Regular Physical Activity Makes You ‘Luckier’

CREATING OPTIMISM: BLOG POST 6.2

Ray Kroc, of McDonald’s fame once said: “Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more you sweat, the luckier you get.” I agree, both literally and figuratively. To me ‘sweat’ is synonymous with both hard work and physical activity. Everyone realizes that a solid work ethic is fundamental to long-term success but it’s a challenge to ‘give it your all’ when your glass is ‘half empty’. Most people underestimate the power of regular exercise to help you become a leader, innovator, and the person known as the ‘Get-it-Done’ member of the team who always pulls through and rises to the top under any circumstance.

With the struggles I’ve been through in the last 25 years, partly created by my mind (I can laugh about it now!) and partly real, I’ve tried everything to improve my mood and attitude. The power of regular physical activity is one of the most effective ways I know to not only improve your outlook and mood—but to help you Create Your Own Luck professionally. And, you can start small – any physical activity helps, you don’t have to run 5 miles a day.

That being said…..Last week I got a comment from a Guinness World Record athlete named Christopher Bergland asking me how my commitment to regular physical activity influenced my success in the business world. Like many people, I originally started working out to look better, which by the way is NOT the biggest benefit, and never thought much about the fact that my daily workouts were in fact becoming more and more entwined with my ability to rise to the top of my career.

Looking back on the pressure cooker that I was living in as a father, husband and head of revenue generation at IFIN, I realize that running and working out were not only my sanctuary but also fortified a mindset and patterns of behavior that were directly linked to my success. Now that I have retired from the investment world and am focused on teaching and writing I realize again how much exercise helps me in these fields, too.

Below are nine ways that regular physical activity has benefited me professionally and can benefit you too. The impact of exercise on our minds and bodies greatly enhances our success.

1. BRAIN POWER: Exercise makes you smarter. Scientists have discovered recently that cardiovascular exercise stimulates the creation of new brain cells. This is called neurogenesis and it makes you smarter, more focused and improves memory.

2. YOUTHFULLNESS: The key to staying young is to not degenerate physically and mentally. The BEST defense you have against the degenerative process is to move your body. (And as my friends know, I’ve tried all the nutritional supplements – I’m still a big fan of fish oil and berries!) Not only will you look and feel better well beyond your ‘prime’—this youthful disposition will keep you viable in a cut-throat job market.

3. CREATIVITY: In order to be “Remark-able” you need to have fresh ideas and learn to connect unrelated ideas in new and effective ways. Neuroscientists are just beginning to understand why “bi-pedal” activities like walking, jogging, biking lead to creative thinking and new ideas…It will take them a long time to figure that out—but in the meantime you can ask anyone who exercises regularly if they do most of their problem solving and creative thinking during their daily workout and they will say “yes.”

4. “GET-IT-DONE” ATTITUDE: When I lift weights I am very methodical about the process. I like to visualize each muscle group, the specific number of exercises, the bench I will use, sets/reps…and then I get the job done. Some people at the gym lollygag and spend most of their time socializing. Big mistake! I have a get-in, get the job done attitude at the gym that translates into a similar attitude on the job. I always finish what I start—on time—and never promise what I can’t deliver. Exercise reinforces this trait.

5. STRESS REDUCTION: Stress is public enemy number one. We live in a ‘Fight-or-Flight” world that raises level of Cortisol, also known as the “Stress Hormone.” Physical movement releases cortisol (which is also responsible for belly fat) from your body. If you don’t move your body, cortisol will continue to accumulate and you will get fatter and more stressed out. Break the cycle with at least 15 minutes of cardio most days of the week.

6. GRACE UNDER PRESSURE: With all the anxiety that people are feeling these days there is a palpable tension in the air when it comes to money and jobs. Exercise creates a sense of self-reliance and calmness. If you can get in a cardio workout before a big interview you are more likely to not panic and nail it. Remember this please!

7. ‘DOABLE’ GOALS: One of the biggest difficulties I have seen in people at the beginning of their careers is their inability to break monumental tasks into doable doses. Through working out regularly you learn to compartmentalize things in a way that allows you to nibble off what you can chew…digest it and move on to achieve a larger goal. This skill also helps you remain more positive since you will be accomplishing your smaller goals more frequently thereby giving yourself more frequent ‘congratulations!’.

8. CONFIDENCE/RESILIENCE: It takes a lot of patience and stamina to keep getting up when you feel like you’ve been knocked down again, and again. Regular physical activity gives you the inner-strength and self-belief to be strong and brave in the face of adversity. Pushing through the final reps of a tough set of weight lifting requires extra ‘Oomph!’– and a spotter, for that matter….The great thing about pushing beyond your limits is that it stimulates hormones like Testosterone which make you more of a go-getter. Try to push out of your ‘comfort zone’ physically and mentally. Your daily exercise regimen is something that YOU control and something that you can be very proud of.

9. WORK ETHIC: Nobody else can sweat for you. You get out what you put in, and more! One thing I love about seeing top executives who ‘hob-nob’ at social events in the evenings is that in the morning they are back at the gym sweating it out. Evidently they got the memo too. You can arrive at the top but in order to stay there—and be satisfied—you have to be earnest and keep sweating it out everyday. GET STARTED AND GOOD LUCK! ROB