You’re Just Steps Away From a Better You

Monday Morning Match is a quick post – maybe a quote, inspirational story or idea – intended to spark some motivation inside each of you so your week gets off to a fantastic start on Monday morning.

A Choice to Start My Day

Every day that I have worked in my central Ohio office, I have had a choice; Do I take the elevator to my training center on the 6th floor of our building or do I take the stairs? Every single day that I have worked in my Central Ohio office this year, I have chosen the stairs. All 115 of them.

That’s 115 stairs up and 115 stairs down. Some days it’s just one round trip but other days I decide to go out to grab lunch between classes or webinars. That means 460 steps to pass instead of about 120 seconds riding in the elevator. Please don’t remind me of those few mornings where I walked all the way up only to realize that I left my office keys, mobile phone or something else in the car. I once even left my fresh cup of Starbucks. In the immortal words of Homer Simpson, ‘D’oh!”

I am not taking the steps because I’m trying to be some martyr or because I suffer from claustrophobia in the elevator. I simply do it to add a few extra steps into my daily exercise and to remind myself that taking the easy way isn’t always the best way. Sure, I may break down and take the elevator once or twice this year but only because of necessity like needing to carry heavy boxes or other materials down to the parking lot.

The elevator to success is out-of-order.

You’ll need to take it one step at a time.”

– Zig Ziglar

What are those things you could be doing today, this week or the rest the year that seem insignificant but might actually improve your chances of reaching success? It could be business, health, financial, spiritual, personal or any other small improvement to your life.

Take the stairs?

Collect all your coins in a jar on your dresser, drink one less cup of coffee each day or buy one less pack of cigarettes each week?

Say some prayers before bed or express gratitude when you wake up each day?

Send one hand-written note each day, video text one Facebook friend on their birthday, retweet someone’s message or share their blog post with your social connections?

Make one phone call? Knock on one more door?

Tell a staff member or service provider “thank you” for their hard work and support?

Steps Away From a Better You

Taking the steps might not be easy but, after a while, it just becomes something you do without thinking much about it. I think you’ll find that just like building relationships, solving problems and having fun, when you’re done you simply feel better about having done it.

Photo Credit: Vincent Diamante via Flickr