Success Can Be Found In Numbers

"Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work."  - Vince Lombardi

It's so amazing to me how in every walk of life we can find such greater success when we work alongside others.  We all like to think we can do things on our own, and to some extent we can.  But when you take a step back and lean on others you realize you are capable of rising above any goal you had originally thought unachievable!  It's in these moments where we find our deepest strengths, our smiles and a new found love for success!

This past week I have been a guinea pig and have given up my normal workout routines to try out a new program.  My friend Cory Skillin has been hard at work creating a workout program that helps people simply move.  It's fun, it's creative, it gets you down on your hands and knees and offers up many moments for a smile.  It's challenging but not to the point where you can't move the next day.  It gives you that feeling of accomplishment and yet has you craving more.  It's filled with movements I used to do as a kid (I mean seriously, when was the last time you did a crab walk?!!), it gets your heart rate up and yet at the same time forces you to slow down a bit and really work on some stabilization, strength training and stretching.  In my opinion it's a very good, well rounded workout that can fit any fitness level or inhibiting schedule (in fact I did this in a hotel room one evening...no excuses).

For everyone that knows me on a personal level you know I'm slow to endorse anything unless I truly believe in it...this program I feel so confidant in that I offered to teach it to a few friends and old coworkers while on a business trip in Virginia last week.  I have to give my friends Mary and Michell all the credit in the world...not only did they get up early to meet me for a 6am workout, but they had to deal with my bubbly little morning personality, which for some can be a lot to handle before a cup of coffee!  In 45 minutes we completed one of Cory's workouts, we all broke a sweat, shared quite a few laughs and had a GREAT time simply MOVING.  

Last night I did a second variation of this workout with Cory and a group of his friends/clients that have all signed up to test out this program as well.  We were outside in a beautiful park and together we represented various ages and fitness levels.  To see the encouragement that each of these participants gave each other was incredible.  They cheered each other on, helped each other out and really pushed each other to achieve their own personal level of success!  They laughed, they sang and they had a GREAT time simply MOVING.  At the end of our 1 hour workout, there were high fives all around and a beautiful sunset for us to all gratefully appreciate.

It's not that we can't workout alone, a lot of us do (myself included at times) but this past week has made me truly realize the additional benefits that come from working out with others.  Cory's program is one that you can do with friends, with colleagues, with your spouse and even with your kids.  It gets you up and moving, gives you a challenging, yet rewarding workout and makes you smile.  You wake up the next morning with a reminder of what you did the day before (haha a few sore muscles) but you remember what fun you had, the bonds you formed with others and the encouragement you both gave and received to reach the next level and you want to jump right back into it.  This is what fitness should be about...FUN mixed with a little hard work and discipline!

I challenge you to try something new...to find your support system who not only encourages you but also celebrates your achievements with you.  And if you are looking for some help with a program, looking to try out this new program I've been doing or have any fitness/wellness related questions, I encourage you to reach out to Cory at Coryskillin@yahoo.com.  It doesn't matter if you are here in Colorado, across the country or halfway around the world...if you're looking to get moving and have fun while doing it, a simple email is the first step down that path of success. 

"As you navigate through the rest of your life, be open to collaboration.  Other people and other people's ideas are often better than your own.  Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life."  - Amy Poehler  

After all, isn't this what life is all about...working hard and then celebrating/enjoying those moments of success?!  

Temptation - Sweets & Snacks Show

I'm fortunate to be working in an industry I love.  I'm a VP of Sales & Marketing for a brokerage company that works primarily with Costco.  I get to be innovative, creative, and work with companies from all over the world each and every day to try and both design and sell their products into the club channel.  Honestly, I eat for a living!  Now with that kind of job comes a level of temptation that is not always easy to resist.  Case and point...today's trade show.

620+ exhibiting companies with more than 3 acres worth of products...15,000 qualified professionals and participation from over 90 countries.  This is what makes up the 2014 Sweets & Snacks Show at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL!  What I want to know is how the hell ANYONE has the will power to walk a show like this and not give into temptation?!!  I'm no different than anyone else and I definitely have my weaknesses...chocolate being one of them!

I'd be lying to myself and everyone else if I told you that there wasn't at least a 5lb bag of trade show samples sitting on the desk in my hotel room right now.  Everything from fudge, to chocolate covered almonds, from jerky to popcorn...it's all there in my room in little sample sized portions!  Not only was I faced with temptation all day long, but now it's staring back at me from across the room!

There's a level of guilt that comes from sampling your way through at least one meal of the day, eating nothing but sugar and not having a chance to exercise because you have the earliest flight of the morning and a client dinner in the evening.  It's an awful feeling BUT I declared today my "rest" day in regards to my workouts.  Now, even with that being said, all the crazy walking between airports and the trade show floor accounted for approximately 4.25 miles according to my FitBit.  I guess it wasn't too bad overall.

I pride myself on living a healthy lifestyle...working out, eating right, practicing yoga/meditation, etc...but I am human and I definitely give into temptation every now and then.  But...even when I give into temptation, I still do it at a very moderate level compared to most.  For all of you who have ever attended a food based trade show, you know how crazy it is and how many hundreds of samples you are expected to try.  My trick?!  One bite (out of respect) and then toss it in the trash can.  Once it's in the garbage you obviously aren't going to have a second bite but you've given yourself the ability to taste the product and give the client your ample feedback.

Tomorrow is day #2 of a sugar high tradeshow and I'm sure it's going to be as equally tempting as it was today.  As with anything in life, I'm a huge believer in "everything in moderation."  I won't give up trying products again tomorrow but I will not overindulge and I will definitely make sure to be up bright and early and running the streets of Chicago first!!