Your principles and values don’t always show up in the major life moves.

I remember the turning point of my career in the fitness industry. It isn’t any of the “big stuff” like leaving a full slate of clients at Golds Gym and opening my gyms or moving to Cali…

It is a very subtle time in the early days.

As a young buck in my early 20’s, I was scheduled on the books for consultations and training clients Saturday mornings at Golds Gym.

I would always go out Friday night to the bars or visit friends at college. Then I would wake up every Saturday morning hung over-ish at the last minute possible and rushed to the gym to be there JUST IN TIME.

Then I would proceed to tell someone how they should improve their health & fitness, what they could and couldn’t do, and how to be their best.

All while hoping it would be over as soon as possible so I could go back to bed to be ready for Saturday night.

After a while, my inner thoughts would turn to guilt. I wasn’t bringing my A-game for these early Saturday morning sessions.

I was being hypocritical and not even doing myself what I was telling people to do.

Now, in now way is zero fun or socializing the answer. But, being a fitness professional, we should be held to a higher standard and at the very least not be sleep deprived and hung over while working with clients and members on a weekly basis.

So the decision was simple.

I would stop going out Friday night and only go out Saturday night since I had no obligations on Sunday. It was that or stop working Saturday mornings, but I wanted to show I would go above and beyond by working Saturday’s and wanted that edge and chance to meet with more people.

So that wasn’t going to be an option.

At that moment, I didn’t realize it…. but, I truly started living my principles and values. I put my career, passion, and mission first. Along with turning into someone who operated from a place of integrity 100% of the time by practicing what I preached.

After a couple of months, my client roster started exploding. At the time I didn’t connect the dots because it seemed like such a simple, non-drastic change. Looking back I realize operating at my best on Saturday mornings gave me an absolute confidence that carried over into every other day.

That one little change… changed everything for me.

I was suddenly more confident when I talked to people.

Honest.

The guilty cloud from those Saturday mornings hung over and tired, not wanting to be at work, was gone. Once I rid the guilt by actually living my principles and values…. I gained SO MUCH momentum.

Not to mention I saved a lot of money by only going out once a week.

I look back at that moment and always remember it. Making sure to check myself to this day that I am always living my values and principles.

Not just when it is convenient, or everyone is watching, but when no one is looking. Moments no one is around to see.

How are you operating when no one is around to check you, but you?

You can’t fake it.

Reflected only in someone’s real happiness and contentment or lack thereof.

I know this from living it. On a few different occasions in my career.

What To Do

First, define and make sure you know what your principles and values are. Most people don’t have those figured out. They are different for everyone. Only you know.

How close are you to living them on a daily basis?

Challenge yourself to make it 100% of the time.

Even one instance or moment can be a game-changer for things falling into place the way you dream about it.