Life by design. Life by choice. Life on your own terms.
As far as my AKRConditioning journey is concerned, I’m a baby. I’m a pup. I’m a freelance-trainer in a large fitness-chain gym. And I’m an aspiring author. That’s it.
I don’t own my own facility. I don’t have a team of staff. I haven’t featured in top fitness magazines or directly trained any pro athletes. I don’t have thousands of Facebook followers.
However, in the last 2 or 3 years I feel I’ve made some real progress – and releasing my first book later this year will represent a major milestone. I feel I’m beginning to realise some of my dreams.
I want to share some steps I’ve learned – maybe they can help you too.
1. Imagination
Despite there being an infinite number of paths to take in life, we often limit our thinking to what’s expected of us. Or what has always been done before.
Step one is to imagine. There are endless opportunities: things to do or make or learn. Places to go and see and experience. People to serve or teach or connect and bond with.
You can choose your own way. What do you want? What’s important to you? What would you like your life to look like? What if you knew you couldn’t possibly fail?
When I quit my job in 2011, imagination is all it was. I was frustrated with the impact I was making in my gym-job. I dreamt of being an inspiration to people. I wanted to make my life matter. I knew something had to change.
2. Liberation
Free yourself from your story. Let it go.
I bet you can think of a lot of reasons why you can’t have what you want. We all can. Not smart enough, rich enough, young enough. “Yeah, but I have all these responsibilities”.
Let’s be real. If you’re in survival mode, life might just be about paying the bills.
If you’re 42, you might have to accept you’ll never play for Man United. If you’ve got people depending on you, taking off for some solo adventure might not be realistic. I get it.
Some barriers are real. Many, however, are just the story we tell ourselves to keep us safe in our comfort zone. There is always something you can do to learn more or earn more. Instead of “I can’t”, ask, “how can I?”
3. Vision
Building a picture in your mind helps to spark the emotion required to fuel motivation. Get excited. See it. Feel it.
Before travelling in October 2011, I made a vision board of some of the things I’d like to see and do: La Bombonera, Iguazú Falls, Machu Picchu, volcanoes, sand-boarding, skydiving. I saw it all before. I saw myself in Fitness Quest 10,attending the Mentorship programme with Todd Durkin. I saw myself being my own boss and working on my own terms. It was surreal to then actually live it.
The big vision can inspire you. Mine keeps me excited, hopeful. It keeps me stepping forward.
Vision –> Reality
4. Reason
The easy life is a myth. There will always be challenges, disappointments and down-days. To get through these, you need an inspiring reason to do so: a ‘why’.
Back when I was at uni, there was an opportunity to pursue a soccer scholarship in the United States. It sounded great.
I did nothing.
Later, when my sense of adventure grew, I regretted that.
Regret sucks. It can be useful when we still have time to make things right. It can push us into action. But, for me, to get to the end with regret would be a catastrophe.
I want to shine, inspire and lead. I want to make the most of my life and demonstrate to others what’s possible. Then I want to show them the way.
This is why, in February 2011, I wrote this poem. Reasons precede results. Why do you want what you want?
5. Action
The ‘woo-woo’ crowd will have you believe it’s just about positive thinking. It’s not. It’s about action. You’ve got to do something.
What are you willing to do?
I started planning my trip. I saved money. I bought a backpack. I booked a flight. I quit my job. Of course there was some doubt. But my ‘why’ drove me. I was willing to take a risk.
When I came home, I started working as a freelance personal trainer. I stepped out of my comfort zone and began public speaking. I got up early. I remained committed to reading. I started writing. I wasn’t great but I was willing to practice.
One day, on the way to an early morning personal training session, I fell off my bike and fractured my elbow. I had never cancelled on a client. I took the session anyway.
What are you willing to do?
6. Sacrifice
There is always a price for the prize. Focusing your energy, time and money on one or two things means there’s less of it for other things.
I gave up security. I gave up holiday pay. I saved time and money by giving up TV. I gave up owning a car. I gave up regularly buying new clothes, and I gave up getting drunk and staying out late.
I would love to renovate my home. But I’ve given up on that idea for the time being. I’d rather spend my money on experiences. On my vision.
I’m not trying to build myself up as some sort of martyr. Nor am I suggesting that you should give up what I gave up. But you will have to give up something.
What are you willing to give up?
7. Support
Surround yourself with good people.
While I’ve always had the tendency to be a lone wolf, it would be churlish of me to have you believe I did it all on my own.
Although some people questioned me (and my parents weren’t initially keen on my solo trip to Latin America), a few close friends helped keep me inspired about my vision. In Todd Durkin I had a role model – and his mentorship strengthened my belief in making things work.
When I came home, my Dad let me stay with him for free until I built up enough income to return to my own place. My Mum has always been supportive. Both parents paid for my food when I had no money.
You don’t need the support of everybody – just a vital few. Who’s in your circle?
8. Perseverance
There are going to be times when it just doesn’t seem like a good idea any more.
A month or two after coming home, I was depressed. I had one client, very little income and I missed the freedom of my own space. I wanted my old job back.
The words from a couple of friends helped me persevere.
Consider it a test of how bad you want it.
9. Faith
Faith is my favourite. And I’m not talking about religion. It’s about trust more than anything.
Trust that if you keep your vision in mind, if you keep taking small steps forward, if you keep growing – if you keep reaching! – the results will come.
My Latin American trip started with a one-way flight. I didn’t know for sure if, or when Todd Durkin’s Mentorship would run. And I had no idea if I would get a place or not. I took the leap anyway.
Before the end of the year I’ll release my first book. Everybody keeps asking me how I’ll sell it, market it and so on. Will anyone buy it? I don’t know, but I did the work anyway. Experience tells me that when you have the courage to dream and the persistence to work, the results will come.
UPDATE: My book is now finished and is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle. Click here to check it out!
Always Keep Reaching!
Mike
