As I detailed in my last post, it’s important to surround yourself with the highest-quality team possible to help you reach your goals. If you’re going to put money into a coach, trainer, or mentor, here are some core qualities to look for:
- Experience: You want to find an expert in your field of interest. This shouldn’t be too hard nowadays. Reviews are everywhere. And don’t save a couple bucks to train with the so-so guy. That would be common… and you’re uncommon.
- Equanimity: Find someone who sees you and treats you like an equal. A great mentor will hold you accountable, but they can also be counted on both to show up physically, and to have your back emotionally.
- Authenticity: An effective mentor is patient but committed, honest, and genuine. They have an instinct for the kind of healthy competition you need on your journey and aren’t afraid to push you.
- Allegiance: An effective trainer believes in you.1
You want the same kind of traits in your workout partner or team, too. A partner or team will ensure you commit deeply, and they will hold you accountable, but you want to make sure they treat you as an equal and believe in your drive and ability.
How to Stop Pitfalls Before They Start
One of the most important ways to set yourself up for success is to look out for potential obstacles and account for them in your routine so you stay on track. Here are some of the big ones that can make or break your progress:
- Environmental triggers. Oftentimes, friction in our environment can cause us to become premature quitters. For me, going to a sweaty gym would cause friction. That is not a good place for me to train. I like being in nature. Remove negative friction by choosing a positive environment in which to train.
- Neglecting to notice your progress. Take time to pause, look back, and notice how far you’ve come after 30, 60, or 90 days. Notice how much progress you’ve made and reward yourself. Take a day off or treat your partner or support system to something nice.
- Working on goals that don’t work for you anymore. Don’t hesitate to “shift fire” and adjust your goals if they are no longer working for you or the team. This requires weekly or monthly assessments of progress. There is simply no straight line to the type of success we are seeking. Be okay with that.
- Listening to the ignorant. As you climb the physical mountain, some may think you’ve gone overboard or are obsessed. Some might say you’re self-absorbed. That’s okay. They may have a fixed mindset or are jealous of your willingness to commit to self-growth. You must master yourself first before you can serve others well.
- Overdoing it. At the same time, you don’t want to overdo your diet or exercise. It can become an addiction when you get too attached to results. It’s important to be deadly serious about developing your new, uncommon healthy lifestyle. But, please, don’t be so serious that you compromise your health or become a drag. Don’t try to be Mr. or Mrs. Perfect. A perfect human or perfect action does not exist. There is only better. And the road to getting better is a windy one!
Creating your solid foundation to conquer your physical mountain is one of the most important things you can do for your overall health. And while it’s hard at first, the habits you solidify now will pay off in spades over time. Just keep moving one step at a time and stay the course. You will get there!