1) It clears my head, helps me think of solutions, and makes me feel a lot better. It ALWAYS does. 2) It fuels my workouts. Problems are energy and when you learn to channel them, you get some of the best workouts ever. 3) It is my duty, and I don’t fail my duty. Emotions come and go and should be irrelevant to our goals. Plus, training through bad moods forges the mind.
Your gym is your battlefield, and every battle is a chance to enhance your strength and skills.
Adversity is fuel, so bring it to the gym and use it as such.
This is the Way of the Zen warrior.
4. The only way to get fit if you work full time.
If you work late hours or run a business, you need a home gym.
I don’t see how you could fulfill your responsibilities at work and still find the energy and time to go to a commercial gym.
I mean, you could. But could you do it AND still have time for your family and get enough sleep?
Not to mention the dramatic drop of motivation just thinking about the commute. I personally don’t like showering at the gym either, and I know I’m not the only one.
Don’t get me wrong, I like commercial gyms too. Trying new equipment, the change of environment, and maybe, sometimes, the social aspect of it. But I reserve that for my days off.
Keeping fit is a non-negotiable if you want to run a business successfully, and a home gym seems like a non-negotiable to make that happen.
Now do your career a favor, and invest in the best home gym you can dream of.
It could be as simple as your favorite cardio and a set of free weights, resistance bands, and a bench (for inclined push-ups for example 😉). ⬇️
