KEEP IT MOVIN’

By Eliana Barriga
Publisher and Managing Editor for The Retail Observer

---

Eliana Barriga

The easy breezy days of summer are behind us. Time to re-establish our routines, re-organize our business and well, get things done. The question is, why do we ever stop moving forward and progressing? Yes–I believe in a balanced life with time for work and play. However, I know the difference between “slowing down” and “stopping”. And the heady consequences of the latter.

The main character, Billy “The Great” Hope, in the boxing movie Southpaw, is a great example of someone who had many obstacles placed before him, but continued moving forward. If he had stopped, and given in to the hardships and his ego, who knows if he would have ever been able to find a way out. Instead, because he embraced these challenges, humbled himself and kept it moving; he was able to find a way through.

In that same light, I recently made a commitment to my health and kicked my workouts up a notch with the help of a personal trainer. Unfortunately, after the first week, I sustained a minor injury that slowed down my progress. Notice that I used the words “slowed down” rather than “stopped”. Stopping is precisely what I would have done in the past. Getting hurt would mean the end to my workout routine altogether. Then I would spend weeks, months or even years getting back what I lost. So this time, I may have to wait to start running again but that doesn’t mean I can’t walk or get creative and find other forms of exercise so I can stick to my routine and continue reaping the benefits of my hard work and commitment.

We all have areas of our lives and business that get hard. However, in the bigger scheme of things, it is always better to keep up the momentum than to stop and get swept away by our challenges.

Until next time, keep it movin’!

Eliana Barriga 
eliana@retailobserver.com

---