On January 4th of this year, I committed to working out for 90 consecutive days with my SEAL Team PT group. It is a very difficult hour-long workout but the benefits to my body, mind and confidence are immeasurable.
As I was sprinting uphill carrying a rope with seven other team members on day 16, I realized that not only was I learning about myself as I ran, climbed, jumped, did pushups, situps and every other exercise imaginable, but I was learning a lot about business too.
Here are three of the lessons that occurred to me that morning:
Good Form + Consistency + Intensity = Results
This is a cornerstone of SEAL Team training. We get in the best shape of our lives by doing our workouts with great form, every rep, every day and we push ourselves to do just a little more in each session. It is always better to do five perfect pushups than twenty sloppy ones. Poor form leads to poor results and even injury.
In business, form = service. Isn’t it better to serve 10 clients perfectly rather than 20 clients sort of okay? Do the right things, the right way, every day and you will get your business in the best shape of its life. Do them poorly and you’ll risk losing clients or worse, really ticking off someone who flames you to his thousands of Facebook friends, Twitter followers and blog readers. That big mistake could cost you the whole enchilada.
At SEAL Team everyone knows what good form looks like. Do all of your employees know what good service is?
The longer you go, the more separation between the best and the rest
When we are doing an evolution (set of exercises), the longer we do it the more you notice who has been doing it right consistently and who has been half-assing it. During a run, the longer we run, the more separation there is between the first runners and the last. With pushups, the serious people can do the whole evolution from their feet while the rest are on their knees.
In business, it’s the same. Those who run their businesses well and who consistently build on a solid foundation succeed for years. Those who are seeking the quick buck or who come out of the gate too fast with no plan for the long-term, fade to the back quickly.
Are you preparing to lead the pack?
If you cheat yourself, who won’t you cheat?
This is one of Instructor McGuire’s (our founder) favorite sayings.
At SEAL Team, we use an honor system much of the time. When doing exercises, you often get to count your own reps with no oversight. If the count is 50 and you only do 30, you’re just cheating yourself.
In business, keeping promises to your customers often starts with keeping promises to yourself. How accountable are you to your goals and your vision? If you let yourself slide, chances are it will spill over into your service and keep your company from reaching its true potential.
What do you do each day that shows commitment to yourself and your dreams? What do you expect of your employees and do they know it?
I can’t overstate the impact being part of this team has meant to me. Even when I’m tired and sore, I look forward to getting outside with my teammates and learning a little more about what I’m capable of. Is this how your employees feel about your company, even when they are working long hours or pushing to meet deadlines?
I can't end this post without a big thanks to each and every person who has supported me along the journey to fitness, mental discipline and learning the true meaning of teamwork. Hoo yah, SEAL Team!
