Overcoming Obstacles: The Path to Financial and Fitness Success
One of the most recent books I read was Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad. As I was reading, I noticed that many things that hold people back from fitness success seem to be very similar to what Kiyosaki identifies as holding people back from financial success. In this article, I will discuss the five key obstacles that often hold individuals back from achieving financial success—fear, cynicism, laziness, bad habits, and arrogance—and how these obstacles can hinder fitness progress. Understanding and addressing these barriers can pave the way to success in your fitness journey and maybe even learn a little about finances.
Fear
The first obstacle Kiyosaki recognizes as holding people back from financial success is fear. Fear is a powerful emotion that can paralyze us from taking necessary actions. In the financial realm, the fear of losing money can prevent you from making investments that have the potential to yield significant returns, investing money in something other than a high-interest account, or can cause you to overspend out of fear of missing out on something social with your friends. Similarly, in the fitness world, the fear of injury or failure can stop you from trying new workouts or pushing your limits. Fear of the unknown or social embarrassment can also cause us to avoid action. To overcome fear in both areas, education and incremental challenges are essential.
Educating yourself about investment risks and starting with small, manageable investments can build confidence in your financial decisions. Likewise, by building the courage to learn proper workout techniques and starting with incremental challenges, you can overcome your fears and expand your fitness boundaries. Viewing a facility like Vasse Strength and Conditioning as similar to hiring a financial advisor can be beneficial. Both can provide the guidance and assurance needed to mitigate these fears and help you overcome what is holding you back—your fear of doing anything.
Cynicism
The second obstacle is cynicism, an overly sceptical attitude that can cloud your judgment and prevent you from seizing opportunities. In finances, cynicism can make you doubt the potential of investment opportunities, causing you to miss out on gains or the growth of your money or assets. In fitness, cynicism can make you question the effectiveness of workout programs or diets, leading to inconsistent efforts and a lack of progress. To combat cynicism, the secret is to conduct thorough research and seek advice from trusted friends and family members on which professionals to trust. Positive, informed decisions stem from knowledge. By actively reading success stories or testimonials online, hearing about the successes of friends and family, and understanding the science behind financial and fitness strategies, you can build trust in the path you choose and stay committed to your goals. Think like Michael Jordan in The Last Dance when asked if he would take a tablet, knowing that 9 out of 10 would heal him and 1 would kill him, and he says, “Depends on how bad the headache is.” Is your cynicism the 10%?
Laziness
Probably the easiest obstacle to overcome is laziness or the lack of motivation to take proactive steps to pursue success. In the financial context, laziness can result in missed opportunities for saving and investing, such as unconscious spending or an inability to prioritize your goals. In fitness, this can lead to skipped workouts and poor dietary choices. Overcoming laziness requires setting clear goals and creating structured plans. Setting clear financial goals and automating savings and investments can minimize effort and ensure consistent progress. Setting specific, achievable goals, creating a workout schedule, and tracking your progress can keep you motivated and accountable. Laziness is overcome by consistently staying disciplined. Quite often, people think this is called willpower. It is not. Willpower is a magical unicorn that doesn’t exist. Discipline is a tangible, do-or-do-not action. It does come down to your ability to be strong and do what needs to be done, not be lazy and do what is more accessible than the hard thing, like pursuing your goals.
Bad Habits
Bad habits can derail your financial and fitness plans in the blink of an eye. In finances, impulse buying or not saving can impede your financial growth quicker than we ever realize. The same can happen in fitness. Poor diet choices or inconsistent exercise can hinder your progress in an exponential decline. For instance, we just returned from a family holiday in the US. It took us a whole year to save for that holiday and three weeks to get ourselves into $5,000 worth of debt. We had to save conservatively to spend impulsively. This can happen in our everyday lives. Instead of spending impulsively, we need to learn to allocate funds for discretionary spending within our budget. The same happens in your diet. In fitness, replacing unhealthy foods with nutritious options and incorporating regular exercise into your daily routine can be undone as quickly as a three-week holiday. You have all felt it! Comment below if you know this is true. But don’t let that derail you. Gradually replacing bad habits with positive ones can lead to significant improvements in both areas for the long term and leave you with a bit of a surplus. Be like the squirrel so when the snow comes, you have food, fitness, and finances to help make it through the winter.
Arrogance
The final obstacle holding you back in finances and fitness is arrogance or the belief that you already know everything. By believing you already know everything, you can prevent yourself from seeking advice and learning new strategies to help your success. In the financial world, arrogance can lead to missed opportunities and poor decisions. In fitness, it can result in overestimating your knowledge and ignoring professional advice, potentially causing injury or stagnation. Staying humble and open to new information is crucial for continuous improvement. Continuously educating yourself about financial trends and strategies can help you make informed decisions. In fitness, recognizing the value of expert guidance and staying open to learning new techniques enhances your progress and prevents setbacks.
Conclusion
In finance and fitness, the key to overcoming obstacles lies in cultivating a growth mindset, discipline, and humility. Fear, cynicism, laziness, bad habits, and arrogance are not impossible barriers but rather challenges that can be addressed with the right approach. By educating yourself, setting clear goals, and being open to expert guidance, you can dismantle these obstacles and set yourself on a path to lasting success. Whether building wealth or achieving peak physical fitness, the principles are the same: stay disciplined, be patient, and never stop learning. Remember, the journey is as important as the destination. By confronting and overcoming these barriers, you’ll achieve your goals and develop resilience and confidence that will serve you in all areas of life. Embrace the challenge, and be reassured that finding success in finance and fitness is not just possible—it is inevitable.