Listen - This can be a tough one. It’s something I’m personally working on and it’s the most important thing I’m working on. The other day I sat down with an old college football teammate and had lunch. We talked about our time on the field, our families, business and more. It was great and my focus was listening as much as possible. We all like to talk so it can be difficult to listen. To really listen is even more challenging. Listening however, really listening and letting what we hear sink in before responding can seem slow or drawn out, maybe even unnecessary. It’s not. I heard Chuck Swindoll say one time that we should wait three full seconds before responding to give ourselves time to listen and be thoughtful in our response. Try it sometime. You’ll probably get a funny look from the person you’re listening to. But, you’ll also truly hear what they have to say and your response will probably mean more. I used to have managers tell me that I needed to respond quicker during sales appointments. Unfortunately I listened to them and sped up many of my sales meetings costing me money and my potential clients the opportunity to improve their fitness. I will never tell someone they need to speed up their response. Maybe they're just listening. Listen.
I help business executives turn healthy habits into daily rhythms using organization, insight and accountability. Visit Executive Fitness at relentlesscourage.co and contact me from there if you are interested in learning more.
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Be who you are - What other options are there? I think when we stop trying to show the world someone we’re not, that’s when the magic happens. There are too many balls in the air to be anything other than our authentic selves. When we focus on truth and being who we are life gets so much easier. We’re not having to keep up with what we told so and so or how we need to act around these folks compared to those. It doesn’t really matter who joins us but I’m excited to bring people closer to me and my message that accept me for who I am. No matter your position or title people appreciate when you be who you are. Be who you are.
I help business executives turn healthy habits into daily rhythms using organization, insight and accountability. Visit Executive Fitness at relentlesscourage.co and contact me from there if you are interested in learning more.
Leadership - This one can mean so many different things it’s difficult to know where to start. As the captain of my High School football and baseball teams I always prided myself on showing up every day and giving what I had. That’s where I thought my edge was and I think I was right. So, for me in high school, which was a long time ago, I was trying to set an example for my teammates so they would show up put in the work. Now, my pace has slowed a bit and life has taught me many lessons. It’s more of a daily pace I suppose. Whereas before it was minute by minute and second by second. What’s been missing, for me at least, have been periods where there's consistent effort be it weeks, months or even years. To me that’s just where it starts. I would love to know what leadership means to you. Leadership.
I help business executives turn healthy habits into daily rhythms using organization, insight and accountability. Visit Executive Fitness at relentlesscourage.co and contact me from there if you are interested in learning more
Don’t let people push your buttons - This one is still difficult for me to live by as I suspect it is for many people. This life comes at me from enough angles as it is, including from myself. The days of me letting other people push my buttons I’d like to think are over. The problem is people are going to push no matter what and some folks are pretty good at it. I’ve begun responding with grace and understanding. It’s not me most of the time and I don’t need to succumb to the insecurities of others trying to push my buttons. I have started to hear people out and respectfully try to leave them better following our interactions. My goals are to bring people with me on the path of growth and development and not get sucked into the pit of reaction to things that come my way. Don’t let people push your buttons.
I help business executives turn healthy habits into daily rhythms using organization, insight and accountability. Visit Executive Fitness at relentlesscourage.co and contact me from there if you are interested in learning more.
Deal fairly - Dealing fairly hasn’t always been something I strove to do. There was a time, many years ago, that I wanted deals to lean heavily in my direction. I dealt with little to no consideration for the “other side”. As I have gotten older I’ve come to realize that’s no way to do business. I’m reading a book right now called “The Power of Nice” by Robert Shapiro and in it he talks about discovering the things that all parties involved want and making a deal so everyone leaves the table happy feeling like they got a fair deal. As I move into this executive coaching and fitness training business I’m excited to hear and seek as much information as I can before making a deal so that everyone involved gets a fair deal. Deal fairly.
I help business executives turn healthy habits into daily rhythms using organization, insight and accountability. Visit Executive Fitness at relentlesscourage.co and contact me from there if you are interested in learning more.
Discipline - I used to be extremely disciplined in my endurance training. I had marathon training plans that I would not deviate from no matter what. In 2020 I ran 8 miles a day for more than two months and virtually ran across the state of Tennessee. For 15 months just a few years ago I ate a ketogenic diet and didn’t eat more than 60 grams of carbs in a day once. Now I show up here with you and deliver a positive message every morning at 6:30. Discipline isn’t really that hard especially once it becomes a habit. Discipline.
I help business executives turn healthy habits into daily rhythms using organization, insight and accountability. Visit Executive Fitness at relentlesscourage.co and contact me from there if you are interested in learning more.
Breathe - One of the fundamental activities to our existence is breathing. Our breath is always with us and we can always give focus to it. How we breathe can tell us a lot about how we are feeling and the stress that is building up in us. I’ve begun taking inventory of how I breathe. It tells me a lot about my current state of rest and my current state of endurance training. If my breath is shallow I know my stress levels are higher than I’d like them to be or I haven’t been getting adequate sleep or I’m not pushing myself enough in my exercise beyond the point of comfort. The breath can tell us a lot if we just take the time and energy to listen to it. Breathe.
I help business executives turn healthy habits into daily rhythms using organization, insight and accountability. Visit Executive Fitness at relentlesscourage.co and contact me from there if you are interested in learning more.
Exercise - In my 20’s my exercise consisted of trying to learn the best possible way to hit a baseball. I dedicated hours every day to the craft and got better at it. Since I turned 40 I’ve tried to get back into that exercise rhythm. My back doesn’t appreciate it as much as I do. During my 30’s I focused most of my exercise energy on running long distances. I was an ultra marathoner completing more than 25 ultras on foot and three 100 mile endurance runs. I’ll likely still spend some of my exercise energy here as it’s what I know how to do and I feel like I’m pretty good at it, not going fast but finishing back to the rhythm of life. Now, in my 40’s, my focus has shifted again to a more holistic approach. Instead of extreme nutrition plans I’m aiming for more balance. Instead of miles on miles I’m giving even more credence to mixing it up and moving in some way daily. I walk the dog, I lift weights, I ride my bike, I run, I stretch and all sorts of other things. I suppose I’ve done this all along but health has become a more important element to it, not just competition. The verdict is still out on how all this’ll work out but I seem to be happy and I don’t need to eat as much to support the energy that goes out training for ultras. Regular exercise is beneficial for many things. A few of them are energy, healthy blood flow, mobile joints, a clearer mind and confidence to overcome challenges to name a few. Exercise.
I help business executives integrate healthy individual and organizational habits into daily rhythms. I do this by using organization, insight and accountability. Visit Executive Fitness at relentlesscourage.co and contact me from there if you are interested in learning more.
Be courageous - I recently started reading a book called “The Power of Nice” by Ron Shapiro. We are in the middle of tryout season for AAU basketball right now. If you’ve ever been there you know what I mean. The way I’m communicating is completely transparent. I want the best fit for my daughter and I want to be respectful of the difficult conversations and decisions these coaches need to make. As I was reading the book during one of my daughter’s tryouts, a question came up in the book. What would you like to do differently after reading this book? I didn’t need to wait until I was done reading. I picked up the phone and called a coach I hadn’t checked in with because we’re working out for the “top teams” first. I picked up the phone and called. It wasn’t a fun thing to do. I wasn’t looking forward to it. But at the end of our conversation I was thanked for taking the time to provide the update and the option stays open. Be courageous.
I help business executives integrate healthy individual and organizational habits into daily rhythms. I do this by using organization, insight and accountability. Visit Executive Fitness at jonhoward.co and contact me from there if you are interested in learning more.
Momentum - When I was a sophomore in high school we used to gather in the East gym at Osseo Sr. High as a football team, turn off all the lights and sit in silence before games. Then we would walk a quarter mile to the stadium and the buzz of the crowd would grow louder with each step. The silence was there to prepare our minds individually and to give coaches an opportunity to chime in before the game with a solid nugget of wisdom. Prior to one particular game Coach Ward got up and told us a story. The story was about two teams of 11. There was one player that could switch teams at any moment and become the 12th player for one side at a time. That player’s name was Mo. Mo would go wherever the energy went. He would follow big offensive and defensive plays. He would follow turnovers, sacks, big blocks, interceptions and touchdowns. Mo is momentum and he comes at you downhill making him that much more difficult to stop if he’s playing for the other team. When he’s on your team though, he provides a big advantage. Mo needs fuel to keep rolling. Mo doesn’t play favorites. He just wants to win. Momentum.
I help business executives integrate healthy individual and organizational habits into daily rhythms. I do this by using organization, insight and accountability. Visit Executive Fitness at jonhoward.co and contact me from there if you are interested in learning more. |
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