Similarities between Work & the Gym!

Mindset. Motivation. Drive. Determination.

I've been training for 5 years and working in in sales and marketing for 1 year and every day that passes I realise that if I can transfer my gym mindset to work, I will increase my chances of success.

How?

I want to share my journey and story in how I have applied and will continue to apply my Gym Mindset, Motivation, Drive and Determination into my work life.

How similar is work and the gym?

For me they are identical. Ok, you don’t rock up to your work dressed in gym gear with headphones, whack in a scoop of pre workout and start your day…. but the mental strength you build and train yourself are very similar.

One of the key things for me is to remember where I come from and what I've been through and I keep that in the front of my mind because that what drives me.

One example of this is 4 years ago I competed in a fitness competition, 20 competitors, 1 ex military competitor and me being the youngest aged 17.

I was scared, shy and frightened. I wondered what an earth have I signed up for…

This is how I was feeling right up until the event. The moment they called my name I remembered where I came from, what I have been through and where I want to be. This allowed me to control my breathing relax in the moment and think about how I'm gonna overcome this challenge in front of me.

In that moment I had to tap into my motivation to remember why I started training and what I’m working towards and why this moment would allow me to prove to myself all this pain and discipline was all worth it.

All competitors had 4 exercises to complete sounds easy right?

• Rowing 1000 meters
• 100kg deadlift (20 reps)
• 20 hand release burpees over the barbell
• 20 jumping weighted (30kg) squats (ass to the ground)

The twist, ...we had to complete 2 rounds with no rest! Now I didn’t focus on the end goal, my time or trying to do it fast. I gave 100% effort in each exercise only focus on the rep and exercise in the moment.

Call me over confident or unrealistic but I set myself a goal of beating the ex military competitor, why not see if I could do it. I was the youngest competitor and a new member of the Fitness First gym, of a couple of months, I wanted to prove if I put my mind to it, anything was possible.

“Jensen are you ok” ask the officials, as I stare at the exercises in front.

I replied ”I’m living the dream”

Now I don’t remember much about actually competing in the competition, however there are 3 thing I do remember.

The first...

“3, 2, 1, Go!”

The second thing I remember is my trainer ‘Kuda’ can see I’m giving all my energy, focus and drive into this, he walks over while I'm completing my exercises. I’m unaware that he is by my side the whole way… I didn’t know he was there supporting me until he let out a loud cry ” LET’S GO JENDI”. Now I realise all eyes are on me as I’m dripping with sweat, panting like a dog, I want to give up. My body cant take this much longer. “Jendi focus, you can do this brother I believe in you”.

We are stronger than we think, we create our own glass ceilings that prevent us from reaching our full potential. We are at war with ourselves. Now is my time, I remember why I started and I am not giving up, I am the underdog but I'm gonna prove everyone in this room I can do it. I am a winner and I never quit!

The final thing I remember...

“That’s time, well done Jensen”. the official said, with a surprised look on her face, which is all I could process as I lay on the floor, struggling to breath and feeling like I was about to pass out. I then ran to the toilet and threw up…. I pushed my mind and body to the limit.

It paid off! 1st place and a time of 15 mins and 1 second (15:01:90)

Just over a year into my journey in sales and I see a comparison between sports performance and sales performance - the battle is largely won in your mind. I find that mindset and belief is everything if you want to succeed. I still have a lot to learn about sales and marketing though one thing I’m certain of, and that’s I will get there and I will win.

I need to keep reminding myself, not to focus on an unachievable goal, but to focus on the small steps (activities) that will get me to my goal.