Tags
Ayn Rand, competition, corporate, fitness, GCC, healthy lifestyle
During a meeting in February, a senior level manager hinted that he was going to get the staff involved in fitness. He is based in Asia and the meeting was held in the U.S. He talked about how in his office, there is time blocked off during the work day for employees to participate in an exercise class, and he described group activities outside the office as well. The people in the meeting room looked a little sheepish and the quiet was telling.
About two months later, my company introduced the Global Corporate Challenge (GCC) campaign. The challenge is a fitness competition for a 100-day duration that extends beyond teams within the company to organizations around the globe. GCC will provide an activity tracker device and online coaching/information to encourage everyone to reach 10,000 steps per day. Through the website and app, online tools will also be available to engender behaviors that lead to better nutrition and sleep patterns. The website and apps are available for a full 12 months from the start of the campaign. Anyway, that’s my understanding from reading the GCC website.
So, the question is, why am I dreading this? I believe that companies should encourage their employees to live healthy in the same way they should embrace flexible work schedules, and provide paid maternity and paternity leaves. But when I was approached to join a team, I stayed silent for quite a while. Then it got to a point where my department needed just one more member (seven is the required number), and I felt obliged. So with trepidation, I agreed.
Along the lines of Ayn Rand, I am more of an individualist than a team player. I have become proficient in the team player role because the team concept is embedded in corporate culture. Outside of the corporate arena, I have always been drawn to activities where the only competition was myself, trying to work a little harder than the day before. Solo activities such as skating, biking, yoga and walking are more to my liking than team sports. It’s more than that though. I feel that health is a personal pursuit and am not driven by banding together with others. I don’t look for walking buddies or gym-mates. I use a food tracker but don’t participate in the app’s community option. The whole rah-rah cheerleader thing turns me off. Maybe it conjures up bad memories of color war at summer camp. I am the Scrooge of social fitness.
If I am successful in losing a few pounds, it will be from fear of humiliation rather than healthy behavior assimilation, in which case a relapse is likely once the competition ends. I’ve known people who found fitness motivation through social interaction. When the social element went away, the pounds returned.
Well, it starts on May 25th. I’ll keep you posted.
I hear you. I prefer individual activities too. But I suppose in the name of health it’s probably worth it. Best of luck to you!
LikeLike
Thanks. Maybe I’ll surprise myself and actually enjoy it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I much prefer individual sports to team sports. That’s why I prefer running or yoga, when I can just focus on myself. Having other people around adds pressure, not only to show off your physical stamina but also to converse, which distracts from working out. But good for you for deciding to give it a try! Who knows, maybe you will like it 🙂 Good luck!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yea, who knows? Maybe I’ll find my competitive side and go for the gold🏆
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you speak to our introverted selves. Hope you have some fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely, Ro. It’s what mom used to call anti-social. Now I know the correct term is introvert, but it still feels like an albatross.
LikeLike
I think you have compensated much better than I did. It definitely has been a deterrent to some career growth. Our culture really likes extroverts, which is the reason my daughter is successful in her present job.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gail, I’m totally on the same page when it comes to individual fitness. I’ve never enjoyed team sports or competition in general. I believe there are two types of energy — creative energy and competitive energy — and when people seek to compete, they focus on outdoing someone else, instead of striving to become their best self.
And not to generalize, but in my experience, the people steeped in team sports had the least amount of sportsmanship. I’ll never forget the guy who punched me in the face because I outperformed him in dodgeball — and that was on accident. I wasn’t athletically skilled; I just got lucky.
Though well-intended, I shy away from these types of challenges that encourage competition, even if it’s “friendly.” I know I succeed more when I challenge myself to be the best I can be, without the added strain of measuring myself against other people.
I trust this could end up being a good thing if you’re able to distance yourself from the competitive, social aspect as much as you can, and focus instead on finding your own path to self-improvement.
Staunch individualists, unite! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an insightful comment, thank you! I especially like your inspiring statement that “I believe there are two types of energy — creative energy and competitive energy — and when people seek to compete, they focus on outdoing someone else, instead of striving to become their best self.” Well said.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Gail. A friend shared that insight with me a couple of years ago, and it completely changed my perspective on life. Competition stems from a fear of inadequacy, whereas creativity is rooted in using your unique skills, abilities and insights to change the world.
It’s immensely freeing, because I no longer compare myself to others and feel shame that I’m not at their level of fitness, status or intelligence. Thinking this way not only helps me to seek out the best in myself, but also to appreciate the contributions of others even more — because their creative energy is completely different from mine. We’re all unique and all on our own path, and we can all work together to share our individual insights and wisdom.
LikeLike
I’m printing this out and keeping it close by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: I like to move but I like cookies too | Gail's Blog