Running a business – whether as an owner or a senior manager – can be hugely rewarding.
As well as sharing the financial rewards – and risks – that come from being in business, there is the satisfaction of driving a business to improve performance and deliver to its clients and people.
However, all that responsibility can add extra pressure and stress, and take a hefty toll if a business leader forgets to take care of themselves as a priority.
It’s time to put yourself first.
The aim of our new ebook is to get you thinking about your health and wellbeing, and how that impacts you personally, and, in turn, your business.
As both a business owner and an advisor, I’m well aware that it’s hard to prioritise yourself when you have so many competing priorities in business.
However I truly believe we can all be more successful in business if we pay more attention to ourselves, and become healthily selfish about that, ahead of your business!
Sharing my journey to better health
One of the inspirations for this ebook has been my own wellness journey.
Over the past five years I’ve dropped my body weight from 124kg to 84kg – currently at 87kg. I’m the healthiest and fittest I’ve been in five decades, and probably the most active and mobile as well.
While my physique has changed dramatically, it’s how I feel inside that is truly life changing. My confidence has grown, I have a more positive outlook and my resilience is rock solid.
I’ve also learnt that feeling good about myself has many side benefits; in dealing with challenges and hard times, in interacting with those closest and others, and also in leading and managing a business.
From a purely business perspective, these are the main changes:
- My business decision-making is more deliberate and effective, with greater clarity around the end or desired outcomes.
- I have learnt to be more patient in dealing with pressing issues or problems that arise, taking a more positive outlook and bigger picture view.
- My mindset throughout the working day is more level and engaged, with less highs and lows, leading to greater focus and productivity.
- I cherish, focus on and deliberately set aside ‘me-out of business-time’, to spend with family, friends or just myself, which allows me to be fresher and more effective when returning to managing and running my business.
So why did I finally decide to listen to all the good advice out there and put myself first after 50 years? Well, there were a few personal triggers, but I think these are the secrets to my success:
- Make a commitment to yourself.
- Be prepared to invest in yourself.
- Seek expert professional advice. This is a journey you don’t need to travel on alone. I engaged an exercise science coach and a physiotherapist. They help me with exercise techniques, mobility, rehab and nutrition, and provide genuine, independent and relevant advice.
Advice from the experts
To help convince our readers of the benefits of putting your health and wellbeing first – and provide some practical tips for doing just that – we’ve collaborated with some experts.
Exercise advice
I met Cristian Cordova and Clayton Karaka from True Exercise Science in 2020.
At the time I was overloaded with a busy work schedule and a significant personal trauma which, along with poor eating habits and long days, caused stress and led me to think that it was time to make my health and fitness a priority.
Cristian and Clayton both have a Bachelor of Health and Science (Sport and Exercise). They have extensive practical experience in working with a wide range of clients (from teens to 70s) with an aim to improve the way their clients “look, feel and move”.
Nutritional advice
A nutritious diet is not just good for your body, it also promotes better mental health, stress management, concentration and brain function, especially when combined with planned exercise.
For advice in this area, we’ve turned to Ward Nutrition, based in Orange NSW. Director Claire Ward has a master’s in nutrition and dietetics and has been helping people improve their body composition and overcome disordered eating habits for more than 20 years.
Claire and her team are experts in translating all the fascinating food-related science out there into practical advice to help clients meet both their physical and mental health goals.
Mental health advice
Mental health is “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”, according to the World Health Organization.
Who doesn’t want that?
For advice in this area we’ve turned to Beyond Blue, Australia’s most well-known and visited mental health organisation, in particular their ‘Heads up’ program.
We encourage you to download our free ebook, How to have a healthy business and a healthy life, and drill down with each of these experts, to learn some of the secrets and guidelines for effective exercise, stress management, good nutrition and sound mental health.
