By Peggy Hoffman, FASAE, CAE
This year, I took a plunge into a world far from my usual office routine: I am now a certified personal trainer and hold a certificate in aquatic therapeutic exercise. What does this mean? In January, I will launch Aquafit water-based personal training! And no, I’m not bidding farewell to my day job just yet.
I am excited to share with others the invigorating power of water to build functional strength, enhance balance, and boost flexibility—all while having a blast.
But hold on, this post isn’t about the wonders of aquafit (though I’m happy to chat about it anytime). It is a testament to the incredible value I found in the journey of earning these certifications. It’s a rallying cry for carving out time to develop ourselves beyond the confines of the office. This isn’t a new concept for me; I shared my thoughts in an Ignite talk back in 2014 You’ll Never Fill Your Creative Well … at the Office and revisited in my 2018 Ignite Purple Hair & Other Creativity Hacks. Now, in 2023, I’m convinced that stepping outside the boundaries of your day job is the secret sauce to becoming more effective within it. Consider these reasons why.
- New Skills Sharpen Old: The skills acquired in personal training translate into my day job. Take the client assessment process, applying the concepts to working with staff and volunteers is a game-changer.
- Speak the Language of Success: A new vocabulary isn’t just about words—it’s a doorway to fresh perspectives. Discovering the roles of synergists, stabilizers, and agonists in muscles prompted me to think about committee design in a new way—designing the team rather than filling seats.
- Disrupting Routine for the Better: Intentional disruption led to positive changes, breaking bad habits, stimulating new thinking, and fostering adaptability to change—all skills transferred seamlessly back into my day job.
- Virtual Insights: Learning in a virtual environment provided a user’s perspective, teaching me what works and what doesn’t—insights that have proven valuable in my approach to training.
- Networking Refresh: Embarking on a new journey introduced me to new faces, honing networking and community-building skills that are pivotal in any professional setting.
Where my new hobby will take me is a bit unknown yet I’m entering that unknown with skills and refreshed for new challenges. An added bonus? A clearer vision of what I want (and don’t want) in my day job, paving the way for powerful changes.
Bring it on 2024 … I’m ready for you.
And seriously, if you’re interested in learning more about water-based personal training, call me. Let’s make waves together.
p.s. Stay tuned for more personal reflections from the Mariner Team.