4 Reasons why if you run a business you should go to the gym.

After an enforced separation, the gym and I are now friends again. My feeble body gave me the instructions back in September of "Rugby or Gym? I can't do both!"

To prove this point even further Horsham's formidable back row stopped me in my tracks and my left shoulder went on strike. It steadfastly refused not to hurt if I slept on it, and as for lifting anything, no chance it said. Talk to the hand. Or the elbow. Or Tebow even.

Evil Mickey

So a full 4 months later we appear to have agreed terms and the shoulder is back. Christmas in Houston Texas was a killer for fitness (damn you Cracker Barrel, Taco Bell, Wendys, Whataburger, Red Robin, Dennys, Starbucks, bottomless fries and 1ltr Rootbeers with free refills to name a few). Oh and Mickeys Big mouths. We liked them a lot.

So, I have finally mustered the willpower to embark on the 2012 crusade and hit the gym hard. I have invented "3 Class Friday", what is this, you say? Take a wild guess. Its where you must complete 3 classes on Friday, regardless of what they are. If your gym is like mine, the good ones get booked fast and all you are left with is Geriactric Tai Chi or Spinning (which I hate because it makes me feel a bit sick). But you get the point, it adds a bit of variety to the proceedings.

If my gym is anyway like yours it has no doubt been rammed full of those who have a monthly subscription for a gym, but only go in January and February. Now we have reached Spring - when the gym is deathly quiet and I am at my most motivated.

It was hilarious in Body Pump today - Mr One Rep Max walks in, looks condescendingly at  the feeble weights on offer and loads his bar, and the woman next to me says, "Just wait until the Bicep Track". Now, if you haven't ever done Body Pump it might not make any sense, but just in case you do, don't load the bar! Mr One Rep Max nearly had a stroke during the 4 mins of Bicep Curls, and me laughing at him didn't help. Bloody Mirrors.

Anyway, back to the plot; why should business owners go to the gym? Well, I haven't been for a little while and I missed it, today I realised for the first time that the gym is a crucial part of my business and here is why;

1. Goals

Goalsetting is the foundation for success, of this I have no doubt and training is FULL of them. Simply getting out of bed and going is a goal, especially at 6AM in January. Lifting a certain weight, covering a certain number of miles, all valid goals and the more you flex your goalsetting muscles the bigger they get.

2. Clarity of thought
I don't know about you, but I get most of my rubbish ideas when I think too hard about something. A quick swim or 1/2 hr on the bike and generally the sticky issue is less of an issue or solved completely.

3. Energy
The paradox is that the more you use the more you get. Strange but true

4. Networking
Great places to practice your elevator pitch on people who don't care. If you can engage them you can engage anybody.

The New Years resolutionists have gone - get in there!!!!