I am a big proponent of mentorship. I have spoked out via my content on the positive impact mentorship has had in my life and why I continually invest thousands of dollars to work with mentors in my health, fitness, and life.
One of my greatest mentors is Sir Winston Churchill.
When I first met Churchill I was very impressed. If you’d like to meet him, I will arrange it. He’s a very cool dude!
OK… I didn’t actually meet Churchill.
While in United Kingdom my wife and I did spend some time in Winchester where we toured the bunker Churchill ran his war operations for the duration of World War Two.
Standing at the War Room at the Churchill Bunker
I’ve spent time studying Churchill by reading a few tomes about his life, the adversities he faced, and his undeniable success as one of the most highly regarded British Prime Ministers of history. I also binge watched “The Darkest Hour” about fifteen times so it’s safe to say, I’m a Churchill expert. 😉
I have noticed three profound attributes that lead Churchill to succeed in his life. I want to share those attributes with you below and help you apply those into your own life with your health and fitness goals.
1. Be a decision maker.
Humans are indecisive creatures. Hell, I have a hard time picking what color Jordans I should wear to the gym in the morning! One thing I work with my dietitian mentor clients on is the act of being decisive in their business. I have found that the easiest decision for any human to make is no decision at all.
When Churchill was elected Prime Minister of London in 1940 he was faced with many decisions that carried significant importance in deciding the fate of his country, democracy, and essentially liberty in the free world.
Against advice from his war counsel, other European countries leaders, and his military leaders, he made the choice to take the fight to Germany and to never relent until victory was achieved.
Churchill had to make the very hard decision to send 4,000 British soldiers to their inevitable death to serve as a diversion in order to save the lives of 300,000 men on the beaches of Dunkirk.
He did not arrive at these decisions easily, but they were necessary.
Are you being decisive in your life?
Have you set decisive times in your calendar so you don’t miss your workouts during your busy week?
When you are out to eat, are you able to decisively stick to your goals by ordering the salmon filet and steamed veggies. Or, do you let your friends “talk you out of it” and “just live a little” by ordering the nachos and margaritas with them?
If you struggle with being decisive with your own goals, accountability is something that can help. It is very hard to stay accountable to ourselves and our own goals. That’s why my Private Coaching Program is built around giving you the accountability to thrive with your goals.
2. Embrace adversity.
Imagine this.
You are the war-time Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. You are the person to lead your country through one of the biggest oppressions and challenges in world history. You believe the people love you, and you have accomplished more than any other person in your position previously.
Then, you get kicked out of office.
Ouch.
Well, that’s what happened to Churchill in the election of 1945. At the age of 70, after facing an embarrassing defeat in an election for a country he did so much for, did Churchill roll over and accept defeat?
Nope.
He did not relent with his mission and his goals and eventually he returned to office. Proving that when you embrace adversity and if you never quit, you will always succeed.
What adversity are you facing in your life right now?
You can’t control your circumstance.
But you can control how you responds to these circumstances.
Are the challenges you are facing here to make your or break you?
What valuable lessons can you learn from your current adversities to fuel your success?
You’ve tried the c0okie cutter diets and realized they don’t work for you? Great, we know you need a customized approach built for your wants and needs.
You’ve tried the keto diet and realized you can’t stick to that long term. Awesome, we know that you need a nutrition program that does not exclude carbs or other whole food groups.
Adversity gives you clues towards success.
3. Stay the course.
When Churchill pushed the war forward against Germany, he faced resistance from his colleagues.
Everyone felt that Britain was vulnerable to invasion and wanted Churchill to make peace with Hitler.
“We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shallnever surrender.”
Churchill knew he had to stay the course for success.
With your goals, you will face resistance. You might do everything right one week and the scale doesn’t budge. You may be struggling through your workouts and exhausted from waking up at 5am every morning before work to hit the gym. You will be very tempted to give in when the resistance is at it’s highest.
Don’t.
You must stay the course.
After a decade of coaching clients in the fitness industry I am convinced that the only thing that separates those who succeed and those who fail is the ability to stay consistent towards your goals.
Consistency even when things aren’t going your way. Consistency even when you don’t feel like eating right, working out, and staying positive. Undulating consistency until you reach the outcome you desire.
I’ll leave you with one final quote to help summarize what it takes to succeed with your goals:
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it’s the courage to continue that matters.”
A painting of Churchill in the bunker
