Our success in the gym is a lot like the success we strive for in our relationships, business, and life in general. It involves discipline, hard work, sacrifice, and commitment.
Physical fitness takes time to achieve, requires emotional strength, and the will to push through even when all odds are against you.
We scoured the Internet for quotes from top athletes that motivate us, both in and out of the gym. Here’s a roundup of our favorites:
"Most people focus on the wrong thing: They focus on the result, not the process. The process is the sacrifice; it's all the hard parts--the sweat, the pain, the tears, the losses. You make the sacrifices anyway. You learn to enjoy them, or at least embrace them. In the end, it is the sacrifices that must fulfill you."
— Ronda Rousey, Mixed martial artist and judoka
“There may be people that have more talent than you, but there's no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.”
— Derek Jeter, Former professional baseball shortstop
“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”
— Michael Jordan, Retired professional basketball player
“In the end, it’s extra effort that separates a winner from second place. It takes desire, determination, discipline, and self-sacrifice. Put all these together, and even if you don’t win, how can you lose?
— Jesse Owens, Track and field athlete and four-time Olympic gold medalist
"Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even."
— Muhammad Ali, Boxer and gold medalist
"Believe me, the reward is not so great without the struggle."
— Wilma Rudolph, Olympic track and field sprinter
“Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can’t.”
— Jerry Rice, Football wide receiver
“Nothing can substitute for just plain hard work. I had to put in the time to get back. And it was a grind. It meant training and sweating every day. But I was completely committed to working out to prove to myself that I still could do it.”
— Andre Agassi, Gold medalist in tennis
“Champions keep playing until they get it right.”
— Billie Jean King, Former world number 1 national tennis player
“I never left the field saying I could have done more to get ready and that gives me piece of mind.”
— Peyton Manning, Former football quarterback
“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”
— Lance Armstrong, Professional road racing cyclist
“I really think a champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall.”
— Serena Williams, Professional tennis player
For the first time ever, J.D. Power released a list of the Top 50 United States Travel Destinations for business or leisure. This study was focused on understanding the many variables that contribute to satisfying trips.
Out of a possible 1,000 index points, the cities with the highest overall satisfaction scores for traveling were:
Las Vegas, Nevada (827) ranked particularly well in travel/arrival, lodging, infrastructure, and cost and fees.
Austin, Texas (818) performed particularly well in the infrastructure and activities factors.
Orlando, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Miami, Florida (tied with 814) Orlando and Miami performed particularly well in the infrastructure and entertainment categories. While New Orleans ranked high in food, lodging, and entertainment.
New York, New York (805) scored high in travel/arrival, lodging, food and beverage, and activities.
Columbus, Ohio (799) ranked high in the infrastructure, food and beverage, and cost and fees.
These cities represent a mix of tourist destinations, state capitals, and college towns known for music and football.
Travelers also rated their top destinations based on category.
Top Food and Beverage Cities
New Orleans
Oahu, Hawaii
New York
San Antonio
Las Vegas.
Cities with the Best Hotels
Las Vegas
New Orleans
Orlando
Miami
Fort Worth
Cities with the Best Entertainment
Orlando
Las Vegas
Anaheim
Oahu
New Orleans
The study also sought to understand the emotional bond that forms between travelers and the cities they visit. Respondents stated that they would be “greatly disappointed” if they could not return to Anaheim, Denver, and San Diego. When considering emotional attachment to destinations, travelers focused on things to do, dining options, and places to stay. Las Vegas and New Orleans ranked high in all three of these areas. Business travelers were more satisfied than vacationers (806 versus 795). They had better scores for cost and fees, frequently having trips paid for by employers. Finally, 95% of visitors feel safe traveling in the United States.
Not surprising, the data shows that a great travel experience is associated with a higher spending level. The average spending during travel days was $301 per day. Those who rated their travel experience most positively (an overall satisfaction rating of 10 out of 10) spent 24% more than those who had average experiences. On the other hand, those who rated their experiences as negative (an overall satisfaction rating of 5 or lower) spent 37% less than those who had positive experiences.
J.D. Power is known for gathering opinions on electronics, automotive, health care and other segments of society that consumers want to rate. Quantifying satisfaction for each destination depended on the relative importance of various factors, including: the overall performance of each destination, the strengths and weaknesses of the regions, and comparisons of the visitor experience.
The study measured customer experience based on six factors (1) activities, (2) cost and fees, (3) food and beverage, (4) infrastructure, (5) lodging, (6) and travel/arrival. Responses were gathered from more than 26,000 travelers between February and July 2016 who visited a U.S. metropolitan city between December 2015 and July 2016.
Are you dreaming of your next vacation but need inspiration? We’ve searched Instagram for the top travel accounts and here is a roundup of some of our favorites.
You can be sure to experience wanderlust, feel inspired, and become enlightened!
Hover over picture for photographer credit. All photos were taken by the following Instagram accounts...
Katie McKnoulty is the writer behind The Travelling Light which features a collection of images and videos from some of the top travel destinations across the world. Be sure to take advantage of the free travel guides on their blog, which provide insight into the top secret and special spots from various cities. @thetravellinglight
The Budget Traveller is a beautifully curated Instagram account by Kash Bhattacharya that captures ways to travel for less – think hostels, hiking, museums, and volunteering. The Budget Traveller shows us that you don’t have to sacrifice luxury or style in order to save. @budgettraveller
Yogascapes creates wellness adventures and yoga retreats across the world. On their Instagram you can find beautiful landscapes, different cultures, cuisine, and activities. @yogascapes
Clint Johnson, the master behind Triphackr, has visited over 100 countries and seeks to deliver his followers resources that make travel planning easy and inexpensive. Through his Instagram and blog, he will tell you the best places to hike, lounge on the beach, and even take photos from. @triphackr
Nicola Easterby has created a source of travel inspiration and information for adventurous souls via her blog and Instagram. The Polkadot Passport shares unique, bucket-list experiences, destination guides, travel photography tips and endless adventures. Nicola’s goal is to inspire everyone to explore the world we live in. @polkadotpassport
Dave and Deb are a couple who have taken adventure to the next level. They have spent the past eight years pursuing their passion for travelling. Their works has paid off too! The Planet D was recognized as the Travel Blog of the Year by the Society of American Travel Writers. @theplanetd
Matthew Karsten is a full-time adventure travel blogger and photographer who quit his job to explore the world. His Instagram account is filled with stunning photographs and inspiration to take risks. Matt encourages his followers to seek experiences rather than material goods. @expertvagabond
AFAR is a travel media brand that encourages travelers to immerse themselves in different cultures and connect with people on a deeper level. Their website features travel guides by region and offers hotel suggestions, suggestions based on interests, and stories from other travelers journeys. Their Instagram shares a mix of food, landscapes, and must-see places across the world. @afarmedia
Johnny Jet is a Los Angeles based travel junkie who visits nearly 20 countries per year. He offers a mix of advice and inspiration via his Instagram and blog. You can count on Johnny to provide information surrounding travel deals, tips, news, and reviews. @johnnyjet
Vitaliy and Vadim are a one-of-a-kind duo that scales the world’s tallest buildings, bridges, and industrial structures with no safety equipment. Their Instagram handle presents stunning photographs from various cities, in different angles and unique viewpoints. Their hope is to inspire people to rise to the top and push the limits to pursue their goals. @ontheroofs
And for those interested in following along as we build the first airport gym at BWI be sure to check-out ROAM's instagram account @roam_fitness.
