I find it very inspiring to see someone who is just starting their foray into the world of healthier living. It is relatively easy for someone in top physical shape to go to the gym for the 894th time for their next workout. It is quite another thing to see someone on their 4th “real” workout, whether that involves resistance or cardiovascular training. For them, it is all new, and raw determination is the fuel that is driving them. Without a long standing foundation of fitness, each workout is exceptionally hard as they push their bodies in ways they have never done before. They get tired easily. They get winded quickly. They get REALLY sore. And, they frequently look lost within the labyrinth of equipment that many gym veterans see as their second home.These new recruits to a healthy lifestyle need to be commended. It is at this early stage that they are most likely to quit because they are the farthest from their ultimate goal than they will ever be. Praising their short term achievements is crucial to helping them establish a mindset that they will be successful over time with hard work, dedication and realistic expectations.
They need to be instructed. Many of the fundamentals about form, technique and safety that are second nature to gym veterans do not come automatically to them. The smallest details on how to properly execute a barbell curl, how to design a well rounded program, and how to incorporate rest and recovery into their schedules can make the difference between success and failure.
They need to be challenged. Some of these recruits started their programs due to the recommendations of a single person or from reading one article in a magazine. It would be easy for them to get in a rut and burn out from a lack of variance from their initial routine. As they progress, they need program adjustments that take into account their new fitness level as well as their mental need for variety.
All of these principles apply to new recruits into the world of structured business development as well. Their initial achievements must be realistic and recognized publicly. They need to be instructed and drilled on fundamentals. And, they need to constantly modify their approach to accommodate changes in their environment and personal goals.
For a veteran in either case, it may seem like common sense to do such things. Frankly, it is hard for any of us to remember the courage it takes to make such significant lifestyle changes for the first time. But, once upon a time, we were all at Day One. It is the point where we were the most committed and most likely to fail. We should all remember the difficulty in being a new recruit and do everything we can to help them become the next regular at the gym that never seems to miss a day of training.
