Issue #15 - Be Selfish to Be Selfless. Prioritizing Your Health.

If there were any doubts before, summertime is here! Record-breaking heat, family vacation schedules conflicting left and right with our professional duties, and for those in my industry – the busiest time of the contracting season… the closing quarter of the Federal Government’s Fiscal Year. For me, the summer months are also that time of year when I do all my annual health checkups as it seems like the only time, I can get them all done. Even then, I’m always good for at least one or two reschedules because some other commitment took priority.

The verdict is in: nothing adverse or any watch items of concern, thank goodness. But… nothing exceptional either. No high fives from the doctors saying, “You’ve got the fitness of a 25-year-old,” or “Wow, your health is amazing.” To be clear, it’s not that I expected it – I do enough to maintain a relatively healthy lifestyle, but there’s no kidding myself that I am overperforming in this area because my belt buckle tells me that I’m not! In a recent quiet moment, I asked myself, why is it that I set priorities for just about everything, but I let the focus of my health meander?

Since “I don’t know” is rarely a good enough answer, the more I reflected on this thought—the clearer the answer became… I really hadn’t tied my personal well-being to a greater purpose. We all have our motivators, and one of mine is that I spend my time on efforts that yield more for others. This is a common trait for those who understand the gravity of increased responsibility – people depend on you to make the right call. That calculating factor weighs heavily in our decision-making, and it is often where we direct our efforts. I know this crew can appreciate this because what differentiates us is our collective wisdom and experience for which others are reliant, and we apply these qualities toward our leadership styles. This sets us apart from most: 1. Our emotional and business acumen are always on display, and we are decisive when we have to be. 2. In client engagements, we are empathetic to external and opposing points of view to understand how we can make a difference.

But to be able to call the ‘balls and strikes’ (tips hat to the All-Star game earlier this week), you kinda have to be around. Which also means you need to be positioned to bring your best (and healthy) self to that decision-making table. I’d say it is time that we refocus some of that wisdom and experience inward on our personal well-being. In that context: listening to our bodies, understanding our limits, and deciding to make active and informed choices about our health and well-being. Just as we leverage our professional expertise to drive success, we must use our personal insights to prioritize our health. This is not just about personal goals; rather its foundational to our professional effectiveness. When we are at our best physically and mentally, we can make better decisions, lead with clarity, and inspire those around us. It’s a necessity that, like any other important thing, requires us to commit. Again, remember that people depend on you.

This one is going to require me to fire off some new synapses and dedicate new energy, but in the words of John Maxwell, "To lead others, you must first lead yourself." My motivation is about those who depend on me professionally and personally—and knowing that I have got to purposely equip myself to take better care so I can try to provide opportunities for others. What's yours? -- whatever it is, make it meaningful and with purpose so that we an be in this for the long haul together. So, schedule that checkup, make healthier decisions, and if you need a little vanity – borrow my goal to fit into the jeans you wore in high school. Cheers to living to 100 years old ??.

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