I went from exercising once every two weeks to three times a week. And it has changed so much more than just my physical fitness.
When you’re running a company and raising a family with young kids, you need energy. A lot of energy. And you need to stay sharp, both mentally and physically.
When you wake up in the morning, you want to feel happy and motivated to start your day. During an important strategic meeting, you want to be sharp enough to catch every detail. And when you come home in the evening, you want to have enough energy left to play with your kids and enjoy time with your family.
So, what’s the secret?
For me, it’s sports and nutrition.
Six years ago, I gave up alcohol completely. No smoking, no drugs, nothing. Later, I also cut sugar, candy and processed foods out of my diet. And now, I’ve added regular exercise to my lifestyle.
And the difference is incredible!
People often ask me if I really feel that great all the time. And yes, I do! But here’s something interesting: after a while, feeling great becomes your new normal. You get used to it and almost forget how much better you feel compared to before.
But sports gives me something even more valuable.
It’s not just about being fit or healthy. It’s about the activity itself and the person you become along the way.
You prepare your workout clothes, put on your running shoes, head to the gym, join a boxing class or go for a run outside. And every time you do that, you’re proving something to yourself.
You’re becoming someone who shows up. Someone with discipline, who doesn’t make excuses and keeps going even when things get difficult.
And that is perhaps the best feeling of all!
Not the muscles, not the fitness, not even the extra energy. It’s knowing that you’re mentally strong enough to keep the promises you make to yourself.
And here’s my biggest tip for anyone looking to make a change: set yourself a goal!
Sign up for a race, a boxing match, a competition or anything that challenges you. Put a date in your calendar and commit to it.
I’ve been training for the Amsterdam Marathon and Zuidas Business Boxing, and having those goals completely changed my motivation. Suddenly, sports wasn’t something I had to find time for. It became something I wanted to make time for.
And you know what? It’s exactly the same in entrepreneurship. Having a goal on the horizon gives direction to your daily actions. But real growth happens through the process of consistently showing up.
You don’t become mentally stronger by achieving your goal. You become mentally stronger by working towards it.
So just do it!
See you at the next Zuidas Business Run or Zuidas Business Boxing? 🥊
