While at the gym the other day, I realized that working out is a lot similar to running your own business. There’s a reason you work out and there’s a reason you own a business. And sometimes the process for both actually amounts to the same thing.

When working out or running a business, it involves:

1. Goals.

You should have goals to better measure your success. Why else would you be at the gym? Even if you are not trying to lose weight, your goal could be to gain endorphins (that happy feeling), to release energy or to tone certain areas.

You also need goals when you run a business. You could be trying to attract different kinds of clients or trying to attract a specific client. You could be trying out a new recipe at your restaurant to generate more revenue. When you have a goal, you can work your way towards it. It helps you measure yourself so you know if you need to step it up or if you are cruising along at just the right pace.

2. Motivation/Energy.

This ties back to my first point. In order to achieve your goals when working out, you need to have the motivation and energy to get there. It can be forcing yourself to the gym after a long workday or realizing you’ve hit a plateau when losing weight, so you need to up the intensity level.

When you own your own business, it’s up to you to find the motivation to figure out your strategy. No matter what size company you have, if you own it, you are the one that needs to take the company to the next level day after day, year after year.

3. Scheduling Time to Work (Out).

When you first begin to work out, you need to actually schedule the time into your calendar. I’ve found that people who keep saying they’ll go, without penciling it in, often don’t make it to the gym. Until it becomes a habit, like going to the gym every Mon/Wed/Fri after work, it needs to be in your calendar. It is just like any other appointment that you need to uphold.

The same goes for when you begin a business. You need to set aside the time to work on your strategy and market yourself. A business does not blossom overnight. You don’t see results unless you put in the time required.

4. Success Comes in Steps.

Losing weight does not happen by snapping your fingers. You don’t get those killer “guns” in two days. You don’t shrink your waist with one workout session. To gain what you want from your body, it becomes a step-by-step process. You need to have patience and celebrate the small victories as your keep your eyes on a larger prize.

It’s the same with your own business. Just because you don’t get clients hammering at your door within one month, doesn’t mean you should be disheartened. It can take years to build up a successful client base that consistently returns to you. Acknowledge that success comes in steps.

5. Setbacks happen.

I’ve seen it all the time with people who work out. It goes well for some time where they’ve lost a lot of weight, gained muscle, etc. And then it plateaus. Or worse, there’s a setback. Their body gets used to their workout and has adapted. Or they can’t get to the gym for a few weeks and gain back weight. The best thing to do is recognize it for what it is, and know that you’ll do better next time by shaking up your workout or getting back to the gym.

The same thing happens with business. You may lose a client due to dissatisfaction or you may focus less time on marketing and therefore not gain any new clients. Just like setbacks at the gym, you have to remain positive and do what you can to turn your results around to get back on the right track.

6. Unplug.

You shouldn’t work out everyday. Your body needs to rest occasionally. Even if you are a bodybuilder or an Olympian who needs to workout all the time, even they work out certain muscles every other day so that other muscles can rest. Believe it or not, your muscles grow and heal when you rest, which helps them become stronger. It’s a good idea to occasionally put your feet up so that you can get into the gym with a body ready to work harder.

Unplugging from your business can range from taking a vacation or even just turning your emails off an hour before bedtime. Whatever you do, you should take time to step away. Your brain is not a computer and cannot stay “on” for long periods of time. When you feel yourself growing resentful of your work and getting frustrated faster than usual, maybe it’s time for a vacation. If you can’t sleep at night due to the constant checking of emails and/or social networks, it’s time to sleep with your phone in a different room. Unplugging and taking breaks from your business helps your mind go back to work with new clarity.

When you rest, you naturally are able to create better goals, gain motivation for running your business, schedule your time easier, acknowledge your successful steps, and deal with setbacks better.


The reasons we work out and the reasons we own a business are different for each individual. I work out for endorphins and energy release. I own a business to give me flexibility in my life. But both require commitment on my end to make sure that the energy I invest in both produce the results I want to see.


Like my articles? You can find me at DependableVA. I take care of the administrative side of your business, so you don’t have to! Contact me and we can discuss how you can get your time back today.