As I was tidying up at the weekend I came across the well-known book by Simon Sinek, ‘Start with Why’. For those who have not read it, it is a great book and would definitely recommend reading it. Sometimes when we are on the daily treadmill of life we often forget why we do what we do……however, we all have a ‘WHY’ that gives our lives meaning and fulfilment.
So today I thought I would reflect on why I do what I do and
also get writing a blog again!
For me exercise has always been an important part of my
life, when I was younger I probably didn’t see it that way, it was something
that I just did. I grew up with active parents, going to keep fit classes with
Mum (yes with the leotard and leg warmers!) and been dragged along at weekends
to watch either Dad or Mum do some sort of running. I used to think they were
bloody nuts….. who runs for fun!?
From the age of 9 I was in the majorettes, which at the time
I didn’t see it as exercise, it was something I did as a hobby, however,
training twice a week with competitions and galas on a weekend certainly kept
me active.
As I got older, I left the majorettes around about the time
when booze and boyfriends became a priority. It was then that I thought I would
try running and see what all the fuss was…..I hated it and soon stopped!
Luckily I tried it again and really got into long distance running. For me that
was the start of my adulthood fitness journey. I also started going to the gym,
but didn’t really get into it properly until I started my degree, which also
coincided with my boyfriend at the time being a PTI in the Army……so no excuse
for me not exercising!
Like many graduates, I came to a cross road in what I wanted
to do after University, I dabbled with the idea of joining the army myself,
however, I soon realised that wasn’t for me. This is when I had the idea for
Fit 4 Force. After attending the pre assessment day for the Army, at the time I
realised that there was no specific training out there to prepare for the
assessments required to join the forces. I had my why! As time evolved, so did
the business, I was targeting a very niche market, which a lot of the forces were
halting recruitment.
Over the last 12 years the business has changed, the
sessions I offer has changed, the original target audience has changed,
however, the core principles of improving health and fitness has stayed
throughout. I have committed customers who have been with me from the start,
who want to keep improving their health and wellbeing on a weekly basis and that
is why I keep doing what I do.
This time last year I was at a point where I was deciding if
it was time to call it quits. Covid had a negative impact on the business,
alongside lockdown I lost my Mum to breast cancer and had a baby! I was at an
emotional, exhausted time in my life and wasn’t sure I had the energy to carry
on.
I sent an email to my customers to say that it was time to
come to an end, as soon as I did I felt so sad as I didn’t want it to come to
an end – luckily neither did my customers, the response I had to keep going
made me realise that I had made an impact on people’s lives and continue to do
so. Plus, my biggest ‘WHY’ now is my daughter. Just like Mum and Dad created
the Legacy with me that exercise is important I am doing the same with her. She
is the only one I know who likes to do Burpees for fun!
Again the business has adapted to the phase of life I am in
now, however, for me keeping fit and healthy to be around for Sofia and showing
her the importance of keeping healthy are the most important WHY’s. The other
day she made my day as she asked if she could have a new bootcamp t-shirt, a
purple one like Mummy’s……
