What my workout taught me about business

I almost didn’t go to yoga this morning. I was awake and laying in bed looking at my phone, reviewing the class descriptions over and over again, convincing myself this particular class would be too hard.

The class I attended a couple days ago kicked my butt. As I am still working on regaining my pre-baby fitness, I found myself struggling with even the most basic flows and skipping every other chaturanga. So when I read that this morning’s class was a faster (more difficult) flow, I looked for easier classes on the schedule instead.

I was wide awake though, and the rest of the family was sleeping, so I got up and went.

The teacher starts each class by reading a short story, quote, or poem and today was all about stepping out of our comfort zone to take little side trips throughout the road trip of life. She talked about changing the inner narrative that plays in our head telling us that something is too hard or too scary, and reframing that narrative into a more positive one.

Well then.

For someone who waxes poetic about stepping out of one’s comfort zone and trying new things, this was a little bit of a kick in the pants. Just because one class was hard, I was going to take the easy way out next time?

Nope. Not me.

I spent the rest of the class telling myself that I could hold the pose just a little longer, and you know what? It worked. My little side trip down this morning’s yoga practice journey left me feeling energized and ready to conquer the day.

A shift in my inner narrative and my mindset, something that costs literally nothing, changed the course of my entire day, maybe my entire week.

Now apply this to your business or organization. If you ask a potential donor for a $500k grant and they say no, you could tell yourself, Well, this type of donor doesn’t believe in this organization so I may as well only request $100k grants from now on. But if you change your mindset to, I believe in this mission and I know they will too, and you may land three $500k donors because they can sense your passion and dedication.

I know that all this mindset talk may be a bit woo-woo for some people, but it all boils down to this:

When things get tough in your business, what do you do? Scrap a good idea because one person said no? Decide never to hire someone again because you had one bad hire? NO WAY!I challenge you to do just one thing out of your comfort zone this week and practice resiliency to get through it.

I promise it will be worth it.

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