Hello and welcome to 4-Minute Friday where I share, in four minutes or less, the latest things I’m doing to enhance my health, develop a better mindset, make day-to-day life easier, and other shenanigans.
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Advice I Received at the Gym:
I was knocking out some sled pulls at my gym this week when an older gentleman walked over and struck up a conversation.
He started by asking about the exercise and weight I was using while throwing in the anticipated question about my height.
After a little small talk, he looked me in the eyes and got serious… “Do you know what the biggest pitfall of the common man is?”
Didn’t know whether to try to conjure up an answer or wait in silence, so I chose the latter and gave him the universal “No, I actually don’t have a clue” expression.
He answered his own question — “a potbelly” — while making the rounded belly gesture with his hand.
I half laughed before realizing he was dead serious as he continued lecturing.
He made it known that he is thriving at the ripe age of 87, still coming to the gym every day to stay active and keep his mind healthy.
“Exercise regularly, find a beautiful wife, and you’ll live to 100 no doubt.”
I hope that one is cast in stone.
He then walked off carrying his two 30-pound dumbbells up and down the turf before chirping at a young gentleman for taking up too much space.
What a guy.
Book I Recently Finished:
After seeing it recommended on numerous reading lists, I finally put a bow on Shoe Dog — a book written by the CEO of Nike, Phil Knight.
Without knowing the origins, you’d likely think Nike was an overnight slam-dunk that took the sports apparel industry by storm and hasn’t looked back.
However, that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
After taking a solo trip around the world shortly after graduating from the University of Oregon and then receiving a business degree from Stanford, Knight’s obsession with shoes exploded.
After meeting with a running shoe manufacturer in Japan, he had a vision of bringing these high-quality yet affordable shoes to the states where there wasn’t much of a market at the time.
Fast forward through multiple stints where Knight worked as an accountant, professor, and army reserve soldier facing setback after setback, Nike finally hit an exponential growth phase.
Not only was he willing to commit every waking hour to growing his brand, but he also assembled a talented team to go to battle with; most importantly, one that he enjoyed spending time around.
Of critical note, he made well known his routine of a nightly 6-mile run to clear his mind and keep his sanity in check.
I resonate.
A couple quotes that stuck with me:
“I’d tell men and women in their mid-twenties not to settle for a job or a profession or even a career. Seek a calling. Even if you don’t know what that means, seek it. If you’re following your calling, the fatigue will be easier to bear, the disappointments will be fuel, the highs will be like nothing you’ve ever felt.”
“So that morning in 1962 I told myself: Let everyone else call your idea crazy . . . just keep going. Don’t stop. Don’t even think about stopping until you get there, and don’t give much thought to where “there” is. Whatever comes, just don’t stop.”
Shoe Dog is going on the all-time bookshelf for me without question.
The New Morning Routine:
Many social media big wigs flex their morning routines of ice baths, forest walks, breathwork, yoga, and so on and so forth.
Which most have realized, this isn’t feasible for 99.9% of people.
It sure does look good on Instagram though, that can’t be debated.
Anyway, not to throw the baby out with the bathwater, I do believe a morning routine is a terrific way to start each day.
It can be 30 seconds; it can be 30 minutes.
Whatever time you have to allocate will suffice.
A few checkboxes I recommend hitting on this:
Something to get the heart rate up
Something to organize your thoughts
Involve bright light
You have a minute: step outside and hit a set of push-ups, jumping jacks, or air squats and write down two actions that will make the day a win.
You have 20 minutes: go on a walk, hit a couple sets of pull-ups on the local playground, do some light stretching, and finish with a quick 5-minute meditation.
I’ve been leaning more to the latter with extra free time and although I was resistant at first, it’s something I look forward to nearly every morning now as it gets my day started on the right foot.
Find your routine and stick to it.
What else?
Happy July 4th! Stay safe out there, folks… fireworks are fun… until they’re not. Enjoy from afar.
Invest regularly = financial freedom.
Exercise regularly = physical freedom.
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DISCLAIMER
This is NOT Medical advice. Consult your medical professional before starting any supplement, diet regimen, or workout program.