Renowned for her television roles as the blue team trainer on SA’s The Biggest Loser, fitness guru on the Doctors’ Orders Show and health and wellness consultant on SABC 3’s daily morning show, Expresso, Lisa Raleigh is fast becoming South Africa’s unofficial face of wellness and healthy living.
The Difference Between Good And Great | The hours you put in are a big factor. Simply put, those who work harder are going to achieve more – there’s no way around it. Clearly outlined goals are another crucial factor. Many of us are great at keeping busy, but not much of our action is focused aggressively on a specific, desired outcome. Always reverting back to your goals to keep you from diluting your focus is what makes you realize your dreams faster. Then, no one who really succeeds has been void of failure. Accept the possibility of failure. Trial and error and experimentation are unavoidable learning curves on every journey, and there’s nothing wrong with figuring out something doesn’t work and moving on to find a new solution. If we simply threw in the towel at every undesirable outcome, not much would ever be achieved. Just remember to fail FAST!
A Key Talent | Flexibility. A clear vision is important, but being prepared to adapt, update my knowledge and go with the flow is what keeps me moving onwards and upwards. The bigger the idea, the more unknowns it will have. Without flexibility, forging plans and trouble-shooting obstacles would be near impossible. I have a few non-negotiables when it comes to quality time with my loved ones and prioritizing my health, but besides that I am ready to roll with the punches to do what is required.
How I Use My Mind | Gratitude is a big one. Starting the morning writing in my gratitude book means that everything sits firmly in perspective, no matter what the day ahead brings. Then, fear nothing. We constantly surprise ourselves at what we’re capable of, and being fearful is unproductive, crippling, and in most cases unjustified! Challenges are simply opportunities to grow. Another issue our minds often grapple with is initiation. We’re often waiting for perfect circumstances or to be 100% prepared before we take the leap into a new venture. Just start! All the preparation in the world isn’t going to bring you closer to your dreams – action is. Things start falling into place after you get started, not before.
Performing At My Peak | Fuel your body, fuel your mind. A healthy body is a well-functioning body, so my health comes first always. That means plenty of fresh veggies, usually in juice form first thing in the day, my daily vitamins and supplements, 6-7 hours of sleep per night, and at least 20 minutes of intense exercise each day. It’s just a handful of non-negotiables, but sticking to them is crucial to my productivity, happiness and sanity! Then, we all need a time-out. What eases one person’s mind is different to the next. For me, it’s reading, relaxing with my partner, baking, or running with my dog Harley, and I need to schedule in a little time to do these things so that I’m refreshed when I get back to work.
Resources I Use To Stay Inspired | I read constantly. My TV is never on, and I always have a list of reading material on hand for when I have a spare moment. Then, I always try surround myself with influential, brainy, creative or just generally inspiring individuals! The statement ‘be the dumbest person in the room’ is good advice. I want to be around people that are going to educate me, enlighten me and help me to grow.
My Future Dreams And Ambitions | It’s my goal to offer free fitness nation-wide, extending SUNfit into multiple venues in every SA province, city and community. I believe that wellness should be accessible to everyone and not just a privileged few. I’m launching a fitness and wellness channel on DSTV’s catch up next year, and I’d like to see that revolutionise the way we consume health content. Next year I will be launching my own jewellery line as well, which will be a definite dream come true.
The Best Advice I’ve Received | The tallest trees get the most wind. The poem called GOOD TIMBER is definitely a must read. In summary, it means that the higher you grow the tougher you need to be because there will be forces all around you trying to tear you down or blow you over. Also that your roots need to be placed firmly in the ground so when it gets windy out there you remain standing strong through it all.
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