Here are some interesting facts about geese…
- When geese fly together, each goose provides additional lift and reduces air resistance for the goose flying behind it.
- When a goose drops out of the v-formation, it quickly discovers that it requires a great deal more effort and energy to fly.
- Geese rotate leadership.
- Geese honk at each other.
- Geese help each other.
[Taken from Lead Like Butler: Six Principles For Values-Based Leaders, by Kent Millard and Judith Cebula (Abingdon, 2012)]
Read the full article HERE
So…why on earth am I talking about geese and what’s all this got to do with keeping fit?!
Well…
It’s all about team work and, in my opinion, fitness is all about great team work.
Ok, there are some people who are self-motivated and self-sufficient when it comes to their fitness. They can exercise on their own and don’t need the support of their peers.
However, in my experience (and I have over 20 years experience in the fitness industry), getting great results (or in fact, any sort of results) comes down to team work.
I know how you feel about exercise!
It doesn’t matter if I’m a ‘Fitness Professional’.
I have the same thoughts and feelings as you.
Plus, it doesn’t matter if I’m a man and you’re a woman!
We go through the same thought processes about our fitness and health.
I get it. You finish work, get in your car and head off to the gym (or studio).
It’s a cold evening and you’re tired.
But you’re determined though – you want to do something so that you can fit into your favourite dress or pair of jeans in just a few weeks time.
You HAVE to go to the gym, don’t you because if you don’t go, you don’t get to fit into that dress or jeans.
You approach a junction in your car. Left is the gym and right is home!
Which do you choose?
I know, it’s cold and you’re tired – it HAS to be right!!
You head off home so that you can relax in front of the fire, with a glass of wine while watching your favourite TV show.
You’ll go to the gym tomorrow!!!
Sound familiar?
I know you’ve been there because I have and I know exactly what goes through your mind.
You desperately want the results and you really want to change BUT it’s much more comforting and much easier to be at home in the warmth and relaxing surroundings.
So, tell me, how do you get the results?
Well, it has to be a mindset thing.
Maybe you’re not quite conditioned yet into making exercise a part of your life.
Maybe you think exercise is just too hard!
Maybe you think the gym is full of posers and you just don’t fit in.
Maybe you’ve tried the gym for a while but haven’t budged on the scales.
Maybe you feel apprehensive about exercising in front of other people and maybe the men are watching and judging you!
So, let’s get back to team work – now that I have you onboard with how you often feel about exercise.
Looking at the geese scenario, number 2 is particularly crucial to your progress.
‘When a goose drops out of the v-formation, it quickly discovers that it requires a great deal more effort and energy to fly.’
When you drop out of a group and try to do things on your own, you quickly discover that you miss the synergy and energy that comes when you are an active part of a cohesive team.
You can attempt to go to the gym on your own but very quickly, you’ll discover that it becomes very difficult to maintain the level of motivation and accountability needed to get great results.
You are much more likely to get great results when you are accountable to your peers.
“Oh, where’s Paul tonight?”
“Ah, he felt tired and just went straight home from work.”
“Oh, we were looking forward to trying that new routine together. I guess we’ll have to do something else instead.”
A normal conversation when someone doesn’t show up – and for no particularly great reason either.
You become accountable to others in the group – those who are turning up regularly and supporting the rest of the group.
Team work is massive when it comes to achieving great fitness results. You push each other, you spur each other on, you praise each other, you motivate each other.
Do you see why it’s important?
Luckily, I have a great group of women who implement these strategies and do you know what? They get it. They get the reasons for team work.
When they have the tape measure around their waist, you can expect these women to say, “I’m happy. I know I can fit into my dress now.”
What a great feeling when that happens and it’s all down to working in a team.
Go solo and don’t expect the same results.
Learn from the geese – it’s nature’s way of getting us to work together to achieve more.
Thanks
Paul
Ps/ If you’re interested in group fitness and working as part of a great team of likeminded women, register your details and come along for a free trial. Just click here for details –> GROUP FITNESS