Anyone who runs a business knows what a major venture it is. Every aspect of the day to day operation has the potential for lots of stress and strain. You want to be there every day serving your regular customers, because getting out that important word-of-mouth builds up your clientele. Most of your repeat business has come from the positive results they have heard. Still you know you should give yourself some time off for your health and well-being; otherwise the accumulated stress of daily office management and business administration can wear you to a frazzle. I know several persons who operate restaurants and cafes in this town; they have gone so far as to set up a club where they discuss business trends and ideas while working out every day. Every businessperson I know, from the local delivery service to the owner of the franchise department store and chamber chairman, follows a regular health and fitness program.
My best friend and business advisor dedicates a half an hour daily to a yoga session at a place near his business. He keeps a set of athletic togs from Under Armour in his office; and works out at a gym every afternoon instead of fighting the rush hour crowd. He then hops on the bus home (sometimes he walks if the weather is good) showers and has dinner with his family. When I stayed with them while my home was being refurbished, I accompanied him on this routine. I enjoyed it, but the hours didn’t fit my work schedule, so I set up my own, substituting swimming daily for the yoga and going early in the morning before starting work at my office. I got my own athletic shoes and swimwear with a Groupon for 30% off Under Armour products. And instead of walking I opted to bicycle from home to work. That is how I came to know the restaurant club – as I call them – because I’d stop for some tea and a light meal at one of their places while cycling home from work.
Several of the club would occasionally join me or invite me to their shops when they were having a special or offering a discount on special dishes. I had to be careful that I didn’t over indulge myself at their places, or it would counter the effectiveness of my carefully plotted exercise regimen!
