NO time is the RIGHT time!

"Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon."  

1.   "IF it wasn't the first week of summer, I would totally start my diet." - 100% of people

2.   "I really want to do a cleanse (detox) but only if I have nothing going on." - 100% of people

3.   "A diet would be something I could commit too, only if I could still have a glass of wine every night and eat whatever I want on the weekends." - 100% of people

4.   "I am so tired of being overweight but I will only consider going to the gym if it’s not early,  if it's not crowded, if there is parking, if it’s not raining, if my kids are off to school, if I don't drink too much the night before, if my favorite spin instructor is there, if someone doesn't call me to go have coffee or invite me out for drinks, if I remember to charge my iPod, and if I lose 10 pounds in 5 days.” – 100% of people

For those of you who read thru this and thought to yourself, “that isn't me"..... RE-READ!!!!

I say this with 100% confidence, there is NO way you can NOT relate to at least one of these examples. Ok maybe not exactly, but feel free to add your own personal example of an excuse to the list (that's why I say 100% of people....by nature, we make excuses). This particular blog is currently personal to me and I felt like I had to share a current experience that went against the grain (literally! :))

Last Monday I did a 5 day cleanse (detox) Yes me... The person who LOVES food, wakes up for coffee and goes to bed dreaming about it. To clarify, the cleanse consists of ONLY fresh fruit and vegetables (No: dairy, coffee, tea, sugar, spices, bread, etc). You may ask, "Why the heck would you do that?" and then I would ask, "Why wouldn’t you?" - But I clearly don't have to ask anymore because I have heard ALL the excuses (see above). So to answer your question, I did it for the challenge, of course :) I did it for the ability to learn more about my body. I did it because I am human and my cheat days consist of: chocolate, beer, wine, cheese and LOTS of food that contaminate my body and I wanted to rid it of them. I did it because I am 100% of people with excuses and wanted to try something with NO excuse. With NO can't, NO I will try, NO I’ll start at the beginning of the year, blah, blah blah.... I am now finished with the cleanse and truthfully I have an entire new perspective of food and the "want" to eat...although during the five days I was restless, irritable, hungry (or so I thought) and truthfully wanted to gouge some eyes out! - jk

My “If” moments last week
 at work drove the idea for this blog. So here it goes - 

"If only I would've started this on January 1st I could be eating Mexican Food and dessert at our Christmas Potluck, I could have dinner with my brother while he was in town, and I could go to the opening of my favorite movie this week and have popcorn..." - but to be honest come January 1, 2012 I would've said, "If only I would've started this Dec 1, 2011!"  My point is No time is the RIGHT time for sacrifice.

Don’t be amongst the many. Ex: One day... we will quit. One day... we will change. One day.... we will start. Be a part of the few. Ex: Today I won’t quit! Today I will change! Today I will start.  Start anything! Start whatever you have put off due to excuses that cripple you. I PROMISE the “risk” is worth the “reward.” And when in doubt… FACETHERACE.

 

None of your Business!

I'm sure you read the title of this blog and were more inclined to continue because you wanted to know what I claimed was "none of your business." Don't worry, it's no secret. This title came to me when I was deciding what to write about in regards to my life in the "business world." You see, for those of you who know me, you know that the idea of working FOR someone and being confined to an office is comical....not to mention the whole 40 hour a week thing. For those of you who don't know me, here is all you need to know... I can barely sit thru an entire movie! Go ahead, laugh. It's true. The idea of sitting still makes me uncomfortable. My restlessness is the context for this particular blog.

For the past couple years I have run my own business as a Fitness Instructor. About a year ago, I was offered a position at a company that produces approximately 25-30 trade shows a year. Truthfully, the thought of a boss, a desk, a scheduled lunch hour and paperwork steered me more towards the, "No thank you" side of that conversation. It wasn't until I had a conversation with my parents that I realized I was looking at the job offer as "glass half empty." When I was counseled to adjust my thinking to the possibility that this job might polish skills I already have, involve me in new concepts and ideas about business that I could add to any one of my passions, and teach me to appreciate structure, timing and deadlines... my perspective changed.

To date, I have been at my job as an Operations Coordinator for almost 1 year. I have been to Indianapolis, Maryland, New York, Las Vegas, & San Francisco and could not be more blessed. Although at one moment in time my attitude was, that's none of my "business," i am SO glad that it is now!;)

Originally, I looked at this new job opportunity and assumed that it was not for me. With a little bit of wisdom from people I trust and the willingness to think outside my preconceived "notions," I accepted the job offer. I approach each day with the attitude that I will take the opportunities, the ideas, the lessons and the valuable business concepts and apply them to my life, my current fitness business, my relationships and my life goals.

My challenge to you is.....if you look at opportunities as "glass half full" what is the worst thing that could happen to an honest attempt that didn't pan out as planned? You learned something? You gained perspective? You took a leap of faith? Not so bad if you think about it. When in doubt... FaceTheRace!

Gear for Fear!

If I told you 3 years ago that the idea of running long distance was almost as enticing as sitting in bumper to bumper traffic with no air-conditioning and no gas, you would not believe me. There was once a day that I decided that everything I feared I would try and the fear of failing to complete a long distance run was one of them.  Three years later I have ran: 1 full marathon, 4 half marathons, 3 mud runs and 1 obstacle course; each varying in distance and difficulty, all carry the same requirements: (1) Be prepared (2) DON'T QUIT (both of which is a personal decision).  I can attribute these accomplishments to someone telling me that I couldn’t do it, and that I wasn’t prepared. Well, that by far was the BEST thing that someone could've said to me. I went straight to the internet, looked up the next 1/2 marathon, filled out my information, pressed submit and knew from that point, I was 21 days away from conquering my fear. I don't know you and how you deal with doubt, but what purpose does it serve you to affirm the doubt of someone else's opinion? There is much more pain in that than a 9.5 min pace for 13.1 miles - Trust me!

I wanted this to be my first blog ever because honestly, the idea that someone doubted my ability, presumed on my weakness and had the audacity to speak of it made me EXACTLY who I am today. My hope for you is that you find a way to relate to my story. Think of someone or something that has instilled fear in you. Ask yourself the risk vs. the reward, and then above all else - FaceTheRace!

Fearlessly,

Jenna Fenton