In case you haven’t heard of it, Arlene Dickinson’s newest book, “All In”
So, you’re probably wondering, why am I talking about this book on entrepreneurship and business in my fitness blog.
Maybe it’s because I feel like I should post something other than race reports, client success stories and fitness tips in order to give you guys a little more.
The reality is, as I read this book, I found more and more similarities between serious pursuit of athletics and entrepreneurship.
My goal with this post is to show you how they are similar as well as share some of the key takeaways that I got from this book. Then, I can apply them to my own serious pursuit of athletic excellence and entrepreneurship.
1. You have to be all in. Just like an entrepreneur gives it all he/she has, an athlete has to do the same in order to increase their likelihood of success. Both of the aforementioned are a lifestyle choice rather than being a small part of your life if you are very serious about it.
2. It’s not all glamorous. The media often glamorizes both entrepreneurs and athletes, showing how amazing life is for those who achieved success. Although success is awesome, many of those successful people had to overcome a lot of challenges in order to get to where they are.
3. There will be naysayers and detractors. Not everyone will like your idea nor will they all believe that you can achieve your dreams. Learn to tune out negativity while at the same time listen to constructive feedback that could potentially help you. There is a huge difference between negative naysayers and people who offer constructive criticism that could genuinely help you. Therefore, learn to decipher.
4. Maintaining relationships can be challenging. An athlete is always committed to training for his/her sport while an entrepreneur is always tending to his/her business. Therefore, it’s hard to make time for people who don’t understand the commitment level required to seriously pursue a sport or run a business. There is no reason to feel guilty about it.
5. Real growth is outside the comfort zone. Neither athletes nor entrepreneurs should let fear hold them back. Both athletes and entrepreneurs must learn to push their boundaries in a way that improves their skill level, in order to reach their full potential.
6. Self-doubt can creep in at any moment. Neither athletics nor entrepreneurship ever guarantee success. Therefore, it’s natural to question whether you’re doing the right thing as well as wonder how everything will turn out. The key is to not let self-doubt get the best of you.
7. Things don’t always go as planned. Entrepreneurs may have business plans and athletes have training plans. However, life sometimes gets in the way of those plans and unforeseen circumstances can arise. The key is to accept it, learn to deal with it and keep on moving forward, even if that means slightly altering your plans to reach those goals.
8. Don’t let success get to your head. Even the slightest hint of entrepreneurial or athletic success can send some people’s egos into the stratosphere. Learn how to stay grounded regardless of how much success you experience because #7 can happen at any stage of your game.
9. There is no one single road to success. There are as many different roads to success as there are successful entrepreneurs and/or athletes. Although there are general guidelines, it’s important to carve your own path…you know…the one that’s right for YOU.
10. Be more self-aware. Both athletes and entrepreneurs must be in tune with their strengths and weaknesses. They must also know the real reason why they started their journey in the first place. Learn who you are and what motivates you in order to give it all you’ve got.
Please keep in mind that these are 10 takeaways that I got from reading the book. Yours might be different. The best way to find out is to get your own copy of “All In” on Amazon