The Incredibly Shrinking Mayor
August 4, 2008
When it comes to Positive Attitude and Customer Service, I have always been impressed by the Mayor in Mishawaka, IN, where I live. Mishawaka is not too far from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend. Mayor Jeff Rea makes it a priority to train, educate and inspire his people in Positive Attitude, Customer Service and in Wellness. The other day I wandered into City Hall with applications for two of my children to run in the city triathlon.
Having no clue where to drop the applications off, I was met by an employee who rose up out of her seat and personally took care of it. She could have pointed me another direction, but guided me to an area where she cheerfully processed everything. Positive Attitude and Customer Service - the two go hand in hand.
When I deliver “How to Build a Positive Attitude and KEEP the D a r n Thing” and “The Spirit of Customer Service” I share insights on how personal fitness and appearance play vital roles. Mayor Jeff has taken the bull by the horns when it comes to fitness and is setting a shining example for us all. You should be able to get a lot of valuable insight from this newsletter, because of him.
I see Major Jeff many times each year. When I saw him a few weeks ago, I just about fell over backwards. “MAN, YOU ARE IN GREAT SHAPE!” I blurted out.
I was really impressed. Of course, then I had to know how he did it! The two pictures below show the 38 year old Mayor before and after. Mayor Rea was 247 pounds in January. He is around 172 today. I called him up because I wanted to know how he did it and how he keeps the weight off.
“Charlie, I brought a Wellness person in to speak to our team. She did weight and body fat testing and talked to us. Based on her charts she told me I would classify as ‘obese.’ I was like, “Come on...” Hearing that, and having a history of heart trouble in my family, got me going.
I didn’t do a fancy diet. Instead, I set my mind to eat better and smarter. My schedule as Mayor had me grabbing a Coke here, a candy bar there. I cut out soft drinks. I had been having seven or eight a day - that’s 180 calories each and all the sugar. Eating out, I would eat half the portions and take the other half back for lunch the next day. I tried to focus on what I was eating late at night. I cut out the bag of chips at 9 at night. They say if you can repeat a pattern 12 weeks, it is ingrained in you. That’s what happened to me. You train your stomach. I had a chili cheese dog at the golf course the other day. My stomach said, “Jeff, we don’t eat those anymore.”
Charlie, I think diets lose weight real fast, but people put it back on fast. I lost 75 pounds over this time by setting a simple but powerful goal: to weigh less than the week before. That really works.
When I started all of this, I started walking a half hour a day. That led to riding my bike and then I started running. I had never run before. Now, I run five miles every other day. I ran the Sunburst (which finishes at historic Notre Dame Stadium) 5K in 24 minutes, which is amazing to me. I have been doing the little stuff - walking to work and taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
My doctor has been on me for years about my family history of heart troubles. I didn’t want my first heart attack to be the thing to get me in better shape.
The power of encouragement has really helped me. Even though some people think I have been battling an illness or had gastric bypass, the ones that know I did this through smart eating and exercise are so encouraging. I was walking to work the other day and a lady watering her flowers said, “You look great, Mayor Jeff! Keep it up!” As I sat at my desk, I kept thinking of what she said.
Charlie, it is so nice to be able to buy new clothes. I have to. I can’t fit in my old clothes. They’re too big!”
*****
Wow! In “Stoke the Fire Within” I talk a lot about commitment. Mayor Jeff kept coming back to that word. He truly made a commitment to lose the weight, and he has done it. “Commitment” and “Care” are two powerful words that can knock mountains on their rears.
About the Author:
Charlie Adams is an authority on Customer Service and Peak Performance. As an award winning Television Anchor, Charlie interviewed hundreds of high achievers over two decades. He shares their insights with audiences across the country.
Charlie's "Stoke the Fire Within" program kindles the flames of excellence within organizations. His "Spirit of Customer Service" equips people with the passion and tools to build loyal customers. In 2008, Charlie will be sharing his message in such locations as Philadelphia, Chicago, Durango,CO and Fairbanks, AK.
He is the author of "Stoke the Fire Within: A Guide to Igniting your Life"
For more information on Charlie's programs please visit http://www.stokethefirewithin.com/ or email charlie@StokeTheFireWithin.com
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