Give your business a core workout for extra strength

If you have been following my columns, you probably know by now that I do not like exercising in a gym. I prefer outdoor exercises or anything that involves an activity such as biking or kayaking. I would rather mountain bike than run on a treadmill in a gym any time of any given day.

However, most of my workday involves me sitting in front of a computer preparing reports or answering emails, and I noticed that I have developed a mild lower back pain. I decided to do some core body exercises to prevent a problem from emerging.

It was quite strange to realise how focusing my core taught me so much about managing a business.

The core of our body is best known for the abs, but it also refers to our obliques on our sides, our lower back muscles and everything in the middle. A strong core helps keep your body upright and decreases lower back pain. If you have a strong core your body will surely follow.

After conducting some core exercises I realised that though I do have some lower body strength, my core was not equally strong. With a weak core, squats, push-ups and some other exercises could be quite hard to conduct. All those exercises were hard to conduct because they were initiated from that area – the body’s centre, as I like to refer to it.

And so for the past few weeks I have introduced core exercises to my daily routine. It has not been a long time since, and I do not do more than half an hour a day, but everything was getting better together. The exercises became much easier as my core strengthened.

So how are core exercises and managing a business or career related? More than you could imagine.

For instance, in my writing career I serve and write to those who want to learn more about business and life. I meet interesting editors and publishers to discuss how we can best deliver ideas to the readers. And I mentor and hopefully inspire those who want to pursue a writing career.

What is the core of my writing career, then? To inspire others through my work, help create a positive community change, connect with those who could help me grow and help others embark on the writing ark.

So if I am not doing focusing on the core of my business every day and instead do other things, my core becomes weaker and my business or career slowly stagnates before falling apart.

Just like dedicating enough time to exercise everyday or taking vitamins, a focus should be given to the business core as well.

If you want to become a leading entrepreneur in five years and aim to have your store in every city in the Emirates by that time, what are you doing to your business’s core? Are you dedicating enough time and effort every day to it? Or are you waiting for it to magically happen to you?

I believe one of the most effective ways to achieve a business’s core goals is to have a schedule with daily, weekly and monthly targets. I work on a new one at the beginning of every month.

I like to physically hold things instead of staring at an electronic screen, so I would have a large sheet of a monthly calendar and would highlight my daily, weekly and monthly targets at the beginning of the month. I would then hang that sheet somewhere highly visible, mainly on the wall next to my desk, and I would not leave my office before I ensured that I crossed over the daily task. I then worked on towards the weekly, and monthly targets.

I found out that this method helped me keep focused. It is goal-oriented and leaves no room for excuses to procrastinate.

Core exercises and managing a business are more similar than they seem. The strength of a body or a business lies in the core. Focusing on strengthening that area will not only ensure a fit, trouble-free body, but an equally strong and capable business.

So here is a thought for you – what is your business’s core? And are you dedicating enough time to focus and strengthen it every day?

Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer based in Abu Dhabi. Follow her on Twitter: @manar_alhinai

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