Reflections: Acquiring “the eye of the tiger”: Mental strategies for attaining and maintaining executive health

In today's society, health and fitness are given much publicity. Advertisements, magazine articles and television shows, trumpeting the benefits of exercise, encourage people to undertake a fitness regimen. Indeed, for the busy executive, an exercise program can lead to a less stressful and more productive life. However, due to busy schedules and the challenge of maintaining interest once the novelty of an activity has faded, many managers quit these programs soon after starting them and return to their sedentary lifestyles. We believe that most people stop exercising because they are not mentally prepared for the difficult realities of maintaining a regular workout program. While most health articles provide the initial spark for beginning athletes, very few offer guidance for the person in the middle and latter stages of an exercise program. This article, which we have based on our personal experience as athletes (the authors have run 15 marathons between them) and on an extensive review of psychological, organizational, and sports-related research, provides executives with five mental strategies for developing a mindset for maintaining physical fitness during these challenging stages.