Fitness is like getting a promotion at work. You really have to want it and work hard for it.

In previous Lessons from the Road blog posts, I’ve talked about my “rave run” neighborhood where I do most of my endurance training runs.  If you follow my blog, you know that this neighborhood is very dear to me because the people in it are so kind, supportive and thoughtful.  For years, these caring neighbors have shouted out to me as I run by, “I wish you would help me get fit.”  Many of these same neighbors have seen me at the grocery store for years, looked at all the healthy, fresh foods in my cart, then sheepishly looked at their cart and said, “If you did my shopping, I’d be healthier and thinner.”

So, when I started Abel Fitness Training, I sent letters to all of those neighbors letting them know that I was a certified Personal Fitness Trainer and Sports Nutrition Specialist, and would be honored and happy to help them in their quest for better health and fitness.  All they had to do was call or email me.

Not a single person contacted me.  And I have to admit, I wasn’t surprised.  I know they got the letter, because many of them congratulated me on my new business as they saw me running in the neighborhood.  But none of them said anything about wanting to really do what they had been talking to me about for years. 

The sad part of this story is two-fold.  It’s sad to me that these people who I care a great deal about really don’t want to be fit or put in the work that is required to regain their health.  The sadder part is I see these people with their children and grandchildren in their front yards, unable to run and play with them because they are obese.  They sit on the sidelines watching instead of being an active participant.  They are missing out on so much and will never be able to get that time or those moments back. It truly breaks my heart.

So what does this story have to do with business?  The answer is a whole lot!

One of the first rules of business is that if you want something, such as a promotion, a raise, etc. you are going to have to earn it by working very hard for it.  If we want our employees to be more proactive about their health, we are going to have to encourage them to work hard for it.  Another rule of business is that apathy costs companies money…employees’ apathy about their health is costing American companies more than $73 billion dollars a year.  This figure is due to a number of things including lower productivity, higher absenteeism and higher healthcare claims.

The bottom line is that unhealthy workers are impacting corporate America’s bottom lines.  We need to encourage and empower our workforces to be proactive about their health and wellness…not just so companies can be more productive and profitable, but so people can stop missing out on so many wonderful things life has to offer that they cannot partake in if their lack of fitness is holding them back.

Being healthy and staying healthy is a lifestyle for me. I find it rewarding to help companies and individuals reclaim their health and get fit.  My friends and clients say my passion for fitness and healthy living is contagious.  I encourage you to contact me, so you and your employees can catch what I have.  You won’t regret it!

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