Picture this: You’re sitting across from a potential client who’s shopping for a $3 million mortgage. He’s already talked to six other mortgage professionals. Then he asks you point-blank: “Why should I choose you?”
What would you say? Most people would talk about rates, experience, or customer service. But that’s not what came out of my mouth.
I said: “Because I exercise.”
Even I was shocked by my own answer. But that response won me the client. Here’s why it worked, and how fitness completely changed my business and life.
Why “Because I Exercise” Actually Makes Perfect Sense
The client paused, curious. So I explained.
About a year before that conversation, I was struggling. I was tired all the time. I didn’t enjoy my work. I was unhealthy from sitting at a desk all day. My quality of life was pretty rough.
Then I discovered exercise. And everything changed.
I lost weight. My energy shot up. But the real game-changer? My thinking became sharper. My memory improved dramatically. I could handle complex mortgage scenarios better because my brain was actually working properly.
I was happier, which meant I could give better service to my clients. I had more energy to dedicate to their needs. My decision-making improved.
The client got it immediately. He moved forward with me for his mortgage. Looking back, it’s wild that such an unexpected answer won over someone dealing with millions of dollars. But the connection between physical health and professional performance is real.
Book Your Strategy CallGetting Started: The Right Way
Here’s my disclaimer: I’m not a fitness expert or nutritionist. Talk to your doctor before starting any fitness program. Everyone’s body is different. This is just what worked for me.
Step One: Organic Multivitamins
I started with a simple multivitamin. But regular processed vitamins gave me stomach issues. When I switched to organic vitamins made with real, non-processed ingredients, everything changed.
Not only did the stomach problems disappear, but I actually felt the goodness going into my body. It gave me passion and drive to keep improving. That positive feeling provided the motivation I needed to take the next step.
Step Two: Start Ridiculously Small
Here’s where most people mess up. They set huge goals like “I’m going to run 5K every morning” or “I’m going to work out for an hour every day.”
You might stick with it for a few days. Then it gets hard. You need rest but didn’t plan for it. Your motivation crashes because the commitment is too difficult. Then you quit entirely.
Instead, use what I call the Five Houses Strategy. I read about this in a book where the author wanted to run 5K but kept failing. So he changed his approach.
Every morning, he told himself: “I’m just going to jog past five of my neighbor’s houses. If I really don’t want to continue after that, I’ll turn around.”
This works because five houses isn’t intimidating. It gets you out the door. And here’s the magic: by the fifth or sixth house, your heart rate increases. Blood flows. The elevated heartbeat actually feels good. That natural feeling provides the motivation to continue.
I kept my early workouts super short. My jogging speed was probably the same as walking. I just did the motion. But I did it consistently.
The 60-Day Rule That Changes Everything
Any habit needs 60 days to become hardwired into your brain. After 60 days, it becomes automatic. Like driving to work without remembering the journey.
Your goal in the first 60 days? Make exercise so easy you won’t quit. Keep workouts really light. The priority is establishing the routine, not getting fit. That comes later.
I dealt with shin splints, sore ankles, and knee pain at first. But I kept things light and gradual. Now, years later, my bone density has improved so much that I can run 5K with zero injuries. My body adapted.
Understanding the Fat-Burning Zone
Here’s something important: if your heart rate isn’t elevated properly, you’re not accomplishing much. Walking around the block without raising your heart rate might only burn calories from your last meal. Nothing changes in your body.
The fat-burning zone is between 110 and 140 beats per minute for most people. This is where your body actually burns stored fat and your cardiovascular system strengthens.
The cool part? It’s not so intense that you’re gasping for air. I can breathe through my nose during fat-burning zone exercise. It’s sustainable.
The Happiness Switch
When your heart rate elevates into the fat-burning zone, your body releases endorphins. These happy hormones cancel out cortisol, the stress hormone.
This means you have a biological tool to manage your emotional state whenever you need it. Bad day at work? Stressed about a deal? Just exercise. It completely turns your mood around.
You have the ability as a human to make yourself happier on demand. That’s powerful.
The 10-Minute Workout Solution
Not everyone has time for long workouts. So I developed a minimum commitment: no matter how busy I am, I do at least 10 minutes.
Ten minutes doesn’t strain your body significantly. It doesn’t require full rest days. It’s short enough to fit any schedule but long enough to provide real benefits. It keeps your metabolism high and continues weight loss progress.
My specific routine combines leg press rowing with bicep curls using small dumbbells. It works my entire body in just 10 minutes. The benefits last all day.
Progressing Beyond the Basics
After your 60-day mark, when exercise feels natural, increase to 30-minute workouts. Your body is ready. You have confidence. You understand your capabilities.
Can’t get to a gym? Search for online workout classes. Many programs use just body weight and household items. Pushups, sit-ups, squats. No membership required.
The Truth About Rest Days
When you’re doing 30-minute or longer workouts with strength training, rest days become necessary. Muscles need recovery time. Without rest, you risk injury and prevent proper muscle development.
My approach? I never take a fully off day, but I do something very light on rest days to keep my heart rate elevated without straining recovering muscles. Talk to a fitness professional about what’s right for you.
Stop Obsessing Over the Scale
Here’s something that discourages tons of people: the scale doesn’t move, or it even goes up.
Why? Muscle weighs more than fat. You’re burning fat and gaining muscle simultaneously. The scale reflects total body weight, not composition. You could be getting healthier and smaller while weighing the same or more.
Better measurements:
- Use a tape measure every couple of weeks on your waist, hips, thighs, arms, and chest
- Notice how clothes fit that were previously tight
- Assess your energy levels and how you feel
- Look at what your body can do now that it couldn’t before
We’re too focused on one number as a society. Your body composition, energy, and capabilities matter way more than what the scale says.
The Bottom Line
That $3 million client chose me because he understood something important: someone who takes care of their physical health brings that same discipline and clarity to their professional work.
Exercise gave me sharper thinking, better memory, more energy, and genuine happiness. These things make me better at my job. They make me better at life.
Start small. Really small. Five houses small. Make it through 60 days. Then build from there. Your business, your clients, and your life will all improve as a result.
Book Your Strategy CallFrequently Asked Questions
Exercise improves mental clarity, memory, and decision-making abilities. It increases energy levels, making you more capable of handling complex scenarios and providing better client service. The cognitive benefits directly translate to better professional performance.
Start ridiculously small. Use the Five Houses Strategy: commit to just jogging past five houses. If you want to turn back after that, you can. This tiny goal isn’t intimidating, gets you moving, and usually provides enough momentum to continue naturally once your heart rate elevates.
It takes 60 days of daily consistency for exercise to become hardwired into your brain as an automatic behavior. Keep your workouts very light during these first 60 days so you don’t give up. The priority is establishing the routine, not getting fit immediately.
The fat-burning zone is between 110 and 140 beats per minute for most people. At this heart rate, your body actively burns stored fat and strengthens your cardiovascular system. It also releases endorphins that cancel out stress hormones, improving your mood.
Just 10 minutes of exercise with your heart rate elevated provides real benefits. It keeps your metabolism high, continues weight loss progress, and improves your mood and energy for the entire day. You don’t need hour-long workouts to see results.
Muscle weighs more than fat. When you exercise, you’re simultaneously burning fat and building muscle, so the scale might not move or could even increase. Focus on body measurements with a tape measure, how your clothes fit, and your energy levels instead of the scale number.
No. You can find online workout classes that use just body weight and household items like chairs and ottomans. Pushups, sit-ups, and squats require no equipment. Many effective workouts can be done entirely at home.
When doing 30-minute or longer workouts with strength training, rest days become necessary for muscle recovery. Without rest, you risk injury and prevent proper muscle development. Consider doing very light activity on rest days to keep your heart rate elevated without straining recovering muscles.
