Diana's Blog

So the posts get fewer and farther between; but it's only because I'm putting more into fitness work and a related blog. (Feel free to check it out at http://lovejoyfitness.com/ or http://lovejoyfitness.blogspot.com/.)

While I still don't have a regular rhythm to every day, I feel momentum building. It has been tough, in these economic times, to be on my own trying to start up a business. But with that quality my husband not-always-affectionately describes as "a dog who won't let go of the leg," I persist. I have some new clients, and as a bonus I'm covering the local Training Transition tri group while the main coach is on vacation. This latter part is hardly like "work" - yes, I'm leading workouts, giving tips left and right, watching each individual in the group...but it's such a great group of people that it feels like recreation. :>

One thing I especially like about this work is that it's inherently social. Being slightly shy and susceptible to environmental stress-energy made a bad recipe for working in a cubicle. You're in a cube-farm, yet essentially isolated...and you learn that coming out of your cube or making yourself visible often results in more work being dumped on your head.

I really think social isolation is a big part of our modern dilemma. I believe far fewer people would feel anxious, overly stressed, inadequate, lonely or obsessive if we just got off the treadmill and sat - or danced - around a campfire more often! I'm not talking about Facebook, MySpace or LinkedIn; these do not count in my mind as antidotes to isolation. --So how to break the inertia? One little person at a time, I guess. --And by being a bearer of *positive* energy, so that energy benefits others instead of bringing them down.

A couple of weeks ago, feeling stuck and unsure of which step to take next in my transition to a career in fitness and wellness, I happened upon an article in the Perform Better e-newsletter. Todd Durkin had contributed an article on holiday gift ideas for clients; and under his photo were the words,

3 Day Mentorship
with Todd Durkin at
Fitness Quest 10
San Diego, CA
Dec. 10-12, 2008
"Transform Your Business"

I clicked, read, slept on the ROI of the workshop fee, and then signed up. I now feel this was one of the best things I've done in my working life (right after quitting my office job so I could better my own health and realize a dream of a completely different way to work).

Fitness Quest 10 is the result of Todd Durkin's vision, along with a lot of sweat, passion, commitment and teamwork. He drives several different programs and workshops for fitness professionals; this one dropped into my inbox at exactly the right moment. Best known for training pro athletes like LaDainian Tomlinson and Drew Brees, FQ10 also trains regular people, and offers a superlative source of scientific, business-related, and motivational/spiritual material for those with lofty athetic or business-oriented goals.

We actually got to observe (closely!) some of the pro workouts...you'll probably not see a harder gym workout, ever. By "harder" I don't mean "lifting tons of weight," though weight does get lifted (or dragged, or pulled, you-name-it), I mean a grueling, rapid-fire menu of core strength, power, functional strength, muscular endurance and speed work that would make the fainter-of-heart lose lunch or at least pass out. (See a video sample of LT's workout.) Every move has a purpose, though - sessions are carefully crafted to maximize the athlete's time, effort and performance.

Todd, Strength and Conditioning Director Ryan Rogers, and Biz Manager Julie Wilcox put together a truly excellent group of fitness "mentors" - people who had created fitness businesses of their own, and/or were looking to expand; and people who were on the path to more fitness work (such as myself). It has been forever (if ever!) since I encountered such an intelligent, high-integrity, sharing and excellent group of people.

Describing the program would take more than one entry...but along with tons of valuable business and technical information, I got a huge dose of the power of vision and positive mindset. In corporate software and everywhere, really, negativity is rampant. "Can't do it, not enough time, too tired, not enough money, don't feel good, just can't." Long-term exposure to this culture really had beaten me down, setting off more of the negative processes in my mind and body. But - not only do I have the choice and the nature to be positive and feel better, I have the power to help other people feel better and more motivated, too.

Todd's focus is not just excellence in fitness training or athletic performance; it's a total mindset. How gratified was I to see a former athlete and business superstar take the importance of mind/body connection and continual learning to heart, and then disperse his knowledge for others' benefit?

If I can be just a fraction of the positive influence Todd and my fellow mentors have been, I will consider that "success."

As a super-bonus, I also won an autographed copy of Great Quotes from Great Leaders - autographed by the guy who, if he says so, will be the "best who ever played."