I was twenty-one years old working for Starbucks Coffee company sitting in a management course for store managers called IHE, Increasing Human Effectiveness and I heard the quote "Life is a Journey Not a Destination".  I had a huge "Ah-ha" moment that rippled all the way to the core of me.  The intention of the course was to highlight that as store mangers, being an effective leader started with us, our individual development.  I know that is what Starbucks wanted me to get out of the workshop and that I did, and a whole lot more!

The fire that was lit in my soul that day set in motion a transformational journey of a growth mind-set that still burns bright today.  

Last week, I had another wave of realization about the journey, and I love what one of my mentors says "insight follows experience", thank you Kathlyn Hendricks as this could not be more true for me!  

I had been preparing for weeks to speak at a conference, many long Saturdays preparing slides, finding quotes, images and video to assist in illustrating my points of consideration for my audience.  

What happened? I presented, it went great, I had a blast! And, just like that, it was over.  What I did not realize until AFTER was that the gift, the learning and the experience was all the activity leading up to and the day after, not the actual speaking. Don't get my wrong, I love speaking and celebrate the opportunity, it is a total rush to impact more than one person at a time, I love it!  In this case I want to highlight how impactful it was for me to realize after the event how critically paramount my preparation process was.  For me, the actual preparation was the meat and potatoes of the meal, the finished product was the dessert.

What a lovely reminder that all of the milestones that I experience, the mountain peak's summited, that arriving to the goal is great, but the walk towards the peak is where the juice of it is!

One of my favorite trends in my own life is that of personal development. I value my own development greatly and start each day reflecting, meditating, reading insightful works of others to prepare myself for the day. What I love is that ten years after I heard a memorable quote that sparked my fuse, that I can see the learnings in my day to day actives still happen all the time. Everything is truly in service of my own learning.

What about you, what parts of the journey have really revolutionized your life?

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Lindsey Rainwater is a consultant and coach to the fitness and wellness industry.  She specializes in business development and leadership. Currently she is working with the Fitmarc Team helping Health Club owners all over the south central region of the united states propel their business forward via group exercise solutions.  For more information about Lindsey, follow her @lindseyrainh2o

Yesterday I was sitting at the carwash waiting for my car, there is a fantastic full service shop that is a few blocks from the Starbucks store I operated for years and whenever I am in that part of town I stop in there.  While I was sitting and waiting I looked up and saw an old customer of mine.  I waited for a moment and made eye contact to say hello, “Hi, Colleen, how are you? Oh, hi, oh my, Lindsey? Yes it’s me, from Starbucks, hi"!

After the initial awkward re introduction of old familiar faces, the next few moments unfolded a conversations that warmed my heart from my tiptoes to forehead.  

She quickly noted that she had switched her morning coffee routine and was now going else where, that the time for it was gone and other things had become more important to her daily routine.

She then paused and said, Thank you, those days when I walked in and my coffee was ready and you knew my name and had me in and out, and smiling by the time I left, really made my day.  I responded with my appreciation for her kind words and simply let her know that is what our purpose was!  To make sure that wherever her day led her, she had a chance to connect with another person along the way, we set out each day to provide bright spots for people to carry with them all day. 

Shortly there after our conversation wrapped up and she was on her way.  I was left with an over whelming sense of gratitude that my purpose all of those years at that store manifested itself in that woman’s life! What a gift, to be able to impact lives!  I wanted to share the story with you for few reasons.

Regardless of what you do in your day to day, I would venture to say at some point each day you interact with another person. You may lead them, work next to them, pass them at the grocery; regardless of the interaction you have a responsibility.  What can you offer that interaction? How can you impact that person’s day and leave them with a heart warming bright spot for that day? 

Especially in Fitness, we have a huge opportunity to leave lasting impressions! People come to us wanting change, lasting impacts on their LIFE! That is a tremendous opportunity to provide light in that person’s life and teach them how to care for their body on a higher frequency!  I would urge you today, do not take your responsibility to others lightly, do not delay words that need to be said.  Live your day making meaningful connections that leaves lasting impressions.  You never know whose soul you may need to be feeding today, and in turn, feed your own. 

As always, I would love to hear your thoughts! Let me, Lindsey Rainwater know how you are making lasting impressions on those you interact with in your Fitness world!

Upon returning home from IHRSA, there is a lot on my mind. The convention and trade show always has so much to offer, and hats off to the fitness industry for putting on such a great show!

My overwhelming thought is a theme that came up consistently during my week in Los Angeles: the concept of customer service.  The fitness industry provides a specific product and therefore has a large obligation on delivery.  Regardless of which part of your facility you are responsible for, work in, or visit, what does customer service mean to you?

When I think of companies that get it right and treat their customers well, a few, in particular, come to mind: Apple, Starbucks Coffee and Nordstrom. We all know which products we choose and favor, but why do we choose them?  The concept of why is intriguing. Why do we, as consumers, do what we do? And, what brings us to make it a part of our lives?  

For example, Starbucks uses their Gold card program to bring people back again and again and to connect them with one another, creating a cohesive and active population among their customers. What are you doing to build a community and keep people coming back? I would love to know!

Contact me, Lindsey Rainwater, and let me know what is working for you!