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Successful Entrepreneurs Protect Their Nutrition

Guest post by: Michael Hume

Article Overview: You might take a shot at doing some great things in the world... and you might fail. But don't fail for a dumb reason. And no reason for failure could be dumber than simply running out of energy and motivation because you let yourself get fat on stupid snack food. It may seem trivial, but it isn't... your inner entrepreneur is hungry and needs you to feed it.

Successful Entrepreneurs Protect Their Nutrition

Check Your Health Habits To Ensure Your Energy "I was going to launch that project, but I just ran out of gas."

"I am just not into this enough to get it done."

"I just don't have the energy to get started on that."

Ever caught yourself - or someone else - saying something like that? When we're at our best, we dive in, we get it done... but each of us goes through periods of lower energy, and the temptation is ever-present to delay, procrastinate, or cancel altogether some undertaking we'd normally be psyched to take on.

If you have enough of those tough periods in a row, you could be dragged down into a pattern of "victimhood" that can be very difficult to climb out of.

I think each of us has an inner victim and an inner entrepreneur, and that the two war with each other for control of our endeavors (and, therefore, our outcomes). The victim is happy to give up, give in, and let someone else take care of things. The entrepreneur, by contrast, wants the opportunity, and seizes the initiative.

I'd like to encourage you to feed your inner entrepreneur - literally.

How is your diet these days?

I've coached many would-be entrepreneurs, super-bright young business people who for some reason can't get out of a rut. When I probe, I usually find they're stuck in a pattern of poor health habits that's literally robbing them of the energy to tackle their work. I've found myself mentioning on many occasions that you can't expect to perform at your best if you're living on caffeine, alcohol, and leftover pizza in the project room, Add in a lack of exercise and sleep - and failure to take good supplements - and even the most fit and energetic person can put themselves into a pattern that sends their energy spiralling downward, dragging their attitude with it.

To avoid this, I believe in five daily disciplines I refer to as The NEWSS: Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sleep, and Supplements. Today, think about how you can start with the first one on the list - nutrition - and consider what small changes you might make to rekindle your energy - and therefore your enthusiasm for the great things you're trying to accomplish in the world.

I have tried (in a serious, disciplined way) several different nutritional approaches, including vegetarianism, low-carb, low-fat, and the elusive "balanced" diet. Because I travel a lot, and because you can find appropriate choices on any menu anywhere, what works for me most consistently is the low-carb approach. But that's me. And I know this because I really gave all the other approaches a very fair trial. What works for you, though, might be different. I know it's hard to find the time, but get a book on an approach that appeals to you, read up on it, and then put yourself through a test for a month. See if your energy doesn't rebound.

I also believe it isn't what you eat that makes you fat, but what you don't eat. Make sure you are eating. You should have at least three meals a day.

Finally, don't eat garbage because that's all that's there. You know what garbage is, and much of it is disguised as fast or "convenient" food in our society today. Go get some protein bars to keep in your brief case or purse for times when you can't find anything but cold pizza for lunch... and then skip the pizza!

You might take a shot at doing some great things in the world... and you might fail. But don't fail for a dumb reason. And no reason for failure could be dumber than simply running out of energy and motivation because you let yourself get fat on stupid snack food. It may seem trivial, but it isn't... your inner entrepreneur is hungry and needs you to feed it.

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Article Tags: health habits, health wealth and happiness, personal responsibility, successful entrepreneurs



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