Business Truth No.5 - Look After Yourself.

I think most of us are aware of the positive effects of healthy eating and regular exercise on our body.

What has become especially apparent after spending time with my guests is the positive effect it can have on your performance as an entrepreneur and the performance of your business...

This is the fifth of my "business truths" that I've discovered after having the amazing opportunity to interview 10 more inspirational business owners, CEOs and entrepreneurs.

To listen to the full episode, and many jam-packed business interviews, search for "The Truth About Business" in all good podcasting apps.

Or you can see them all at my blog at www.benjaminbrain.co.uk.

So, let's dive in to truth No.5....

Business Truth No.5 – Look After Yourself

Your business will never outperform you.

In my interview with Jim Thorp from JT Ethos, he talked extensively about the effect certain food types have on our body and shared examples of some of the huge boosts in energy and focus that entrepreneurs he worked with have experienced after making some changes to their lifestyle and the way they view certain foods.

It’s certainly changed the way I think about food now.

We become what we eat and if we fuel ourselves with caffeine, sugary drinks and processed food, your mind and body simply won’t be able to perform at anywhere near peak levels.

The problem I find is that when things get busy, our health is usually the first thing that gets put on the back-burner.

Convenience starts to replace healthy and the odd McDonalds transforms from being a once a week treat into a daily occurrence, maybe even with some breakfasts thrown in for good measure too.

And once you’re out of sync with your normal routine of healthier eating and exercising, boy is it hard to get back into it.

I’ve often thought to myself if only getting back into exercise was as easy as stopping – but as with most things in life, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

Most of my guests talked about how an important part of their daily routine was exercising, Damon, Rob, Kevin, Jonny, Francesca and as far back as I can think really, pretty much every guest that’s been on the show.

Not only does it keep your body in good shape, it’s a great way to de-stress and take your mind off the business.

Or even grab yourself some time just to “think” about things instead of constantly being in “doing” mode which can also be when the breakthrough ideas surface.

I have to admit that it’s something that’s fallen by the wayside for me with the production of this podcast and I can tell the difference.

If I’ve managed to get some exercise in in the morning or the evening before, I can feel a huge difference in my energy levels throughout the day and that mid-afternoon slump is non-existent.

Right now, I’m in the process of changing my own routine so that I can make sure I get in some exercise and whilst I know it won’t be every day, I should be able to stick to it most days.

Because ultimately, the whole point of being in business is for your business to serve you so that one day you can enjoy a life that others perhaps can’t.

But if you’re so out of shape and unhealthy that you’re not actually able to enjoy it when you get there, then really it’s all been for nothing.

And we’re no good to our businesses or our families if we end up in hospital because we’ve burned ourselves out and not taken proper care of our body and minds – or worse yet, dead.

So, if this resonates with you, follow my lead and schedule in some time in your diary that you can commit to some exercise, even if it’s just a slow walk or gentle bike ride.

It doesn’t have to be extreme because the chances are you won’t stay consistent if you go from 0 to 100. 

Just get your heart rate up and break a sweat.

And don’t think you have to go it alone.

See if you can buddy up with someone and find an exercise partner so you can both hold each other to account.

The chances of this becoming a new regular part of your life and enjoying all of the benefits for mind, body and soul, that come with it are significantly enhanced when it’s a shared responsibility with a friend or colleague.

So, I’ll finish truth number five off, look after yourself, with a quote for which I couldn’t find the original author and it goes;

“Exercise not only changes your body, it changes your mind, your attitude and your mood”

I hope you enjoyed reading this article.

If you have any questions, suggestions or stories of your experiences with these concepts, I'd love to know.

Message me on LinkedIn or just get in touch!

Make it a great day and here's to your business success!

Benjamin :)

Host Of "The Truth About Business" Podcast

#business #podcast #leadership