Testing my mental toughness. Trying to rack my brain for blog content while my wife blasts Coolio. She knows I love Coolio and I can’t focus! She’s getting pumped for the I Love the 90s concert, so I don’t blame her.
My desperation to come up with something for you, reminded me of a motivational tactic used by 16th century Aztec conqueror Hernando Cortez. When he landed in modern-day Mexico in 1519, he ordered all the ships to be burned before they started their attack. This was a way to get his army completely focused and ready to do whatever it took to be victorious.
Retreat was not an option, there was no going home. They were either going to win or die trying.
Have you ever burned your ship?
I have and it was one of the scariest, most exciting things I've ever done. I started my fitness business on the side while working for the government. It was a tough decision to leave a job with benefits, steady income, and one I actually enjoyed. But if I wanted to take my business to the next level it was something I had to do.
There is a big difference in having extra income from a side business and having it be your sole income source. You go from "Hey that's nice." to "Hey I need to make this work or we will lose our house."
Have you ever been in a situation where you HAD to do something? There is very little you couldn't accomplish when you have to.
In school did you ever had to finish a huge research paper that you had the whole semester and you miraculously finish in one day? You need perspiration or desperation to get things done.
Change this over to fitness. Imagine if you had to do a swimsuit photo shoot in 6 months. (I saw you physically flinch when you read that 🙂 How hard would you work out? How disciplined would your eating be? You would be desperate to not embarrass yourself.
What if your doctor said you needed to lose 50 pounds or you were going to die? That is slightly more motivating than wanting to fit in some skinny jeans.
What if you signed up for a half marathon 6 months from now, You would probably start training for It right away.
I want you to do something right now. Write down your ship burning goal.
Not in your phone, not typed on the computer. Use actual pen and paper to write it down. It will connect you to that goal in a way electronics cannot.
Whatever it takes, burn your ship and stop being "half in" on your goals. If you don't have a goal that puts a fire in your belly every day to reach it and makes you a little nervous, then you need a new goal!
