For the past seven years, I have been a dedicated practitioner of Bikram Yoga. This particular form of yoga is known as the "sweaty" yoga since the 90 minute class takes place in a 105 degree room. The classes are physically and mentally demanding AND physically and mentally rewarding. Opposite sides of the same coin.
In the process, I have become not only more disciplined in my actions, but more persistently aware of the different realms that need to be managed in a given situation to accomplish my goals.
There are four realms which I am actively managing during every class, which also play out in real life. They are: concentration, stamina, strength and flexibility. In any given class, some, all or none of these attributes will working for me, requiring real-time adjustments.
Concentration refers to the ability to focus on the task at hand, casting out distractions and discursive thoughts. When your heart is pounding a hundred miles an hour and your foot is ready to spasm on the single leg that you are standing, concentration is critical.
Stamina speaks to the ability to maintain a pose or series of poses for the duration without giving up or buckling. Strength is the ability to provide the essential support needed to carry your weight in the first place. Finally, flexibility is the wherewithal to extend, bend and/or contort into whatever shapes the pose requires.
Success in life and business are very much a by-product of working these realms in a disciplined fashion, knowing when an individual realm isn't working for you and making adjustments to compensate.
For example, as an entrepreneur there are times when I am surrounded by doubt, distractions and too many choices, and concentration is what provides the grounding to pursue the right path.
Similarly, stamina is critical, for so much of success is predicated on staying the course and not giving up. That said, at key points in the business, you must somehow find a way to pull yourself and your cohorts up the mountain, which takes a wellspring of strength. And is there any question about the inter-linkage of flexibility and success as an entrepreneur?
