[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px 0;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”2/3″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]First impressions do count, right? For most of us two of our biggest anxieties in life are waistlines and career. If your career is going nowhere and it has come to a standstill it may be because of your weight. In fact, The Wall Street Journal has gone out on a limb and said “staying trim is now virtually required for anyone on track for the corner office.” People have negative stereotypes about the overweight, and think that a lack of health or stamina will negatively impact performance. Unfortunately, if you meet someone for the first time and they are overweight you may associate characteristics of laziness and a lack of discipline. In the workplace these traits just don’t cut it. Unfortunately, initial observations may be unfair however it may also hinder your chances for career progression.[/cs_text][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/3″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_image type=”none” src=”https://pgpt.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/3-traning-sessions-a-week.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][cs_text]PGPT client and a CEO who at the age of 60 still prioritises his health by committing to 3 training sessions a week[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 0 0px 45px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]Let me put it into perspective for you. A study from Michigan University found that of the Fortune 1000 CEOs (of either gender) only 5% were obese as opposed to 37% of the general population.

It’s not just about being overweight that stops you from being a leader. I believe it has more to do with how we view executives/CEOs and people of leadership in general and how they made their way to the top is not only interesting but extremely significant. Living in a city like London where the demand to deliver long hours is the norm and waking up early to get into the office is seen as a display of will power and action, can only be consistently performed when your health and weight are in check. This is when having the physical attributes of strength, endurance and recovery come into play. These sorts of visible external actions that we see of our leaders makes huge impressions into what your definition of a leader should be.

Here at PGPT I can tell you the senior executives and CEOs that my team train all share a lot of the same qualities which ultimately is the formula for their success. Even though they have made it in their career you would think that they could take their foot off the gas, however its quite the contrary. These are the clients that are willing to commit to training first thing in the morning generally at 6am, who also subscribe to multiple sessions a week. These are the clients who partake in events over the weekend that push and keep them focused, like triathlons, marathons and even Ironmans. They tend to not cancel sessions and are very reliable and finally they like checking their numbers (body fat, weight, circumference measurements etc) to stay on track and more importantly having tangible results.

Of course not everyone falls into this category, but what is strikingly clear after being a coach for over 14 years is that the level of success you will achieve in your career has a direct correlation between the level of accountability you put on your health, your willingness to stay ahead of your competitors by having that fitness edge and finally, understanding that there needs to be an outlet (whether it’s stress reduction, increasing energy or staying trim) that an exercise plan will give you.

So next time a promotion comes up at work give yourself every advantage to win the position by not only being mentally fit but physically fit as well.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]