This is one of three articles I am writing to provide an overview of how the 4 Domains in the Wheel of Competency apply to the 3 axes of life. Here, I will be addressing the axis of health and wellness. This is intended to be appropriate to read in one sitting, under 15 minutes, so its mission is only to impress upon you the validity of my claim that for this axis, you must master the same four domains of competency as for the other two (Wealth & Finances and Relationships & Parenting). So let’s dig in.
There must be a thousand sources promising you the secrets to shedding those unwanted pounds, or becoming a muscle-bound adonis, or achieving spiritual bliss, or increasing your life expectancy.
This is not one of those places.
As to methods there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. the man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
What I do talk about is the blueprint that will help you execute whichever path you choose. Relationships & Parenting are governed by the same core set of rules and principles as everything else. I believe that once you realize that the principles determining whether you succeed or fail in the health and wellness aspects of your life are the SAME principles that apply to how to improve your relationships, and how to have more financial freedom, you will be inspired and everything will make more sense.
Why inspired? Because you don’t have to memorize a particular trick or approach or secret. You will not have to act mimetically, trusting that the tweet from that Twitter guy will be just the trick to solving that situation that’s troubling you.
If you choose to spend time reading my articles, you will gain a deep understanding of how and why all the dimensions of life are tied together. In doing so, you will acquire a deep understanding that will allow you naturally to make your own decisions in a cohesive context that will allow for consistent execution.
The Wheel of Competency has 4 domains that determine whether you become an Outlier in life:
- Mental Models
- Sales
- Leadership
- Emotional Intelligence
I will briefly explore how each of these domains applies to the axis of Health & Wellness. Read on if you have a desire for understanding.
1. Mental Models
Mental models are frameworks that help describe the real world. They are tools (not to be recursive, but analogies are a type of mental model–you can see their usefulness).
When it comes to Health & Wellness, this is probably the most crucial quadrant to affect outcomes. Let’s start with the laws of nature. It’s not a leap to understand that acknowledging matter can be neither created nor destroyed is a solid basis for realizing that whatever you put into your mouth has to go somewhere.
Knowing further that mass and energy are the same thing, it is not a difficult leap to grasp that what you put in your mouth can do one of three things: stay in your body as mass (muscle, fat, serum), be converted and consumed as energy, or passed through. That’s it. It’s amazing how many people seek the latest diet fad or exercise secrets without confronting the basic laws of nature that will ultimately determine their success.
First principles are another type of mental model. Understanding that actions are simply beliefs put into motion, you will be better equipped to evaluate yourself through a beliefs framework when confronted with motivational challenges. Ultimately if you do not believe you will get results, or you do not believe the results are worth the cost, no amount of superficial “willpower” will get you to consistently take action.
You can see the powerful linkages here, so I’ll use one final example. Decision-making is a dimension of mental models. Decisions involve identifying and assigning weight to tradeoffs so that priorities can be established, distractions can be eliminated, and purposeful, discrete actions can be taken. Living a life where your mind is calm and your body is fit and strong requires constant decision making. Every minute, every day, every week. If you make your decisions in a purposeful framework, you will be more likely to act with consistency than if you make decisions via impulse.
2. Sales
What the hell does sales have to do with health and wellness? A lot, actually. And the idea that that might have even been a question is the very reason I am so passionate about my approach.
In sales, you must distinguish between wishes and wants. Wishes will eat away your soul. They steal your time, sap your energy, and never lead to anything. Any salesperson knows this. But if you haven’t mastered the concepts of sales, you would likely be unable to identify when the thoughts in your head are actually wishes. “I want to lose weight.” Really? How do you know?
Well, another skill in sales helps with that: Probative questioning. Learn to peel back the onion. Ask the “5 Whys.”
“I want to lose weight.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m tired of being fat”
“Why?”
“I want to look and feel better.”
“Why?”
“Looking and feeling better would make me happier.”
“Why?”
“Because I’d have more self confidence.”
“Why?”
“I guess because it’s hard to look good and I want to know that I have what it takes to be one of those people.”
Ahhh. NOW you’ve got a want.
In sales you must understand the concept of a fair exchange of value. Time is value. Effort is value. Money is value. Achievement is value. When you determine what you want, what is the fair exchange of value to get it? Is it worth being inconvenienced? Is it worth forgoing other desires? Is it worth being uncomfortable?
It is best to understand as early as possible that if the value exchange does not work, then the deal will never happen. If you want to be more flexible but aren’t willing to consistently do mobility work, you have already decided it’s not worth it whether you acknowledge it or not.
You’re selling yourself after all. You are both salesman and customer. Salesman-you must probe if customer-you really wants the outcomes, or just “wishes” the outcome would occur. Obtaining this skill will give you better harmony with yourself.
Ultimately, while there are clearly some health minimums necessary to be an Outlier, you do not have to be an elite athlete. But it is necessary to achieve a healthy and functionally active lifestyle. This is accomplished through consistency. Consistency, in turn, requires harmony with your beliefs.
One person may prefer yoga, another to go on hikes on the weekend, and Peloton in the basement for yet another person. Fasting works great for one person, while another finds an ancestral diet works best. The answer is not in the specifics, but in being in harmony with your beliefs such that the “fair exchange of value” is constantly being reinforced.
3. Leadership
Once again, the claim that leadership is important to health & wellness may seem like a bit of a stretch. But that’s only to people who don’t understand leadership. Leadership requires the skills of inspiring others to achieve group outcomes while reaching their individual goals.
What is leadership if not leadership of self? The people you read about who have been successful all do this, even if subconsciously. They establish a vision for themselves, decide what steps are necessary to get there, and then embark on a process of coaching themselves along the way.
An overlooked component of leadership is establishing a culture. What is your personal culture (ie value system)? If there is rot at the culture layer, you will not be able to execute toward your vision.
If you begin now to see how these skills of leadership play an important role, congratulations. Seeing is the first step. Next comes acquiring, then practicing.
4. Emotional Intelligence
There is nothing more personal than health and wellness. Our physical, mental, and emotional state is arguable the most important axis of life. It is no wonder then that emotional intelligence (EQ) applies here as well.
You do not have to be on social media for more than five minutes to see an avalanche of self-help gurus providing advice on the best diet, the best supplements, the best meditation, and the best fitness regimens to get you to your desired end state. Many of these are great, but without addressing the core skills needed to execute these strategies, new recipes and exercises.
Let’s pick a massive component of EQ: Identity. Each of us has a very complex self identity, comprised of many individual identities.
For example, you may think of yourself as funny, but with a sophisticated humor; decent with numbers, but terrible with foreign languages; can’t play an instrument to save your life; fairly athletic; decent vocabulary; great hair, but nose is too big; etc….
Note I didn’t even bother to list out nationality, race, religion, community, organizational affiliations. Like I said, our identities are very complex. But more importantly, they affect (quite literally) the very reality we experience. Many other articles discuss this in depth, but how you experience the world is affected by the identities you hold.
You may or may not be conscious of it, but it’s there. Outliers know that you are now a slave to your identities. You can change them. But first you must become aware of them. I will help you with that journey.
Summary
The Wheel of Competency is simple at its core, but expands with a myriad of facets. Examining each facet in isolation can be confusing and daunting. By organizing them into this framework, you can begin to understand that every axes of your life is governed by the same rules.