We were lucky to catch up with Heather Cox recently and have shared our conversation below.
Heather, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
By being afraid of regret.
Whenever we start to pursue something that’s outside our comfort zones, there’s a series of questions we ask. “What if it doesn’t work out?” “What if people judge me?” Our brains are wired to process the negatives that come from risk.
And there’s no doubt that when you take a risk, failure is a possibility. That’s terrifying.
But what’s even scarier, is going through life wondering “What if it does work out?”. What if taking that risk could lead to fulfilling your dreams? A better job? A happier life?
Personally, I would rather look back on my life knowing I tried, than wondering what could have been.
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 yours
Let me take you back to October of 2017.
I had just maxed out my credit card limit of $5,000. To say I was terrified was an understatement.
I was working a corporate job making less than $35,000 a year.
How the heck was I about to pay back $5,000 was beyond me.
As wrong as it felt in my mind, I had this gut feeling that it was something I had to do.
I was tired of ‘thinking‘ about my dream on a daily basis & went after the thing I wanted most.
I had no idea how I was going to pay it back, but I knew one thing…
Money is replaceable, time is not.
It’s been six years since I’ve invested that $5,000 to start my online fitness coaching company. And while it was one of the most terrifying moments of my life, it’s also been the most rewarding.
Now, I have a team of three people who help me run The Lean Queens Academy, a program designed to help women reboot their metabolism, increase energy & lose weight by eating more food.
I spent the majority of my 20’s in the overweight category. Hopping from fad diet to fad diet, limiting calories, always exercising, wondering why nothing ever worked for me.
So being able to help women break free from the exact thing I struggled with for years, it’s a pretty special feeling.
I’ve learned a lot from investing in myself and my business.
But the biggest thing I’ve realized is that great things come-, when you push yourself to get uncomfortable. To step outside your comfort zone and do the things that no one else around you is willing to do.
That’s where the real change begins.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three of the skills that have been most impactful on my journey…
Being growth-minded. Viewing failure as an opportunity to do better next time. Knowing that every challenge you come up against is only going to make you that much stronger in the long run. Having the ability to adapt and overcome.
Taking extreme ownership of your life. We don’t have control over everything that happens in our lives, but we do have control over how we react to it. You can either let life happen to you, or for you. It’s looking at every situation and asking “How can I grow from this?”
Mastering the art of listening. Most people just want to be heard. We spend so much time being talked at – at work, listening to podcasts/music, watching television, etc. Taking time out of your day to ask someone how they are doing, that goes a long way.
The biggest piece of advice I’d give to people who are early on in their journey is: practice these skills. Try to look at setbacks as an opportunity to learn from rather than in a negative light. Practice taking ownership of everything that happens in your life, even if it’s not your fault. Look at things as a learning lesson.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
You Are A Badass.
Drop what you’re doing and go pick that book up right now.
I’ve read this book front to back at least three times in my life and I’ve yet to find another book that’s impacted me like this one.
It’s a great reminder of the extraordinary things we can do, if we just have a little faith in ourselves.
Imagine telling a child they can be anything they want when they grow up. Repeat this belief to them every single day and there will be no doubt in their minds they can be exactly what they want to be.
You’re no different.
We are our own biggest critic and the only ones who put limitations on what we can achieve in life.
You can literally do ANYTHING you set your mind too, if you have the belief in yourself.
“If you’re serious about changing your life, you’ll find a way. If you’re not, you’ll find an excuse.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hcfit.kartra.com/page/apply
- Instagram: @heathercoxfit
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heather.cox.98622
