Conquering Negativity Through Transparency

The real me: I spent the majority of my weekend cleaning, food prepping, crafting, and just enjoying some time to myself. I worked out on Saturday morning and walked the dog with Erik, but that was it as far as exercise. As much as I wanted to upload little motivational tidbits on social media all weekend, there wasn’t much from me to post. I finished all the laundry in the house, and pulled some things together for a yard sale. Today, Sunday, I’ve done nothing more than clean, prepped for the week, and made a few crafts. At almost 7pm, my Vivosmart Garmin says I’ve averaged not quite 5000 steps for the day. Maybe when Erik gets home we can walk the dogs together and I can get closer to my 10k a day goal. But for now, I just need to sit here and blog.

Sounds pretty boring, right? 

The truth is, I think I’m a pretty boring person (which I’m also okay with). One of the younger guys at the gym jokes about how I’m “retired.” I don’t like going out and being super social–even though I know it’s good for business. I really like to write, read, listen to podcasts and audio books, and lift heavy weights. I love waking up in the morning and just sitting in the sun room with my coffee and book/phone/kindle/laptop. I like animals and being outdoors, but I’m also an extreme introvert and could spend the entire weekend (as I have done) cleaning, catching up on the Gray’s Anatomy season finale (which I did last night), and still be very VERY happy about it all. I truly enjoy keeping to myself and soaking up as much quiet time as I can find.

This, however, SUCKS for business. Do you know what’s hard about being an introvert who’s trying to transition to becoming a full-time entrepreneur?

I HAVE to put myself in the spotlight. 

I’ve been listening to episode after episode of the podcast, The $100MBA.  In fact, I’m up to podcast 272 right now. (Side note: If you are an employer, a manager of people, or a business owner–you really should check out Omar’s podcast. I wish more people did. Each podcast is only 10 minutes long, and he is FANTASTIC on teaching everything one would ever need to know on how to run a successful business and keep customers happy–no exaggerating on that.) If there’s nothing else that you get from me today, it’s that if you want to be successful, listen to this podcast. And what have I learned? That in order to run a successful business, I cannot just write. (hashtag-mindblown.) Erik and I must do a bazillion other things that I never envisioned doing as a full-time writer/blogger who just enjoys sitting alone with her laptop in the sunroom. (Bazillion might be an exaggeration, but that’s really what it feels like to this introvert who doesn’t even really like posting all those Instagram selfies you see.) #goodforbusiness #postoneaday #hashtagALLthefittrends 

You see, Erik and I are on the brink of really big things. At least, that’s what it feels like to us right now. The Total Health and Fitness Makeover is still in progress but it’s getting closer to being done each and every day. Erik and I are going to start hosting webinars on topics from the book (as well as several other topics), and we’re learning how to do all sorts of video for our site and for our products. (Omar even taught me what “A roll” and “B roll” are.) Strongfigure has even partnered up with a successful business owner who is about to bring incredible knowledge to our team of ambassadors in order to help them grow their own businesses! To me, after three years of writing, it even feels like we have found our niche in the fitness world.

And in the midst of the books, the videos, the webinars, (even our own podcast ideas we are throwing around), I’m headed to Denver in a couple of weeks to work/blog/attend the 2015 Fitbloggin’ Conference for bloggers; and in September, Erik and I are headed to San Diego for a Webinar Ninja conference.

Conferences, I’m learning, are how you make your best connections. 

Connections are how you grow your business. 

Why am I telling you all this? Because this extreme introvert is a little bit scared and very much excited. You guys have been reading about my journey in pursuing strength, health, and knowledge–some of you since the very start–for over three years now! And I feel like we/strongfigure/you and me/our whole tribe! may be “breaking bad” this summer. That’s so terrifyingly amazing and I really want you know it, feel it, and be a part of it all–even if it’s only my nervous energy at the moment.

And shockingly, I also had no clue the amount of effort, business suave, and freaking TIME it would take to accomplish so much “stuff.” I appreciate you guys so much and I desperately want to give you valuable content that will make you thankful you are a part of our community. I have a list of five kindle books I want to publish and I write down something new almost every day–all while I’m still working on project number one! But I wanted to be transparent with you all. Let you know that things are happening but this is a slow process. And then to thank you all for waiting. Omar, the one who has unknowingly been teaching me all (and the only things) I know about business and publishing products, says the best thing you can do with your audience is be transparent. So I wanted to do just that. I am so excited about the things on my to do list–all for you guys. I am also crazy busy with it all and sometimes get overwhelmed. I am nervous about being able to deliver everything I want to. I’m scared about going to Denver all alone and staying with people I’ve never met or worse, having to mingle among hundreds of important influencers all by myself. I’m really nervous about my first webinar appearance. But I want you guys to know that I’m trying really hard on all of it — for my business, my future, my happiness and success, and for YOU, to make all these things a successful reality.

Be transparent with your audience. Say “no” when you need to say no. And always give your very best to your readers.

This is my weekend take-home lesson. I think I’m already a pretty transparent person, and I never want to be–or appear to be-someone I’m not. I give you all I know as I know it and I will always teach you the new things as I learn them. I do have the tendency to say yes to too many people and take on too many tasks when I shouldn’t. But the point is, I do always want to bring you my very best content…which is why I wrote from the heart today instead of just whipping up a “how to top five best way” post. I’m sorry–I just didn’t have one of those ready and did not want to rush good content.

I will, however, leave you with some personal thoughts I’ve had lately and I do believe there is some good advice and take home for YOU here as well.

In my quest to become a smarter business person, a better leader, and an inspirational woman, I have realized that there are a lot of negative, unhappy people in this world. In one of Omar’s recent podcasts, he said that in order to be trusted, valued, and successful, that one should stay away from people who

• talk about other people
• complain about most everything
• find negativity in most situations
• enjoy telling secrets
• are rude to those trying to serve/help him or her

I think we’ve all had times in our lives where we’ve been one of these people and I know I have been. I can’t change things I’ve done or said, but I know I can be better from this point on. So in an effort to grow stronger not just physically but mentally and emotionally–I’m challenging all my readers to do the same. Take a look at the list above and think about yourself and those you are connected to. Do you talk about others? Complain? Do your friends tell others’ secrets or are rude to servers at restaurants? Do you always have a “negative Nancy” in your circle? I officially pose a Strong Figure challenge this week and every week:

Can you eliminate negativity in your life? Can you become more transparent with your friends, your family, and your coworkers? 

I know I absolutely will try my hardest every single day.

Like always, your Monday morning post wouldn’t be complete without a few conditioning workouts to supplement your strength training! (Or maybe just some extra workouts to get you through the week.) 😉 Have fun with these and don’t forget–comments (about my article or the workouts) are always welcome!

Leave us some feedback: how will you start eliminating negativity from your life? 

And if you are not already a subscriber and you want to join us on our journey you can do so here:

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Strong Figure Conditioning Workouts
Workout One: 5 Rounds for time–

• 10 squats
• 9 sit-ups
• 8 lunges
• 7 push-ups
• 6 kettlebell swings
• 5 burpees

Workout Two: 14 Minutes, As many rounds possible–

• 10 hand-release push-ups
• 20 squat jumps
• 200 meter run

Workout Three: 5 sets of 10 reps, each exercise, minimal rest

• Kettlebell or dumbbell single leg deadlifts each leg
• Floor press with kettlebells or dumbbells (use one weight in each hand)
• Front rack lunges (holding both weights at shoulders while lunging–10 total lunges)
• Rest minimal between exercises but DO rest at least 1:00 between rounds

If you’re working out without any equipment, you can sub movements that challenge you: burpees, hollow rocks, supermans, push-ups with your feet on a chair/couch, etc. You know the drill–pick a bodyweight exercise and MOVE IT! 🙂

Again, don’t forget your feedback in the comment section below–would love to hear from you! Talk soon,

Steph 😉