The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics have begun.

Watching the athletes compete in single and pairs skating at the Sochi Winter Olympics tonight, I realized that I have gained so many lifelong benefits from my own experiences as an athlete (skater, distance runner, synchronized swimmer, aerobic and personal training national trainer of trainers). I have learned things like focus, determination, strength of body and mind, never giving up (especially, persevering to  recover my career after two hip replacements), confidence and a sense of personal accomplishment.

I also learned that I didn’t really like competing with others, as someone always wins and others lose.

I prefer to set goals and challenge myself and my clients just to be the best they can be. Sometimes your body just doesn’t do what you want it to no matter how hard you try-this is not failure. In business I don’t use the word “failure”, but rather, just learning from every experience and persevering towards the end goals.

The gifts I am especially grateful for from my athletic (as well as musical) endeavors are focus, personal drive and discipline. I used to get up for an hour of “patch” before school. After school I went to skating practice then came home to practice singing ,piano or guitar for hours (I really hated “scales” the most). Of course, there was always school homework to do)

When I was practicing skating or singing I remember I was able to think better, focus better, and get my school work done quicker. I learned how to balance my sports and love of music with my academics.

As I look back (and thank my parents for always challenging  me to improve )I realize that it is no accident that I am now “achieving a life I love” as the  founder of two health/wellness businesses-locally, a 10,000 sq. ft fitness and spa facility Northridge Health Performance Centre and internationally, LiveWell Consulting.

Creating Northridge 19 years ago was the culmination of many years management jobs in the fitness and health industry. My dream was to provide a number of holistic health and wellness services under one roof.

Wanting to extend many of these services globally led me to create LiveWell Consulting. LiveWell Consulting is a health and wellness coaching business that attracts amazing entrepreneurial and health minded people from many walks of life. Those who partner with us want to dramatically improve their health, lifestyles and incomes as well as inspire others to do the same.

Developing an international training school and wellness coaching business has been so rewarding.

It has taken a lot of work and perseverance to create an on-line  15 Module  Business School and Health Coaching Certification program but it has been worth it because I can now  train those wanting to enter this wonderful industry anywhere in the world.

Looking back at my athletic and musical career, I had wonderful teachers and coaches to mentor me just as now I love to mentor others in the Wellness field.

 

Congratulations to all the athletes in the Sochi Olympics!

 

Although some of you will come home with medals, your training and perseverance learned will help you achieve a live you love in the future. You are all winners!