I’m sure you’ll agree that getting really fit is a very difficult task.

I’m guessing that if you’re reading this you’re probably in one of three camps.

 

# 1 – You want to get fit and are looking for some inspiration (which by the way is probably procrastination)

#2 –  You’re in the process of getting fit and are starting to lose motivation

# 3 – You’ve tried to get fit many times but can never keep the momentum and always end up quitting.

Trying to get in great shape in my opinion is very similar to trying to make it in business.

There are many parallels between the two which we’ll delve into to hopefully give you an understanding of what is required to succeed.

I want you to understand that if you start your fitness regime like you’re trying to start a successful business you’ll be able to eventually enjoy the fruits (or cakes) of your labour.

 

Parallel #1 – Neither Comes Easy

It’s very easy to flick past someone’s Instagram picture who’s in great shape and think that they’ve always been a physical specimen and then get annoyed at the shitty genetics handed down from your unathletic ancestors and think ‘what’s the point.’

It’s also just as easy to see someone roar past your shit box in a Ferrari and think they were born with a silver spoon in their mouth while you were born into mediocrity.

What you fail to understand (or choose not to see because it’s more convenient), is the hard work that’s gone into getting the result that they have now.

The 10000 hours they put into their craft to succeed where others have failed.

The dedication to a strict boring diet and drive to get that workout done even though your mind is telling you to stay comfortable and skip today’s session.

The late nights and early starts and 7 day weeks to keep the momentum going without knowing if this business will ever kick off and not knowing if any of this will be worth it.

 

Of Course there are exceptions.

 

Take for example my friend George who’s had the same bulging 6 pack for the last 20 years and couldn’t tell you what a plank was.

Or the convict who was out on day release and bought a lottery ticket and hit the jackpot.

Apart from the rare exception, succeeding in what you want to do is a lot of HARD WORK.

If you truly grasp this and go into your new fitness regime like a dog with a bone and refuse to give up, YOU WILL SUCCEED.

 

Parallel #2 – Both Require Patience

I don’t think people realise when they decide to join the gym or when they buy that set of dumbbells how much time it will take to get results let alone that amazing physique they where expecting.

There may be some initial beginner gains where you start to see some results soonish but that body of a Greek god or goddess is many years down the line.

When most people become aware that the climb up mount Olympus is too high they give up.

They realize that they actually don’t want it enough once they see the time it will take to get there.

Patience when starting a business is also vital.

There’s gonna be hard graft and long hours for little or no reward but it will all pay of if your patient enough to get through the hardship of building the foundation of your future.

Garry V,  a serial entrepreneur, investor, New York time bestseller, public speaker and social media guru, attributes patience as one of the main factors that will lead to your success.

Stop looking for shortcuts in anything you do.

Any, ‘lose 10 pounds in ten days’ diet or ‘pack on ten pounds of muscle in ten weeks‘ workout is not sustainable and will lose the long game just like any ‘earn £10000 dollars a week online‘ business is no more than marketing scam that is never gonna work.

Life is a marathon not a sprint and anything you want to achieve takes time and ultimately patience.

 

 

Parallel #3 – Statistically You Will Fail

According to this article, 80 percent of gym goers will quit within 5 months!

This could be for a combination of many different reasons and excuses.

• No time
• Gym buddy dropping out
• Feeling inadequate among the hardcore gym goers
• Not knowing what to do
• Too tired
• Unmotivated
• Uninterested
• Bored
• Etc…

Getting your gym membership is purely just the beginning to carving out the physique you joined the gym for,  just like turning up to your first martial arts class is day one towards the black belt you always dreamed off.

They say a black belt is just a white belt who never gave up and that rings true for the cover models you desire to look like too.

They were once just average Joes who never gave up.

As we are talking about parallels, none rings truer here where according to Forbes, 80% of new business also fail within the first 18 months.

This again could be due to long list of various reasons that ultimately led to the failure of the business.

I believe that being aware of the 80% failure rate will give you a better chance at success by making you realize that what you’re undertaking is not going to be easy.

It will stop you from thinking that all you need to do is sign up to the gym and the weight will somehow miraculously drop off or that your going to start a business and the customers will just coming flooding in because you or your idea is so great.

If you don’t want to be one of 80% that will fail, do what the successful 20% have done.

Educate yourself, become obsessed, stick to a plan, work hard, be patient and the desired results will come.

 

Parallel #4 – Both Require A Plan

If you’re just turning up at the gym and aimlessly moving from station to station you’re probably wasting your time.

Going into your workout with a plan of action and a goal of something you where specifically looking to work on and improve will yield much greater results.

I was at my strongest when I religiously stuck to a 5×5 heavy lifting plan and logged every workout and I am now at my fittest again by following a certain plan of short daily home workouts.

Decide what your goal is

Devise a realistic plan

Stick to the plan for a considerable amount of time

And you’re on your way to success.

When it comes to starting a business your first move should also be a business plan.

No lender will take you seriously without one.

Not only do they want to see a detailed breakdown of how this business will make a profit which will allow them to asses if you’ll be able to pay them back their money, but without a business plan, you’re showing that you’re not actually taking this seriously and you’ll be on your way to adding to that 80% failure rate.

 

Parallel #5 – You Have To Enjoy The Process

It is very common for people at the pinnacle of their chosen sport or profession to be obsessed with what they do and have an innate desire to win so bad that nobody could compete which leads them to the top of the pile.

For the rest of us who can’t dedicate every waking moment to win , maybe being obsessed would probably be a bit unhealthy, but you have to at least really enjoy what you’re doing and be extremely passionate about it.

If going to the gym just isn’t for you it doesn’t mean you don’t do anything.

Sign up to fitness classes, swimming, martial arts, dancing.

Find what works for you.

Something you can enjoy and really get into.

Something that you will look forward to doing rather than it being a chore because you not only need the desire to succeed but more importantly you must enjoy the process that will lead to your success more.

The same applies in any business venture you undertake.

Even if the money was great, if you hate what you’re doing it’s just not a long-term plan for success.

You have to enjoy what you do and not just endure it to get the bag of gold at the end.

If you enjoy the process more than the result, success will come.

Daniel H Pink, author of “ Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.” echos this point by saying,  

“Generally, people flourish when they’re doing something they like and what they’re good at.”  

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I’m conscious that this can come across as a bit of a negative article basically saying that its very likely you’re gonna fail at what you do, but of course that’s not the intention.

In fact, I’m merely trying to highlight what is required for you to succeed in whatever you decide to do and that success is more than likely going to happen if you follow these 5 simple rules.

Success doesn’t have to be a complex process full of secret information that internet marketers want to sell you for a limited time discounted price.

It comes from the basics that got us to where we are today.

Hard work, passion and patience.

The beauty of both endeavors is that once you’ve put in the hard work, enjoyed the process and have been patient with the results, you will reap the rewards 10 fold in the future.

Those ten pounds you lost by starving your self will go straight back on once you get back to your normal eating habits.

On the other hand, if you’ve got down to your desired weight over a long period of time through a lifestyle change, you can afford to enjoy your treats because you know that in the grand scheme of things it will not make a difference.

A few extra cheeky calories over a week of sensible eating and working out will have no effect.

If you’re on vacation though and overindulge, it’s still not the end of the world as you’ll simply get back to your process knowing that those extra pounds will be lost in no time.

It’s the same principle in business.

If you find a Scammy way to make a quick buck, you’ll be back to square one once the scam stops working.

Eat shit for a few years and build something sustainable, and you’ll be able to eventually enjoy the fruits (or cakes) of your labour.