Geelong's Gym

Everyone has a set of core values… some people know exactly what their values are, while for others they’ve never really defined them but they’re inherent in the way they act and behave.  I’m the kind of person who likes to define these things and once I defined them for myself, I then brought them over into my business, because I want my team to reflect those core values as well.

So at Geelong’s Gym we have 6 Core Values which are an integral part of why we do the things we do.

Connection – connecting/love is one of the most vital human needs.  It’s essential to a happy life.  I encourage my team to make real connections with our members – learn their names and what’s going on in their lives.  Making that connection with them, shows them we really care about them as individuals.

Connecting with one another brings colour to your life!

Contribution – increasingly our culture is becoming predominantly self focused – “it’s all about me!”  But I believe one of the fundamental keys to personal growth and happiness is contributing beyond ourselves… it’s about contributing to others, our community, our country… and even our world, especially in times of crisis, such as the recent earthquakes and tsunamis.

Growth – they say you learn something new every day, even if it’s just something small.  We don’t have to make ground breaking discoveries daily, but life should be about learning, growing and becoming more.  Because if we’re not learning, we may as well start pushing up the daisies!

Care – demonstrating concern and love towards others, particularly in their time of need.  It doesn’t mean fixing a problem, but what it does mean is getting alongside someone and supporting them in any way you can… sometimes it’s just a hug or taking the time to listen… but whatever it is, it’s done with genuine caring.

Carpe Diem – this Latin phrase means seize the day.  In other words, learn to live in the moment.  Far too many of us live in the past, regretting things that have happened or dwelling on the good times we used to have and no longer do.  Others constantly look to the future, thinking life will get good once such and such happens.  But the truth is, time flies and if you don’t learn to live this present moment to the fullest, life will have passed you by and you will have failed to enjoy it.

Community – the path to a long and happy life lies in integrating yourself into a community and being responsible for a portion of that community.  And actively participating… isolation only leads to depression, loneliness and ill-health… all factors in increasing the risk of an early death!

Happy New Year one and all.  I hope you all had a good one and are now anticipating all the wonderful things that 2011 is sure to bring.  I know I am.

That being said, I feel I really need to share a few thoughts on the New Year.  I have been slightly surprised by the number of people I’ve spoken with in the last few days who seem to have negative attitudes towards New Year Resolutions and, as such, setting goals.

Wow!  Why is it something that people view with such wariness and cynicism?  It doesn’t have to be something to fear!

I think the main reason people don’t set goals is because in the past they’ve made a New Year Resolution in the heat of the moment, when they’re excited about the year ahead, but then when they settle down into the normality of life and their usual routine, that resolution suddenly seems out of reach, too hard or just plain ridiculous.  So they don’t even bother attempting to achieve it and now they figure there’s no point setting goals you’re never going to follow through on.

So maybe resolutions and goals don’t need to be set at the stroke of midnight on the New Year, when you’re several champagnes down.  Maybe, they should be set when you’ve had time to think about some realistic things you’d like to achieve throughout the course of the year, when you’ve settled back into the usual rhythm of life.

If I were to set New Year Resolutions or any goal for 2011, even if I didn’t quite stick to it all year or didn’t manage to completely accomplish my goal, at least I would have given it a good crack.  You see, it doesn’t matter if you “fail” to carry through your resolution, it matters that you gave yourself a goal to work towards and made it some of the way… that’s an accomplishment, not a failure!  Napoleon Hill taught me in his book “Think and Grow Rich“, that what the mind of man can conceive and believe, the mind of man can achieve.  For me the key is believing you can achieve, thus you will set achievable goals.

Your resolutions don't have to cost much and, in fact, they may actually save you money!

January and the New Year is always a period of renewal, starting afresh and beginning again… the world over.  So why not take a positive attitude to 2011 now and look for ways to make this year OUTSTANDING!

I understand that the current economic climate can be challenging but you don’t necessarily have to make a goal/resolution which is business or economically focused.  Maybe you could focus on resolving or improving a situation with your partner, family or friends or this may be a year of personal growth and inward reflection for you or the year you make some healthy lifestyle changes… whatever you think is most relevant for you.

Carpe D’New Year,

Gerard.

P.S.  I often get asked what Carpe Diem (my communication sign off) means.  It means Seize The Day, so Carpe D’New Year means Seize The New Year… and I really hope you do and make the most of it!

Below is a video which I thought you might like.  It’s called Time and is basically about the importance of every moment of every day becasue time really does not wait for any one, no matter how important they are.

A friend sent me this video and it fits right in with one of my life philisophies.  You may have read one of my earlier Geelong’s Gym posts where I talked about my top three life philisophies and if you did you would know that I always sign off my emails and correspondence with the words, Carpe Diem, which means Seize the Day!

I firmly believe in literally seizing the day and learning to live in the moment, because you will never get that moment back again.

So enjoy the video and I hope it will give you a new lease on life.

Have you ever put into words what defines your life?  Why you do the things you do?

Today, I’d like to share with you the three questions that give my life meaning and purpose.  Maybe they’ll help you to have an exceptional 2010…

1.  How well have you learned to let go?  Forget?  Forgive?…

-          People who’ve done you wrong

-          Accidents or incidents in your life that were beyond your control

-          Relationships in your life that didn’t turn out how you thought they would

-          Wrong decisions you’ve made etc.

 “To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.” Robert Muller

 Only once you’ve put behind you all these things will you be truly happy.

2.  How well have you learned to live in the moment?

I sign off all my emails with the words “Carpe Diem”, meaning Seize The Day.

Many people are bound by their past; either they can’t let go of the things that went wrong or they lament the loss of the good life they think they used to have.  And because they’re always looking behind them, they miss the good things that are right in front of them or with them right now.

Others are constantly looking towards the future, perceiving the future to be when things will finally become good in their life: when I get my next job… after I renovate the house… when I get my new car… once I find the right person…  They’re so busy trying to get a peek around the corner that time whizzes past them and their life disappears before they’ve really lived it.

Live in the Moment!

But if you learn to live in the moment, you’ll be happy with each phase of life you go through.  Because only you, today, can seize the day and change your life.

3.  How well have you learned to love?

Not someone else, but YOU.  Take a good hard look at the man/woman in the mirror and learn to accept yourself for who you are, learn to love your looks, your abilities, the things that are unique about you.  Because we are all wonderfully and uniquely made.

Once you’ve learned to love yourself, you will be in the ideal position to love someone else far better than you and they could possibly imagine.