21 Years of Whaaa?!?

Since 8th grade, I've been working out 4 to 5 days a week. That journey started 21 years ago and I’m forever grateful for the ride it has been. Thanks to Dave Salvati for getting my ass in the gym!

Throughout the last 21 years, I’ve dabbled in various forms of exercise—sports, bodybuilding, Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, CrossFit, strongman events, and even the 75Hard program. While I might not have any formal fitness certifications, I consider myself an experienced exerciser. I thought this month would be a good month to share some of the unexpected "side effects" of working out and how they have truly impacted my life. I hope some of these resonate with you too.

The Unexpected Benefits of Consistent Exercise

1. Preparation for Life aka Doing Hard Things

Exercise has trained me to tackle tasks that I simply do not want to do. Exercising regularly instills a discipline that prepares me for doing the everyday hard things, big or small. Regular workouts teach me to embrace difficulties. I’m never going to wake up every day feeling at my peak mental and physical performance. But yet when I workout even when I don’t want to, I’m establishing a mentality that I can do hard things even when I don’t want to. And isn’t that just the epitome of life sometimes? Overcoming those low periods creates resilience that helps in all areas of life.

2. Mental Toughness. Doing the Non-negotiables

A non-negotiable is something that is not up for discussion or modification. It must be done no matter what. By making exercising a non-negotiable I already have it accounted for in my days and weeks. That may look different for everybody day to day but again this reinforces doing hard things and builds mental fortitude. When you say you are going to exercise and you don’t - you just broke a promise to yourself. When you say you are going to exercise and you do - you kept a promise to yourself. Keeping a promise to yourself day in and day out will build self esteem, confidence, and integrity to keep going - no matter what.

3. Improvement Takes Time

Just like in life, getting better at anything requires patience and persistence. Exercise has allowed me to give myself grace and patience. The physical results of exercising might be slow, but they’re definitely there. Kind of like investing consistently for retirement every paycheck. Over years and years, eventually the growth will compound to be such a large figure. But it won’t happen over night, and it won’t even happen in a few years. So waiting for results teaches patience. This trait is invaluable in all aspects of my life, including my entrepreneurial pursuits.

4. Invisible Gains

Not all progress is visible. Exercising has provided me with some of the best therapy in my teenage and young adult life. Dealing with emotions like anger, sadness, loss, anxiety, comparison and fear. Every day I walk into the gym with a different emotion to deal with but exercise and movement have been just what the doctor ordered. Some of my most significant improvements have been mentally and emotionally, rather than physical. I like to think that internal improvements eventually reflect on the outside but those gains may never be visible to the human eye.

5. Stacking Wins

Every workout is a small victory. Over time, these wins accumulate, building confidence and momentum towards your goals. The same can be said about your job, your dreams, your business, your health, your finances. The best time to start doing something was 20 years ago but the second best time to start something is today. Stacking small wins each day will eventually compound over time and before you know it, you’ll look back and not even believe you are where you are.

6. Hockey Stick Growth

Progress often seems slow until and invisible until suddenly, it’s not. Invisible gains + Stacking wins + Patience = Hockey Stick Growth. This growth pattern is common in fitness, business, finances, and personal development.

7. Competition is Good

When you exercise you are most certainly competing. Maybe with other people to be stronger, faster, or better at something. Or maybe you’re competing with yourself to do one more rep, improve a skill, lift more weight, or find that new personal best. Regardless, competition pushes you to improve because it’s measurable. When you measure results and compare to past performance you will inevitably go much further than if you do not. It’s a reminder that striving for excellence is a lifelong journey and competing is good for growth, results, mental toughness, and dealing with pressure.

8. Health, Happiness, and Feeling Good

Lastly and most importantly, exercise is good for us and makes us feel good. It releases endorphins, boosting our mood and overall well-being. It’s a natural way to feel good every day. When I don’t feel great and I’m faced with my non-negotiable work out I still always do it. 10 out of 10 times I always feel better and my mood is magically cured.

When I face impatience in my entrepreneurial endeavors, I’m lucky to be able to reflect on 21 years of hard work and discipline. Knowing that these experiences have prepared me for life's challenges which in turn has made hard things feel routine. Dealing with hard things is like leveling up in a video game. The things you’ve overcome to get to this point weren’t easy at the time but if you go through it again you’ll know what to do. And when you level up again, you keep getting better at dealing with harder things. And the cycle continues.

At (almost) age 35 I’m strong, fast, and in great shape. I’m excited to see what more I can achieve from a physical and mental capacity. Because of 21 years of disciplined action, exercise has prepared me for so much more than I can communicate. It has been my greatest accomplishment to date and has shaped my entire life. I feel confident that I am prepared for any adventure life gives us. Most of all, I am excited to become a parent who gets to show by our child by example what it means to live a healthy, wealthy, abundant life. If you exercise I know you feel similar but if you don’t I encourage you to do so because It’s never too late.

Never stop moving, never give up! I love you all

Georgie B