As Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”
Will this new year bring you better finances and a better body? If you’re motivated and disciplined, it will. I spoke with Adam Gilbert, founder and Chief Body Tutor of MyBodyTutor. He explains the strong parallels between building a stronger net worth and a stronger body.
What’s the hardest thing about setting a fitness goal?
Adam Gilbert: Frankly, I think setting a goal is very easy, no matter what it pertains to. It’s following through on your goal that’s very hard.
How does commitment play a role in fitness? What parallels exist for reaching a financial goal?
AG: You’ll never follow through unless you’re 100% committed. However, to be 100% committed you need to really believe in what you’re doing! If you don’t believe being fit is worthwhile then you’ll never be fit. Similarly, if you don’t believe that saving money is worthwhile then you’ll never save money.
What are some ways people can stay motivated when working toward a fitness or financial goal?
AG: Think about the short term benefits more so than the long term benefits. For example, at first, my clients are obsessed with the destination, i.e. weighing x pounds less. And when they don’t lose weight one week, they get really discouraged and want to quit. But road blocks are inevitable. It’s what we do when we hit them that make all of the difference.
Focusing on how awesome you feel on a daily basis when you treat your body with respect by eating right and exercising is a great idea. By the same token one should focus on small daily triumphs when it comes to changing financial behaviors. Maybe today you actually brought your lunch to work instead of eating out. In both situations small actions add up to big results.
By helping my clients focus on the short term benefits more than the long term benefits it makes it much easier to fight through the brick walls. When you enjoy the journey, you’ll reach your destination before you know it…and even if you don’t, it’s still worthwhile! (But you will if you stay consistent!)
How do you motivate yourself to get up and start again when you slide back into old habits?
AG: First off, we all slide. It’s about making a U-Turn! It’s about getting back up and getting on the right track. It’s about making the choices that reflect the person you want to be. I want to be healthy, so, I’m going to do x today. I want to save an emergency fund so I will do x today. It’s about putting your desires into action.
My overall philosophy in life is simple: Make the best out of everything and be the best that you can be!
Failing a test never felt better than acing one. Eating crap and sitting on my couch never felt better than eating healthy and exercising. Being broke never feels better than having a cushion.
As Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”
I believe everyone acts the way the way they want to be. When I fall back into old habits I ask myself is this really how I want to be?
So, I get back on the right track and start acting how I want to be until it becomes a habit again. And ultimately, until I am…what I want to be!
