Fit for Life: Turning Problems Into Solutions…

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Matt Espeut, GoLocalWorcester Health +Lifestyle Contributor

“You will never have a day in any business without problems. The day you walk into your business and every client loves you, the staff is dressed and on time, there is money in the bank, everything is working, your competitor just closed, and your favorite cup of coffee is sitting hot and steaming on your desk is the day you have died. You are not really in your business. You are in business heaven and God just hasn't gotten around to breaking the news to you yet. Problems are part of any business. How you handle these problems is what separates you from everyone else. The most naive thing you can ever say is, ‘Just one day without someone asking me to fix something would be nice.’ It won't happen. If you are good, you solve problems better than anyone else. If you suck at what you do, you bitch and moan about stuff that happens every single day and you make everyone around you miserable while you complain about the obvious. If there were no problems you wouldn't be needed. Any monkey in funny shorts can run a business that doesn't have any issues. But we have issues everyday and that is why it takes your talent and your effort. Problems are good. Problems give you a chance to show how good you really are. Shut up and fix stuff. That is why you are here and not the monkey.” – Thomas Plummer

I’m starting this week’s article by sharing these words of advice from an expert business consultant that I have had the pleasure of meeting and listening to. His name is Thomas Plummer, and he is always exciting and fun to hear, and what I like most about him is that he tells it like it is, unfiltered, and uncensored.

So today I wanted to write about one topic – “problems”. We all have them, and we will always have them. Some problems are significant, some are material, some are self-induced, some are permanent, some are solvable, and some are not. While we have different degrees of problems, we all have them, and it’s how we deal with them that makes the difference.

I listened to another one of my mentors and he classified his problems as either “first world” or “third world” problems, and he described it like this: “A first world problem is that my business is taking off so fast I don’t have enough help to deal with all the business. A third world problem would be I work over 100 hours a week, but still can’t make enough money to pay my bills.” Now which problem would you rather have? Both are solvable, but one is more serious than the other.

Positive Ways

This is why when people come to me with problems of getting fit and healthy, I don’t consider it an urgent matter, because I know it is a very solvable problem. I am always confident that when someone comes to me with weight, or strength issues, and they are willing to work with me, I can guarantee results, and not only solve the issue at hand, but quietly solve other problems these people have, such as low energy, self esteem, libido, medication issues, and improving their overall health. When someone asks me what I do for a living, I can sum it up in one sentence: I solve health and fitness problems. Most people won’t come to me unless a problem exists. I have very few people who come to Providence Fit Body Bootcamp and say “I am totally happy with myself, I just want a new place to workout.” Most of the time this is what I hear, “I am disgusted with myself, and need to make a change” or, “I have high blood pressure, and my doctor wants me to exercise”, or “I try going with my friends to a gym, but don’t get any results”, or “I try to do it myself but need to be coached and pushed”, or “I have suffered injuries in the past and don’t want to reinjure myself”. These are the type of problems that I specialize in solving, and know the best way to deal with them.

Negative ways

Some people handle these issues in self destructive ways, like emotional eating, or being very inactive due to depression, or they take it to extremes with starvation diets and dangerous training practices, and I try to educate them, and put them on the right path to health and fitness the "smart way". Again, it's all about how you deal with issues – with problems.

Everyone who works for a living solves problems. A painter solves ugliness, a plumber solves flood issues, a surgeon fixes hip, knee, ankle, and numerous other problems, and a lawyer can work on your legal issues. So whatever your problems are, there is usually a way, and someone around who has your solution. If health and fitness, weakness, low self esteem, or endurance are problem areas for you, put your fear at ease and give me a call. Those problems are ones I can fix – with – you.
"Don't worry about the last step, worry about the next step." – Thomas Plummer. Take your next step today.

Matt Espeut, GoLocal's Health & Lifestyle Contributor has been a personal trainer and health & fitnesss consultant for over 25 years. He is the owner of Fitness Profiles, a one on one, and small group personal training company, as well as Providence Fit Body Boot Camp, located at 1284 North Main St., on the Providence/Pawtucket line. You can reach Matt at (401) 453-3200; on Facebook at "Matt Espeut", and on Twitter at @MattEspeut. "We’re all in this life together – let’s make it a healthy one!"