Fitness, Business, Fitness Business, & Achieving Life Goals

First, we cannot change anyone. We can help people that want to change. We can be facilitators in the process of change. But, nothing we we do will make any difference if the individual doesn’t want to change. (Actually, that’s not completely true. But that’s a post for another time.)

That said, I’m constantly looking for ways to help individuals or groups of individuals make positives changes in their lives. I spend a great deal of time wondering how we, as an industry, can have a greater impact on the obesity epidemic. Why do people continue behaviors that they know are harming them? It’s not a lack of information. Look at cigarette smoking. The warnings are right there on the package. They know its unhealthy. People also know that being obese is a danger to their health. There are many other forces at work here… inherent, cultural forces that need to be our real targets. I don’t have the answers yet, but I’m starting to form some ideas. Join me in changing our society. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Best wishes, Mark Nutting

P.S. Here are my two favorite books on changing behaviors. *Warning, it’s difficult to read these and not get motivated to change the world.

Influencer: The Power to Change Anything

Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard

Well, the fact is, we’re all cultured. The more important question would be what is your culture? What is the culture of your business? Are you a nose to the grindstone, top down management or a lax ruled, “whatever”, kind of business? What do your employees say about their experience working in your company? The culture that is your business should not happen accidently. It should be well thought out and well fostered.

I just finished reading Lessons in Loyalty: How Southwest Airlines Does It – An Insider’s View by Lorraine Grubbs-West that tells the story of Southwest Airlines’ business and the work culture that they became famous for. The loyalty they are discussing is employee (which will lead to customer loyalty). This post is about the 1st three of nine lessons that the book offers.

Lesson #1- Hire Attitude, Train Skills

I couldn’t agree with this more. Many times early in my management career, I hired the skills/the resume, only to be disappointed with the attitude or personality. I know now that you need to hire the right interpersonal abilities, the right desire, and be prepared to train the technical skills to do the job.

Lesson #2- Immerse Everyone in the Culture Immediately

Make sure that your people understand from the start what is expected of them and what they can expect from your company. New employees should eat, sleep, breathe the culture of your organization. Sounds a bit much, though, doesn’t it. In actuality, the right people should be so excited that they will want to immerse themselves in it.

Lesson #3- Keep ‘Em Learning
Personal lifelong learning is something I completely believe in. You stop learning and your brain gets stuck in a rut. Your employee’s life in your organization should be filled with education and professional development opportunities as well, to keep them excited, ready for problem solving, and always growing. Take them to conferences and/or workshops, pass good books onto them, team teach new skills and ideas. 

To hire and grow your people to be the culture of your organization that you want will pay off in greater satisfaction and longevity with the company and they will project this to your customers.