Being an employee, employer, and entrepreneur I realized the role that has helped me in my career is that of a sportswoman. I run, do road biking, practice yoga, and climb mountains when senselessly inspired by adventure and spontaneity.

These are, in my book, activities that I am passionate about that not only help me unwind and stay fit, they also help me succeed in my career.

1. Having Something You Are Passionate About

Why would you do anything you are not passionate about? You could be passionate about the goal or the process; it does not matter. I would not do a sport that I was not passionate about, much less a career/job. The passion that I have for what I do is a great driver in all that follows and awaits to be accomplished.

Chances are if you were very passionate about a certain sport/activity, you would look to replicate that same level of passion in your own career.

2. Always Striving To Be Better

Every time I go for a run or a cycle, I am always trying to go faster and further. If I am practicing yoga, I try to stay in a position longer. The goal is to always push myself to be better and to never stagnate. Each extra second or kilometer serves as a reminder that I can always do better, even if by a little at a time.

Of course, no thanks to muscle memory and age, I’ve got to do more to burn those darn calories or great food would be just images I pin on Pinterest.

3. Having A Strong Sense Of Team Spirit

Road biking can be a solo sport but it is also as much a team sport. For those not in the know, if you want to go faster and further with the best energy utilization and efficiency, drafting is the way to go, or should I say ride. Watch the Tour de France and you will know what I mean. Those men are cycling at such close proximity to each other, and it’s not because they’re dying for a huddle.

If you want to draft, you need at least two (better if more) cyclists to make it happen. The cyclist in front does the most work because he/she gets most of the headwind, and those at the back are basically cycling at the same speed as him/her but using less power/energy.

You can’t expect the guy in front to not tire out after a while, hence that is where seamless teamwork kicks in and the cyclists at the back take turns to move out and speed up to take over. Everyone pulls his/her weight because that ensures the whole team goes the distance and succeeds.


4. Sense Of Pride

When I break my personal records or succeed in a new goal in sports, the feeling of pride, whether big or small, is something I look to replicate in my professional career. I could fare badly at work but do well in sports, but a sports person would surely not allow such imbalance to exist in his/her life.

5. Possessing Grit

When you are in pain, the sun is adamant about scorching you dry, and your muscles scream bloody murder, you defy the voice to give up because you know you can push harder. You could walk the last 500 meters, but you did that during the last training and doing it again would be telling yourself that you couldn’t do better.

You launched a new project at work, and it did not work out. So what? Don’t beat yourself down. Beat the dust off and try again. Winning is a good feeling, but winning after failure is an even greater feeling.

6. Sense Of Sportsmanship

If you have watched Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, you should realize that you could be the fastest, strongest and leanest, but you do not win hearts and minds with a losing attitude towards other people and about your own accomplishments.

Work-wise, I would like to think that I am good at what I do. However, I acknowledge fully that I am unable to grow and better myself professionally without the help, guidance and “sportsmanship” of other people I work with. That drives me to reciprocate my colleagues, bosses and staff with the same level of respect, fairness and ethics that they have shown me. Keep the positive cycle going.

What about those who do not practice sportsmanship at work? Let’s admit it, we don’t have time for negativity.

7. Taking Care Of Your Health

It is often said that ‘health is wealth’, and trust me, it is the only real ‘wealth’ you say ’till death do us part’ to. When you are a sports person, you are naturally driven to take care of your health because it is what you need to function, perform, and achieve those sporting milestones.

This also means that you are more energized and alert at work, and you take less medical leave. We’re talking real medical leave, not I-need-to-nurse-a-hangover-leave, which you would have no issues with because chances are you will not be drinking yourself silly when you are training for a marathon or an event.

 Visit  Cyan Communications to find out more about Cheryl's work.

_{This post was first published on The Confluence Of Life blog and has been reposted on Executive Lifestyle with the permission of the author.
Edited by Nedda Chaplin}

 Did you like this post? Please comment, like and share!