Shower Your Way To Success


Are you familiar with the Eleanor Roosevelt quote,

 Do One Thing A Day That Scares You?

 People seem to love this quote. I see it posted on Facebook, Twitter and LuLuLemon even uses it in their marketing. But do you think people actually do something everyday that scares them?

I watched a Ted Talk by Joel Runyon. He suggests a specific strategy that gets people to do something that scares them . . . everyday! 

When I first heard the idea, I thought, “What a ridiculous idea! How is that helpful to anyone?”

I judged the benefit of the strategy before I had even tried it.

Do you do that too?

Dismissing an opportunity, that could be beneficial to you, before you even try it says a lot about your mindset, doesn’t it? Ouch! (That statement hurts!)

I then heard the idea two more times by people touting it’s benefits.

I decided to give it a try.

What is Runyon’s idea?

Take a 5 minute COLD SHOWER . . . Everyday!

Are you thinking ‘ridiculous’?

First Shower

The next morning before I got into the shower, I turned the dial to “C.”

I got in, took a big breath and then screamed. Honestly, I lasted 3 minutes max.

Second Shower

The next day as I was dreading the cold shower I was about to take, my inner chatter went something like this:

“I don’t need to take a cold shower, there’s no benefit.
This is ridiculous, why would I torture myself?
A warm shower would definitely feel better.”

Does your inner chatter talk you out of things that take you out of your comfort zone?

I managed to ignore my inner chatter and mustered up the courage to turn the dial to “C.” I felt like I was in labour again with all the forced exhalations I was doing. I managed 5 minutes!

Third Shower

Day 3’s inner chatter started while I was still in bed – in my nice warm cozy bed, thinking about the COLD shower awaiting me.

“A warm shower will feel so good.
No-one will know or care if you take a warm shower.
It’s the easy choice to make.
Why put yourself in discomfort? Just take a warm shower”

Inner chatter is hard to ignore, isn’t it?

But here’s what I know:

If you let your mind beat you in terms of taking a 5 minute cold shower, it’s only a matter of time before your mind stops you from achieving any SUCCESS in your life.

So I turned the dial to “C”, took a deep breath and stepped in.

Yes, the water was cold. Yes it’s uncomfortable. Yes it makes me take some deep breaths, but here’s the thing . . . after I towelled off, I felt invigorated and I was Proud I did it!

Positive Benefits

In addition to having you stand in discomfort, taking a cold shower gives a host of other positive benefits:

  • Improved immune system
  • Softer skin
  • Better sleep
  • Increased energy

One of my friends says, “Your day can only get better!” (She’s a comedian!)

I’m 108 Days In (as of this writing)

Taking a cold shower, reminds me everyday to let go of the self-imposed limits I put on my life and allow myself to stand in discomfort for 5 minutes.

Because here’s the thing:

  • When I take a cold shower for 5 minutes and there’s no risk
  • When I take a cold shower for 5 minutes, and there’s no cost
  • When I take a cold shower for 5 minutes, and no-one is watching

 

I am inspired for the rest of the day to take action to get Results and Success.

When I bump up against something that I’m nervous to do, make a cold call, have a conversations with someone who may be a little frosty, things that I can easily procrastinate (as my inner chatter will encourage me to do), I catch myself saying, “If I can take a cold shower, I can do that!”

Litmus Test

I challenge you to the Litmus Test – to take a cold shower.
Not for 1, 2 or 3 days but rather for 30 consecutive days!

Why 30 days?

It’s only when you get past day 7 or so, that you inner chatter will become so strong everyday that you will get to decide whether IT controls you or You control the actions you take.

 

To Your Success

Barb

GET THE LEADERSHIP EDGE!

Sign Up for FREE Valuable Communication Insights That Produce Results.

WHAT CLIENTS SAY


  • Our workshop participants found Barb’s approach to teaching at the Centre for Professional Development to be dynamic and engaging.  Barb not only taught effective communication and presentation skills, but also role modelled techniques throughout the day. Participants were excited to be able to apply learning’s directly into their day to day roles

    Leasa Knechtel

    Associate Director at the Centre for Professional Development, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto.


  • Your plenary session was a real asset and a great contribution to the success of our National IPAC Conference. From beginning to end participants were energized and actively engaged.

     

    Gwyneth Meyers BSc, MSc, PhD

    Scientific Committee Chair


  • “The workshop was wonderful!! Barb walked the talk by continuously demonstrating the tips and skills she was teaching! It was amazing to see it all come together. I would recommend the workshop to anyone who has to present.”

    Bev Waite, Education Lead-Nursing,

    Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre


  • I told one of the nurse educators that it was the best 3 hours I have spent in a training session as the content was clear, relevant, exactly enough to be able to incorporate into presentations, and you demonstrated each point which was great. It was watching an expert at work.

    Aideen Carroll, Advanced Practice Nurse Educator

    Toronto General Hospital


  • Your workshop was also a big hit. It was interesting to hear people talk about it as not good, but great.

    Debbie Ross

    CMP Manager of Governance and Events CNA


  • After working with Barb, our team returned to work energized, enthused and inspired to utilize tools that increase our communication, clarity and relationship with not only each other, but also with the residents and families that we serve. I would highly recommend Barb if you want to bring out the best in your team.

    Dale Clements, Administrator

    Columbus Residence


  • Barb Langlois led a wonderful one day workshop for 45 Clinical Nurse Educators in Saskatoon Health Region. She worked with us in advance to really understand our learning needs, Six months later, I see CNEs using Barb’s techniques to engage learners and I use them myself in my own presentations. I strongly recommend Barb – she is a very skilled facilitator who connects with learners in a very meaningful and effective way.

    Margot Hawke RN, BSN, MCEd, Nursing Professional Practice Lead

    Saskatoon Health Region

FEATURED PRODUCT


Seriously? Me, too! covers 10 Power Strategies that seriously work. It takes everyday situations that you can relate to, sprinkles in a bit of humour (you can’t be serious all the time) and demonstrates how you can achieve personal success — one simple step at a time. Learn More »

NEW FROM THE BLOG

Simplify Your Smarts

What’s the point of being smart if nobody understands what you have to say? Have you interacted with someone who is really smart but w