When it comes to your health, what's the number-one skill of most successful people?

Are they smarter than everyone else? Do they know tricks and shortcuts?

Have they mastered some "secret" at a level no one else has?

Certainly, all of those things are critically important.

Yet, you can name several examples of people who don't fit the bill there, but have still achieved incredible success in their health and wellness.

That's because the primary life skill has nothing to do with those things.

The common characteristic of successful people is that they do consistent work.

Day after day, they do the work when no one is watching. That's it right there.

Think of every successful person you know. The ones who enjoy success in body, mind, and spirit.

The folks who are generally winning at life.

They all do it incredibly well. And not by accident.

Doing consistent work is something you have to practice.

But first you have to be taught and, unfortunately, you don't often learn this lesson in school.

So you wake up one day in your 40s or 50s, unfit and overweight, totally oblivious to what's really been holding you back this entire time.

You probably know friends or colleagues who are successful in one area, but fail miserably at their health.

In my personal experience, it's oftentimes someone who is in a leadership role.

Does this sound like you?

You're a great leader, through your words, but you're not really leading by your habits.

Your body is overweight and out-of-shape as a result of too many cheat meals, a "crazy" travel schedule, inconsistent workouts, and other excuses.

It's not that you're not talented enough. In the talent department, you're completely overqualified.

But your lack of discipline with following the most fundamental habits of health (think quality sleep, mindful nutrition, and accountability to a smart training plan) is slowly killing you.

Killing you literally and figuratively, in that you're at high risk for heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.

Maybe depressed with no real inner joy.

Sure you've got external "abundance" in the sense of a big house, fancy cars, and expensive vacations... yet perhaps not too healthy on the inside.

How to Do the Work

First off, let's address the elephant in the room: taking action and doing the work isn't always easy, especially when it comes to your health.

But guess what? You have what it takes to make it happen.

Here are 10 powerful strategies to help you get started and stay on track.

1. Embrace the power of choice

Recognize that your health is ultimately in your hands. You have the power to choose the path you want to take.

Maybe you want to lower your cholesterol or boost energy.

It's time to prioritize your wellbeing and commit to making positive choices that align with your goals.

2. Set clear and realistic goals

Define what getting healthy means to you. Set clear, realistic, and measurable goals that provide direction and motivation.

Whether it's losing weight, improving fitness, or enhancing your overall wellbeing, make sure your goals are specific and achievable.

3. Start small, build momentum

Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will your health transformation. Begin with small, manageable steps that you can incorporate into your daily routine.

It could be as simple as swapping diet soda for water, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or adding a 10-minute walk to your day. Or even just showing up to a coaching session.

Small wins build momentum and pave the way for bigger changes.

4. Educate yourself

Knowledge is power. Take the time to educate yourself about nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle choices that support optimal health.

Read books, listen to podcasts, follow reputable health experts, and stay updated with the latest research.

Armed with knowledge, you'll make informed decisions and take actions that align with your goals.

5. Build a supportive environment

Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who share your commitment to health. Join communities, attend training sessions, or find an accountability coach.

Having a support system can provide encouragement, inspiration, and guidance along your journey.

6. Take ownership of your choices

Own your decisions and the consequences that come with them. Recognize that every choice you make either brings you closer to your goals or takes you further away.

Embrace personal responsibility and hold yourself accountable for the actions you take or don't take.

7. Focus on consistency, not perfection

Consistency beats perfection every time. Rather than striving for an all-or-nothing approach, aim for progress.

Small, consistent steps taken over time yield significant results. Don't beat yourself up over occasional slip-ups; instead, learn from them and keep moving forward.

8. Prioritize sleep and stress management

Your health journey extends beyond just diet and exercise. Adequate sleep and effective stress management are crucial components.

Make quality sleep a priority by establishing a relaxing bedtime routine and creating a sleep-friendly environment.

Explore stress-reducing activities like meditation, deep breathing exercises, or engaging in hobbies you enjoy.

9. Celebrate milestones and non-scale victories

Recognize and celebrate every milestone you achieve, no matter how small. Losing weight is not just about the numbers on the scale; focus on the non-scale victories as well.

Did you have more energy today? Did you make healthier food choices? Did you complete a challenging workout?

Celebrate these wins, as they signify progress toward your overall health goals.

10. Embody the mindset of long-term health

Remember, health is a lifelong journey. Embrace a mindset that prioritizes sustainable changes over quick fixes.

Make choices that promote your long-term wellbeing rather than short-term gratification.

This perspective will empower you to stay committed, adapt to challenges, and enjoy the rewards of a healthy lifestyle.

My private coaching clients work smarter and, as a result, are winning at life.

They stay accountable to the proven plan, either virtually, from anywhere you have an internet connection, or in-person at our world-class facility.

Every time I check-in with them they're better than they were last time. And if there's less-than-optimal improvement, we course-correct and make the necessary adjustments.

I focus on the stuff that everyone else ignores, like the simple things that help you make small incremental forward progress.

And when you finally achieve excellence, we focus on maintenance of greatness and optimal health.

Truth is, within seconds of meeting you, people have determined (in their minds) your levels of intelligence, friendliness, trustworthiness, and competence.

Whether you like it or not, some folks are judgemental.

They look at an oversized belly and think, "That person is undisciplined. All talk and no action."

But it doesn't always have to be this way.

• Do you know how to control the critical daily habits that result in stronger muscles and a smaller waistline (with less dangerous visceral fat)?
• Do you practice these habits and do consistent work?
• Do you have someone holding you accountable?

You need to do these fundamental things if you want to live the life you desire and deserve.

“The moment you believe that what you’ve been talking about is actually going to happen, that’s the moment you gain the ability to make it happen more often.”

I love this quote as it reminds me of the importance of self-belief in living a successful life.

If an athlete goes into a contest with the belief that she has done the work and has the talent to win, the chances of success are much higher.

If you are trying to lose weight and you decide that no slip up will derail your vision, you will succeed.

If a speaker stands in front of an audience with the knowledge that he has a compelling story to tell that can make a difference in the lives of others, he's much more likely to get his message across.

Whatever is it that you’re trying to achieve, the moment you believe, your chances of success increase dramatically.

So believe in yourself, look life in the eye, walk tall. It could make all the difference.

Remember that most people live their life in reaction.

They don't plan out their goals and often give up on the things they want when life gets busy.

Don't be like most people. Instead, plan ahead.

Set up weekly, monthly, and quarterly goals, and work smarter not harder.

Taking action and doing the work when it comes to getting healthy starts with a decision, followed by consistent effort, education, and support.

Believe in yourself, commit to the process, and celebrate every step along the way.

You've got this. Now go out there and make it happen.

If you feel like you're working hard, yet not seeing results, I've got you.

Some of the best life advice I ever received was to hire an expert before I thought I was ready to or could afford to.

This allowed me to take something off my plate that someone else could do and focus on what only I could do.

In turn, this helped me avoid burnout and made my life better.

Today is the day to get leaner, stronger, and happier.

I'm here for you.

To your success,

Coach Joe

Joseph Arangio helps 40+ men and women get leaner, stronger, and happier. He's delivered over 100,000 transformation programs to satisfied clients around the globe. If you want to lose weight from home, with the best online personal trainer, or you want to visit the best personal trainer in the Lehigh Valley, you can take a free 14-day trial.