We were lucky to catch up with Lucy Saltmarsh recently and have shared our conversation below.
Lucy, thanks for taking the time to share your lessons with our community today. So, let’s jump right in – one of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. Where does your self-discipline come from?
Jocko Willink has a quote that says “discipline equals freedom”, and I believe that to my core. The more discipline one is able to display in a day to day sense, the more time and energy they have to pursue passions, explore new opportunities, and pour into the people around them. My self-discipline developed first from an intrinsic sense of drive that I have possessed from the time I was super young combined with training high level gymnastics at a very early age. I realized early on that delayed gratification felt immensely more satisfying than instant gratification. It was worth it to me to finish all of my homework before I went outside to play because I knew that I would not have the weight of the assignment hanging over me while I tried to enjoy myself. In gymnastics, we would be given daily conditioning lists for holiday breaks which we were responsible for doing on our own, many of my teammates would not do their workouts or only do them a handful of days while I was committed to doing it daily so that I could continue to improve. I am relentless in my pursuit of doing hard things regularly, so that when the tough times come I know that I am capable of withstanding whatever is thrown at me. My daily discipline gives me the foundation for this. Taking that one step further, my self-discipline is linked with my self-care and my self-love. I want to be the very best I can be, both professionally and personally, and that is only accomplished by hitting my non-negotiables every single day – even on the days I don’t want to. For me, this looks like waking up early, writing down gratitudes, moving my body, constantly taking in new ideas through books and podcasts, paying close attention to my nutrition, and being mindful of where I spend my energy.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I feel incredibly blessed to work for myself and run two small businesses – LucyMVMT and MVMT Marketing.
MVMT Marketing is a full-service digital marketing agency that works exclusively with small businesses who have under 50 employees. We do everything from building your logo and website to managing your social accounts and running paid ads on your company’s behalf. We are industry non-specific, and specialize in not specializing. By keeping a pulse on the latest trends and constantly researching industry best practices, we garner leads and organic engagement from your target customer!
LucyMVMT is my personal training and online programming company. I have combined my knowledge as an athlete with emerging movement science to develop custom programs aimed at helping you meet your respective movement goals in non-traditional ways. We offer in-person and virtual coaching as well as online programming in the areas of calisthencs, gymnastics, CrossFit, mobility, skill building, strength building, and more. We have helped hundreds of athletes eliminate pain, return to sport, and take their movement practice to the next level.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Without question, the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful for me were cultivating resiliency, using mentors as resources, and remaining adaptable and open to feedback. Breaking this down further – resiliency can only be developed by putting yourself in situations that are outside of your comfort zone, and failure must be a part of this process in order to grow. I would advise others to become resilient by failing forward and looking as each failure as a learning opportunity that gets you closer and closer to success. Experience cannot be faked or rushed, and I would be lost without the guidance of those who were willing to coach me and help me work through business challenges. I would encourage any entrepreneur or woman in business to find someone who has the skills they wish to possess, and seek to learn from them. It is now my greatest joy to get to give back and assist others who are following a professional journey that is similar to my own. Finally, ask for feedback regularly and look for ways to implement critical pieces of it even if it means making modifications to your process! This should come from clients, employees, and others in whatever industry you are in who can give you an objective view of your performance. Remember, that in order to advance, we must remain flexible in our methods and steadfast in our vision.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Whenever I feel super overwhelmed, I take it back to the basics for a 72 hour self-care reset. I block out my calendar outside of appointments and meetings that I must attend then prioritize getting myself back into my routine of greatness. I focus on my sleep, nutrition, exercise, and time management, and I only allow myself to pursue the tasks that MUST get done professionally. These 72 hour resets recharge me both creatively and as a leader. It seems counter intuitive to pull back when you are feeling overwhelmed, but I’ve found that my output skyrockets when I return. I then have my full energy to give to advancing new projects and implementing new ideas. The times in my life that I have attempted to “push through” the stress, are the times that I have made the biggest errors and been short sighted in my decision making. I know it can be scary, but even a 24-hour reset can be a game changer to shift your headspace and your outlook.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mvmtmarketing.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucymvmt/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LucyMVMT1/
- Linkedin: Lucy Saltmarsh
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lucymvmt
- Other: TikTok – @lucymvmt_
Image Credits
Antonio Wilson and Katya Vilchyk
