Rich Fettke

Your Built-In Fear Handling Fuel

Posted on 04. Dec, 2009 by Rich Fettke.

"The professional athlete’s love of an adrenaline spike should almost never be linked to compulsive behavior. Quite the opposite is true. It’s more appropriate to say that taking a risk and succeeding because of their wits and skill feels orgasmic." -Maryann Karinch, Lessons from the Edge

When you are afraid, your body responds with its own form of rocket fuel: adrenaline.

Adrenaline is one of the natural drugs your body releases when you push limits or you are confronted with a challenge. Adrenaline flows through your body, giving you extra awareness, mental clarity and the ability to respond quickly to different situations. Colors are sharper, sounds are clearer. You are more conscious of odors and your body feels energized.

Whether you are jumping out of a plane or setting up a sales presentation with your hottest prospect, if the activity scares you, adrenaline will provide you with the strength you need to succeed. By recognizing how you feel when adrenaline is coursing though your veins, you will become much more skilled at using this ally to your advantage because you are employing it to accomplish a goal.

At the same time you should be aware that adrenaline also kicks in when you are under all kinds of stress, everything from getting caught in traffic to dealing with difficult people. In these types of everyday situations, adrenaline can burn you out because your body doesn’t get a chance to rest and recuperate.

I used to get tense from adrenaline in all kinds of circumstances and now, because I’ve gotten used to the feeling through extreme sports, I can say, "Ah, I know this feeling. It’s adrenaline. I need to be aware of why I’m feeling it. Am I facing a real risk or do I just need to reduce the number of stressful events that I tolerate in my life? Maybe I need to leave a little earlier to avoid traffic or perhaps I should discuss what’s bothering me with a friend."

By learning what adrenaline feels like, you can use it instead of it using you.

ACTION IDEA:

UNDERSTAND HOW FEAR WORKS

Answer the following questions to get a better understanding of how you handle fear.

1. What is the scariest thing you’ve ever done?
2. Why did you do it?
3. What was your fear telling you?
4. What were you focusing on?
5. What could you have focused on to reduce your fear?
6. What did you learn about yourself and your fears?

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Go For a Record

Posted on 22. Nov, 2009 by Rich Fettke.

Hans getting some reading in at the office

It can be very inspiring to surround yourself with people who are consistently pushing their limits.  My friend, Hans Florine, is one of those people.  Hans is a record-holding rock climber who won gold in speed climbing three years in a row at the ESPN X-Games and currently holds the world speed record on the Nose route of El Capitan in Yosemite.

Four years ago, Hans gave me a challenge — to join him in doing 100 sit-ups (non-stop) every day for 100 days in a row. In the beginning, it was tough just remembering to do the sit-ups each day…let alone completing 100 non-stop.  After a week it got a little easier.  After a few weeks it became a habit that I actually enjoyed.  Some days I’d do even more than 100.  My core got stronger (and tighter) and I felt great. When we reached our 100 day goal I didn’t want to stop!  We recommitted to taking the same challenge on for another 100 days.  Today, I am happy to report that we recently completed our fourth year of this challenge…and we don’t plan on stopping.  So far we have completed over 146,000 sit-ups in the last four years.  (36,500 sit-ups a year x 4 years)

Over the years I have given the challenge of going for a record to my audiences when I speak and to several of my coaching clients.  Now I’m offering it to you.  What record could you go for that would add to your health, wealth, wisdom or peace of mind?

Here are some examples:

• Make 200 prospecting calls in 5 days
• Complete a marathon in under 4 hours
• Write for one hour a day for 100 days
• Acknowledge or compliment someone every day for a month
• Be on time for every appointment over the next 100 days

You see, there are many different ways you can go for a record.  Start today (or tomorrow) and make a personal commitment to give it your best.  Maybe it’s some daily action to take for 100 days in a row.  Maybe it’s a one time record that will help you take a big step toward a business or personal goal. 

Whatever you choose, ask someone to be your accountability partner and offer to be theirs.  Check in on a regular basis – daily or weekly to increase your focus and commitment.  And most of all…enjoy the process of pushing your limits and expanding your success.

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Are You Kidding Yourself?

Posted on 16. Nov, 2009 by Rich Fettke.

“The first act of self-responsibility, and the base of all the others, is the act of taking responsibility for being conscious – that is, of bringing an appropriate awareness to our activities.”
-Nathaniel Branden, author of Taking Responsibility

As human beings we are so good at justifying and rationalizing why we aren’t living the way we want to live.

The person who wants to lose weight over-eats and then says, "Well, I had a tough day…I need the energy." A working mom who wants to spend more quality time with her kids ends up vegging out in front of the TV and then says, "I worked a lot today…I deserve to kick back and relax." The salesperson who wants to reach more prospects keeps putting off his phone calls and says, "I need to organize my sock drawer."

Okay, maybe that last one is a bit exaggerated, but it’s probably happened!

The bottom line is that – at times – we all create excuses and kid ourselves about why we don’t do what’s best for us. The problem is that we often don’t even realize it!

I don’t know where you might be kidding yourself — but you probably know. So my request is that you take a look by following the Action Idea below.

Right now, stop. Ask yourself this question: "Where have I been kidding myself? Be honest. Once you have your answer, you’ll know what to do next. My challenge to you is to do something about it by the end of this week. What have you been putting off that could move you toward what you really want?

NOTE: One of the most helpful strategies to create positive change is setting up support. Tell a friend, coach or "success partner" what your new commitment to action is and you will increase your chance of success 1,000%.

I would love to help support you in taking action. Send me a message here with the commitment you are making for this week. Then, next week, send me another message me with your results. If you have followed through then we will celebrate! If you have not taken action, I will reply to you with a strategy or challenge to help you do so.

Bottom line — when you are truly committed to your goal you will welcome accountability.

I wish you the best.

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Fitness for Success

Posted on 16. Nov, 2009 by Rich Fettke.

"Success is completing the full circle of yourself." -Gloria Steinem

Thousands of years ago the Greeks believed, "When you strengthen your body, you strengthen your mind." When I have asked my audiences or my coaching clients what they feel is a vital step to achieving with greater ease, one of the answers I often hear is something like:

"When I am taking care of my fitness, I have more energy, I feel more on track and I attract more success in my work and in my life."

I agree with this completely and I’ve seen the same results in my own life. All through my twenties I was a competitive powerlifter and bodybuilder. I noticed that when I was training for a contest I was much more focused in other areas of my life.

Once, in college, I was taking a full load of classes, working full time as the owner of a health club, and training for a bodybuilding contest. Although that seems like a loaded schedule, the daily ritual of eating well, exercising and learning actually gave me energy and left me feeling very fulfilled.

There are many benefits you receive almost immediately after you exercise — such as a feeling of peace and contentment, better sleep, and even more self-confidence. If you are eating well and following a regular exercise ritual you know what I’m talking about. If you have been meaning to improve your fitness, I hope this message gives you the little nudge you needed to take action. Good luck!

ACTION IDEA:

1. On a scale of zero to ten, where would you rate your satisfaction with your health and fitness?

2. What would it look like and feel like if you were a ten? (This is an important step)

3. What is something you could do each day (or each week) that would move you towards greater satisfaction?

4. Write down your answer to step three and then ask your coach or a success partner to hold you accountable to taking action.

5. Watch how the power of awareness and accountability moves you towards what you want. Good luck!

* I have also learned that nothing beats having a workout partner or a personal fitness trainer to support people reaching their fitness goals. Choosing physical activities that you enjoy and having support is a proven formula for fitness success!

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