| A couple of years ago I signed up for a new gym | | | | may have used just a little bit of artistic license. |
| membership with a new gym that had opened | | | | The point however should be pretty clear. If, |
| locally. I made an appointment and sat down with | | | | using that example, I was intent on transforming |
| a personal trainer to discuss what a | | | | my body and attaining greater levels of health it |
| custom-designed workout program might look like | | | | would be impossible to accomplish without regular |
| for me. I completed and signed the application, | | | | physical exercise over a significant period of time. |
| my credit card was billed for a year-long | | | | There is simply no other way. Other factors such |
| membership, and I was all set for some serious | | | | as diet and proper sleep may contribute positively |
| shaping up. | | | | towards the achievement of my goal, but physical |
| Over the weeks that followed I spent a lot of | | | | exercise must be a core component of my |
| time thinking very seriously about going to the | | | | weight loss ambitions. Particularly, if I want to |
| gym. I imagined myself working up a sweat on | | | | change to be healthy and sustained. |
| the treadmill. I envisaged making my way through | | | | One ancient text reads as follows: "All hard work |
| the circuit work out and doing a number of laps in | | | | brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to |
| the swimming pool. My imaginary partner and I | | | | poverty." We could substitute the word "thinking" |
| enjoyed many strenuous sessions of racquetball. | | | | for the word "talk" in that statement. The bottom |
| This went on for about 6 months from the | | | | line is that no amount of positive thinking will result |
| comfort of my sofa with my trusty bag of | | | | in the materialization of dreams. Leadership |
| potato chips right alongside me. | | | | development must embrace a responsible work |
| Strange thing though...after all those months of | | | | ethic and the realization that things are genuine |
| dedicated and deliberate thinking, I failed to lose a | | | | value worth working for. Without work, none of |
| single pound! Actually, I found my jeans fitting a | | | | the world's great masterpieces would exist. |
| bit more 'snugly' as time went by. It's incredible. I | | | | Egypt's pyramids. Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel. The |
| can't explain it. Isn't that the way it's supposed to | | | | Great Wall of China. Leonardo's Mona Lisa. The list |
| work? You sign up for a gym membership, they | | | | goes on and on. Feats of mastery and inspiration |
| pillage your bank account, and then the pounds | | | | exist because someone possessed the vision, the |
| melt off automatically each week? | | | | passion and dedication to turn them from ideas |
| Okay, so maybe that story isn't entirely factual. I | | | | into reality. |