Member Article

Spring Into Action with Blackie's Advice

Steve Black, also known as Blackie, is well known in the sporting world for his positive mind, fit body approach. More recently he has been using that knowledge to help businesses, individuals and community groups through his latest venture Protean Solutions.

Here he looks at using this time of year to find positivity and motivation to excel in all you do:

“March is here! And with it the promise of warmer sunnier days, lighter nights, and summer just around the corner. At the end of this month, a full quarter of 2022 will have already gone.

“So, what are we going to do this month that put us in a position to maximise the rest of the year? We are going to Spring into Action!!

“With better weather it’s a great opportunity to get that much needed fresh air and natural vitamin D intake by getting out for daily walks. Go at a pace comfortable for you, and every now and then do a little faster spurt to push your cardio workout up a little and stretch your muscles further. Twenty minutes a day is perfect. If you can fit in more time, even better.

“Now that extra walk and fresh air will also have a positive boost on your mental fitness too… so it’s also the time to set some goals and get planning. Those goals can be work and business orientated, but make sure to build in some personal goals too. Think about hobbies, friends, family, and make sure you are committed throughout the rest of the year to a healthy balance of work success and time for you doing what you love, with those you love.

“Set your own KPI’s (key performance indicators) which you can regularly review and track your success on to ensure we keep focussed throughout the year. Don’t worry if you fall behind or if your goals change over time. We are in the age of the survival of the most adaptable so goals can and should be pivotable based on us continually improving day-by-day.

“Now is also a great time to improve your eating habits. In warmer weather we need slightly less fuel and there’s less need for comfort food. There’s also less boredom as we can get and about more, and there’s a whole new range of fresh fruit, vegetables and seasonal fayre to choose from at reasonable prices! Set yourself a target, be it on weight, clothes size, energy, training ability, or even just to commit to five a day and the right amount of water!

“So now we are eating better, we are getting fresh air and exercise and we have set work and personal goalss for the year. We are really springing into action… what’s one more thing we can do to make sure we have a positive impact on ourselves, our loved ones and the world in general?

“Start to work out your purpose.

“You can do this in a number of ways. What are you good at that helps others? Is there something you could share more of that you can do? Is there a talent you have that can inspire others? Or is it something as simple as being a good friend, parent, fundraiser, looking after your parents? Having a focussed purpose makes our life more meaningful, which positively affects others. It can bring to the forefront a new-found passion in you, which also helps you overcome life’s challenges.

“I hope I have given you lots of food for thought there and in one go, it is probably quite a lot to process and think through. Use my regular and favourite tip to work your way through it all – write it all down. Grab a specifically dedicated journal to this cause, and get writing, musing, and committing to paper your thoughts, promises and intended actions. And at the end of each day, check off how you are doing!

“Good luck with Springing into Action. I’d love to hear how you are all getting on, so do get in touch on LinkedIn! God Bless and lots of positivity to you all!”

Blackie’s portfolio is impressive, with big names including Kevin Keegan, Rob Andrew, Jonny Wilkinson, Jonathan Edwards and Glen McCrory endorsing the former Newcastle Falcons and British Lions rugby coach. He now works with companies including Cascade Cash Management, The John McEnroe Academy and Fairstone to name a few.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Toms .