WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE THE VIGOR LIFE - PART II

This past Friday, we started off our 4th of July with a “BANG”! The gym was cranking as we had over 50+ members attend both of our training sessions – Team Training & Warrior Hurricane Training was crankin’ at 100% and then some! What I really appreciated was the will, desire and motivation to succeed that our guys & girls brought with them to both sessions. Of course they could be doing a million other things to start their weekend celebration but they decided to start their day by coming to Vigor Ground.A few months back, I wrote a blog post titled “What It Means To Live the Vigor Life – Part I”. In this particular post I mentioned a few things that were NOT part of the agenda for the lifestyle we’re promoting. Short lived fads, eating various cheat meals, skipping meals & workouts, pointing fingers and blaming others, having no agenda and lacking preparation were a just a few of the things that I mentioned that promised to hold you back and limit your potential to achieve personal greatness. So rather than revisiting the list of things “not to do”, I want to discuss the list of things that define #vigorlife and how to live it to your upmost potential day in and day out!In the case of our training session participants this past weekend, I can assure you that each & every one of them had one thing one their mind – to leave the facility looking & feeling better than when they first got here. And you know what……MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! I say that with complete confidence because they all worked hard, they all broke a good sweat, they were exhausted from giving it their all (100% effort), and they all had smiles on their faces. One of our mottos that we live by at Vigor Ground is “Sweat & Smile”!

At the end of the training sessions, we huddled up and ended with our chant – “1-2-3….Vigor Life”!So, as I asked before in Part I of this post, “What is ‘Vigor Life' is all about”?In order to give you a true sense and really comprehend what it’s all about, let’s review and discuss the core values that we live by – values that set the platform and set the foundation of what we practice and put into ACTION day in and day out. Not only that but these are the core values that set the standards for ‘Vigor Life’.That being said, I give you #vigorlife!

Lead From the Front

Just don’t talk about it – be about it! One of the most important things that’s guaranteed to be a total game changer is taking ACTION. It’s one thing to talk a good game, but there’s no reason to lace up the cleats or sneakers if you don’t intend to step on the playing field. Vigor Life is about practicing what you preach. For us, it’s not just being “in” fitness but more so being “into” fitness. So, how about you? Are you ‘in’ it? Or are you “into” it?

Loyalty

Being true to yourself as well as those around you. This includes all things that encompass all that makes you the person you are today. Whether its relationships, business, community organizations, church, team, brand and/or vision, loyalty plays an integral role in your allegiance, faithfulness, adherence, and devotion to your commitments and obligations.

Kaizen

Constant never ending improvement is what life is all about! Are you getting worse or are you getting better? My hope is that you’re focused on the latter vs. the former. Seek any and all opportunities to entrench yourself in mastering your craft and harboring your skills to not only make yourself better, but to also make those around you better as well! It’s the fortuity in creating a love affair with the work that you do!

Chase the Unicorn

Have you ever had a situation in life when you thought to yourself that you’d ‘never get there’ or ‘accomplish X,Y or Z’ because of the challenges or complications involved? Most folks tend to look at most challenges as roadblocks they can’t overcome. By adopting the mindset to “chase the unicorn”, you’re opting to the take the opposite approach in chasing what’s unattainable or unobtainable.

Be a Go-Giver

It feels really great to give, especially to those who are seeking help! And if you’re not giving and taking the approach of “getting vs. giving”, then you have to ask yourself what do you truly stand for? Vigor Life is about putting others’ interests first and adding value to their lives. By simply changing the focus from getting to giving ultimately leads to unexpected returns. There’s truly no greater gift than impacting someone’s life in way that will yield an improvement in their quality of life. Knowing that you played an integral part in making that improvement happen is a gift and a true blessing while knowing that you can make a difference in many other lives!

It's About "Feeling"

Picture this...you walk into your favorite restaurant and the host/hostess at the entrance shakes your hand and puts their other hand on your shoulder and says, “Hello, (Insert your name here)! It’s so great to see you. I’m so glad that you’re here! Please, let’s show you to your table so you can enjoy your lunch/dinner.” How would that initial experience make you feel? Important? Valued? Cared for? I don’t know about you but I’ve had other experiences when I’ve walked into a restaurant, a general store, other gyms and received no welcome nor any kind of acknowledgment. First impressions are so important and they can make or break your business, reputation and/or demeanor. Always remember that people will forget what you said, they will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel!

Be A Coach/Mentor

I'm a firm believer that we all need a coach in our lives. Whether it’s a financial advisor, life and/or business coach, spiritual advisor, or mentor, they all play an integral part in fulfilling the part of our lives that will yield the level of happiness that we all seek. Teaching truly is the best form of learning.

Believe

In Yourself and Others! Two words you (and everyone else) should omit from your daily vocabulary are the words “can’t” and “try”. Vigor Life is all about taking MASSIVE ACTION and taking care of business! Never let there be a missed opportunity to move onward & upward just because you think you “can’t”; never let an opportunity pass you by because you delay the process by thinking you should “try” vs. the “I’m going to do it” approach. Please use common sense as I’m not telling you to take dangerous risks that will hurt and/or injure you. We’re all adults here and I hope you use better judgment when you decide to take calculated risks with the intention to grow & prosper.

Be Contagious

We’ve always been told that we’re always positive and energetic here at Vigor Ground Fitness & Performance. And you know what? It’s true! The name of the game is ‘Happiness’ and ‘Positive Energy’! What do you do when someone smiles at you? You smile back. Happy energy. How about when someone gives you a high five? You give them a high five back! Positive energy! This is the perfect opportunity to “Lead From The Front” and be that individual that is always happy, positive and energetic and willing to spread this "contagious" positive mojo onto others! Let it spread like wildfire and see what good comes from it!

Be Honest and Transparent

Never let things go ‘sour’ because you can’t be honest & transparent with yourself and others. Despite how hard discussions are or how hurtful & ugly the truth may be, it’s always better to be as transparent about things instead of pretending all is OK. Always speak from the heart and always speak the truth."Honesty is the first chapter of the book of wisdom." ~Thomas Jefferson

Lead With No Title

Team Leader, Manager, Supervisor, Vice-President, CEO – they’re all titles bestowed on those who are called by an organization, company and/or business to lead. They have the official duties and responsibilities that go with the title. Leadership is influence. If that’s true, are the people with the titles the only ones called to lead? No. The title gives them some positional authority, but leaders are needed at every level of an organization and in the community. We all have the ability to influence others no matter our title. Leading without the title is the purest form of leadership. I’m may not always be easy, but it’s necessary and it’s doable. You can lead through good deeds, words of influence, by having a positive and energetic demeanor (as mentioned above), having a positive attitude and/or by simply being a coach/mentor. That’s what being a ‘leader with no title’ really is!

Act As If

I remember reading a story about former Nirvana drummer and current front man/guitarist/vocalist and founder of the rock band Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl. I remember reading how Dave used to say that they kept telling people they were “one of the top bands in the world”. Then one day they woke up and they were. Believe in yourself and talk in a way to be successful in all that you do. Always be positive and if you want something, act as if it’s already happened.

86,400 Rule

If you were given $86,400 dollars today and you were told that you had to spend it all within 24 hours knowing that you’d get another $86,400 tomorrow and we’re expected to do the same thing, would you spend it all or keep some in the bank? Would you live the live of a go-giver and help those in need? Since you’re reading this post and knowing that you’re the awesome person that you are, I would guess that you’d spend every cent. We also have the same number of seconds each & every day – 86,400 seconds equals 24 hours. Why wouldn’t you want to make the most of your life every single second that goes by instead of doing things that aren’t productive or making you and others around you better? Live like there’s no tomorrow and make everything that you do count and make it mean something.

So there you have it - #vigorlife at its’ finest!My hope is that you take the time to re-read and review the core values I mentioned above and do your part to live life as you should. Just do me a favor – promise yourself (not me nor anyone else) that you’ll take ACTION and apply one of the core values above each day, each week, each month and see how your life resonates and improves.Time to step up and live life the way it was meant to be – ‘VIGORously’!