Homework for those seeking an EDGE

Edge-seekers are typically a dedicated and no BS crew so I will keep it direct and simple.   Before I continue I want you to know that I have used this concept over and over and with great success! I used it to procure a 4.0 in graduate school studying Economics graduating with a Masters of Science from The University of Georgia; I used it to become a Certified Personal Trainer while working full time; I used it build my Personal Training Center that was voted “Best in Lawrenceville” and I have used it to build my nutrition consulting business, which is recognized as the top less than 2% of our company.  It’s not my concept, it’s one I learned from one of the more revered personal success resources on the planet - Stephen Covey.  It requires you learning 2 terms and then identifying your time as one or the other and comparing that to how you actually want your time allocated.  SIMPLE, and FAST, and most importantly for you - EFFECTIVE.

THE VERY BEST PART is that it is less work, more fun, and you are so much more productive you begin to see results right away and your mood lifts as the weight of the world begins to lift off your shoulders.

So lets begin.

Everything you do all day long is PRODUCTION, or “P.”  The things you do that make you a better producer are called PRODUCTION CAPABILITY, or “PC.”  So, in another example, say you have a cherry tree to chop down, and you have an ax and only 8 hours to do it.  If you swing that ax for 8 hours it will be dull, worn-out and very ineffective at chopping down that tree, and whats more, YOU WILL BE WORN OUT!  This is where most people are.  They are no strangers to hard work, but they are just worn-out and have no idea how they could do 1 more thing, so they figure their ability to produce any more has reached its limit.  If anything, they feel their issue is they are too lazy to work harder and that is NOT. THE. CASE.

In the example the ax’s sharpness is PC.  If we spent 7 hours meticulously sharpening that ax, we could chop that tree down in 1 hour flat.  We would still reach our goal but we would preserve the ax and our own energy.  So this is a step by step guide on how to sharpen your ax.  Or in other words, take care of the Goose that is laying the golden eggs, YOU.  Taking care of YOU is PC.  You want most of your time to be spent on PC, or, on sharpening your ax.  So the homework assignment that can help you RIGHT NOW is to look at tomorrows schedule, or even the rest of the week.  

Take a green highlighter or marker and mark all the things that fall into PC:

1. Read a book every day.
2. Eat nutrition foods and focus on nutrition that fills the gaps.
3. Have a deep conversation with someone you find interesting. Sharpen your axe through that interaction.
4. PLAN.  That planning is often the most valuable thing you do!
5. Turn your car into a rolling schoolhouse.  Use it to increase a skill or personally develop.
6. Overcome a specific fear you have or quit a bad habit.
7. Have a daily exercise routine or take part in some competition.
8. Engage in leisure activities that fill you up, like family or meditation, or a favorite hobby, not distraction activities that are tools of procrastination (the difference is how you feel when you are done!)
9. Ask for feedback and get a mentor.
10. Learn from people who inspire you.

The “P” activates are the sales, the emails, the calls, the tasks (you know, the never-ending stuff).

I am honored and excited that you asked for this.  So take your upcoming schedule and look for any activity that increases your PC, or shapes your ax making your better at what you are looking to do.  Mark them in green.  Green means GO!  Then take an orange marker and mark all the P activities that need to be done.  Compare the colors.  Are you all orange and no green?  

Make an effort to organize your life so that you are in the green 20-50% of your day.  Watch out for time stealers like ringing phones, text messages from others that aren’t serving your purpose in that moment, and social media or gaming or TV that isn’t planned leisure to refill your cup.  

Its time to INVEST IN YOU.  Please reach back and let me know how this exercise helped you and I will celebrate with you !!!

Anna Smith

annathetrainer@me.com

annasmithnutritionadvocate.com

Influence and Example, Leaders and Teachers

John Maxwell, who I think of as The Godfather of Leadership says leadership is influence and nothing more.  I agree because he is smarter than me but that got me thinking.   Its pretty commonly held that leadership and being a boss are different yet when people ask "How do I become a better leader?" there is something amiss in the question.

If we dig deeper, it's often because they want people to follow them, or more specifically, do to certain things.  So its more like "How can I better get person(s) A to do behavior B?" Whether this is a home environment (parenting) or a work environment (being a boss, manager, owner, etc) that is often the problem needing a solution.

So isn't the real question, how do I get people to do what I want them to do?

That goes back to an off shoot of what I was getting at in yesterday's post.  A big part of leading others is going to go back to leading yourself.  In other words...Are you taking care of the goose, and is the goose doing the things it wants others to do?  In that sense, I think my official stance is that leadership is influence AND EXAMPLE or maybe BY EXAMPLE.

So that brought me to think, leadership boils down to YOU.  What are you doing?  If there is something you seek from others.  Leadership is doing that thing.

In my profession, I am called a leader but what I am really more gifted at is teaching.  So I can lead by teaching sometimes and by serving the needs of others but the "by example" is needing some attention.

Helping others do something is teaching or serving.  Leading others is doing it first. Two (not totally) separate things that I feel get confused all the time.  I have actually known some great teachers who were not the greatest of leaders and sometimes they had more followers than the leaders.

And I've know great leaders who are not gifted teachers and their followers were different.  

But if you find someone who can lead (through influence by example) and ALSO teach?  Well, then you have the answer to that original question. 

That person is leading well because they are able to lead themselves first or they wouldn't be setting an example, they'd be teaching from the sidelines. 

That makes me think of out of shape football coaches who are NOT leading their players by example on the field but are STILL great leaders and teachers.  They teach football.  But they often lead in the areas of discipline, mentality, character and other areas that serve that team.

I would love to know how leading your self better (aka taking care of the goose that lays the golden eggs) would help you lead others better in your life.  I learn so much from your responses!

By the way, had 300 readers yesterday when I posted.  I appreciate that!

Best,
Anna

You are The Goose

Today was a landmark day for me and believe it or not it was for you too!  Its no mistake you are here reading this and it is no mistake what I am writing about will speak to you.  We are at a pivotal point in our country and NOW is the time for those who have an idea, or a 'next level' or something they know they should do, TO DO IT.   

There are world-changers out there with a fire to do great things and I believe if you are reading this you are one of them.  And to do your great thing, you have to be a GREAT YOU.

The only way for you to be as sharp as you need to be and give what you need to give is to get your personal house in order. There is no other way!  And the real kicker is NOBODY can do what you were put here to do.  And you know it.  

So in the parable about the goose who laid the golden egg, the moral of the story is usually greed.  I believe there is another moral and its that you are reading this because your have a golden egg to produce. Whether that is a business to start or grow, or a family to start or grow or an education to start or grow, you have something to produce and that is YOUR golden egg.

In the story, the farmer's wife kills the goose to get ALL the golden eggs at once.  Most high performers do a version of this with the schedule they keep, and the way they treat the goose, THEMSELVES.  If you had a goose that laid golden eggs, would you not feed it the best food in town and make sure it had ALL the nutrients?  Would you not monitor its sleep and make sure it wasn't over stressed and it had the right exercise to be its most healthy to live a long time?  OF COURSE YOU WOULD!

A tired malnourished stressed out goose is what we accept for ourselves, and my purpose today is to inspire you to take at least 1 step in the direction of taking better care of YOU, so that you can begin to feel like doing what you need to do.  EMAIL ME RIGHT NOW at annathetrainer@me.com for a step by step guide to what you can do today, starting with your calendar to determine where and how you can make a few small changes that make all the difference.  Is shared these tips today in my talk to a group of entrepreneurs on this same topic and they were putting into action this afternoon!  I can help you too!

EMAIL ME NOW!.  Just write Goose in the subject line and I will shoot you over your 4 PAGE GUIDE  totally for free if you promise to share with me how it worked for you!

High Protein Cheesecake

High Protein Cheesecake!

When I first started to understand the power of nutrition and its effects on my energy, focus and hello, BODY! the first thing I loved discovering was how to get more of those famous "lean complete proteins" in and how to make them taste great. 

I noticed cottage cheese on the list and have read of the BCAA (branch chain amino acid) profile but I just could not stomach the lumps.  

Learning what happens when you put cottage cheese into a blender might be my favorite thing I've ever learned!  Its creamy cheese, and cheese is one of my favorites!  The high fat version is not exactly the best option because in order to get that protein you are looking for, you have high fat content and that might blow your calories intake.   The fat free version is a little...um, chalky is the best way to describe it.  Its not as tasty but it blends ok.  If you are on a strict plan this is the option.  If your goal is to be lean AND HAPPY...choose 2% and you'll be AMAZED at how great this is!

The protein powder I choose is AdvoCare Muscle Gain.  It has the full profile of amino acids and 25 grams of protein with 4 carbs and ZERO FILLERS.  Developed to be pure enough for tube feeding.  Order from www.annasmith.store or email me at annathetrainer@me.com with any questions!  Definitely let me know how this recipe turned out for you.

#ADVOLIFE CHEESECAKE

1/2 Big container fat free cottage cheese
2 scoops AdvoCare Muscle Gain (choose flavor-van or choc)
1 package fat free sugar free jello pudding mix (choose flavor)
Dump all of that in a blender and had about a half cup of unsweet vanilla almond milk (less carbs) or milk (more carbs) or even cream (if you are looking for fats)
Blend until totally smooth….then taste it….if you need a little sweetener, add 1 or 2 packets of your favorite calorie free sweetener)
Chill in fridge until pudding.
The whole thing is a serving of protein and a few carbs…ITS AWESOME!

(I like cheesecake with vanilla MG and chocolate with chocolate MG and butterscotch with chocolateMG)