69.
Get Fit to Lead
You know I’m an evangelist around the whole idea of being ultra – fit if you want to be at your best. Getting
into world – class physical condition is one of the smartest moves you can make. Exercising will make you
look better, feel strong and fill you with boundless energy. Staying fit will even make you happier.
The best week has been a time of great change for me. I’m reengineering my business to make it
more focused and fast. I’m coaching my team so that they know the new standards and goals. I’m pushing
myself harder to get more done and generate better results. And I’m lifting the bar on the size of my
dreams. I need to make a bigger difference. I passionately feel that. As I go through all this, one of the
practices that is serving me so well is my daily pilgrimage to the gym.
I remember a professional speaker named Peter Urs bender once telling me: “Robin, some people
go to church every day. Well, my church is the gym. And each day that’s where I go to get blessed.” I also
remember a participant in one of my leadership seminars sharing: “Exercise is an insurance policy I’ve
taken out on my health. And each day that I go into the gym, I’m paying the premium.” Yet another person
told me recently at a book signing: “Good health is a crown on the head of a well person that only a sick
person can see.” Smart points. Wise people.
No matter how busy I get or how much pressure is on my shoulders, a good workout makes me
feel at ease. I come off the treadmill feeling relaxed, full of joy and with a sense of perspective over the
issues on my plate. I get so many big ideas while I’m running and such clarity while I’m lifting weights. And
staying fit keeps me happy and positive. Look, I know I’ll never be Mr. Universe. But because I care for my
health, my life will be a lot better, more productive and longer than if I didn’t. And that’s good enough for
me.
“Good health is a crown on the head
Of a well person that only a sick person can see.”