Movement. Movement is the one thing that has allowed me to transform my life.
Movement is the one thing that allowed me to turn my entire life upside down and come out feeling happier for it.
Today, I want to tell you about movement.
On this blog, I tell my stories about going from workplace drudgery to entrepreneurial fulfillment, and it’s all thanks to that one thing: movement.
When I started working out in 2008, I never thought it would change my life forever, but it truly has. It’s granted me the self-confidence to try crazy new experiments, the peace and serenity to daydream and let my creativity roam, and the playfulness to test my own boundaries with self-compassion and fun.
Going back to my childhood roots of moving my body changed my perception of what’s possible for my own life. That’s why I think it’s so incredibly important to spend today’s post telling you about Galo and his mission.
But I wanted to dig a little deeper and get to know Galo himself. What is it like to be a wellness coach? What are the trials he’s faced starting his own business around his love for movement? What project is up next?
Let’s find out all that and more.
1. What is your superpower?
My superpower lies in my visual awareness and curiosity.
I think having a good eye, always helps me in seeing what needs to be done, a vision if you will.
Curiosity has me constantly “poking the box” as Seth Godin likes to call it. Although being curious leads to a lot of over-thinking and -analyzing which is never a good thing. Be curious but never over-analyze. Something I repeat to myself, over and over again, is to let my curiosity lead me to the next step, not paralyze me with indecision.
2. How does you use your superpower in your creative work?
I think having a good eye and being curious has allowed me to be a kid at heart.
By constantly moving around and trying new things, I gather lots of inspiration.
It’s not always been that way. For a while I wanted to be all about that one specific thing, so I would take in information specifically about that one thing and completely disregard everything else, without realizing that creativity comes from other sources of inspiration completely irrelevant from your work.
3. What are the top 5 things you’ve learned so far in your work?
Adding value to other people’s lives should be the foundation of anything you do. Period.
When you’re not sure what to do, do anything! I went months after leaving my job sitting on my savings trying to “Figure IT Out” instead of taking baby steps. Forget about having it figured out, focus on figuring out what’s next.
The simple act of inspiring others with your vision and ideas, ties you that much closer to it. Spreading you message brings you that much closer to seeing that vision come to life. Especially when you’re doing something you believe in, don’t be afraid to tell anyone and everyone about it. When your vision is blurred and vague, but you still find the courage to step into it and make moves, then and only then will you find the clarity you need.
Surround yourself with people that inspire you. I can’t tell you how many times I read this and never took it to heart. Do it!
[Bonus] Creativity lives in the body. It’s no coincidence that when writer’s get stuck they take a walk around the block. It’s no coincidence that Richard Branson, when asked how he stays so productive, says he works out.
4. Tell us about a time when you had to start an Adventure against the will of others.
Given all the resistance I got from people, I’d have to say it was leaving my corporate job.
I had no idea what I was doing when I left, and I still have no idea what I’m doing now.
I’m just trying to absorb as much as I can and share it with the world. At some point I got better at not caring what people think, but it’s still something that I’m struggling with.
5. What gifts did you find starting that Adventure?
As a result, I am finally expressing myself for who I am, through whatever medium I choose. I finally understood what creativity really means. That was a big part of the learning process.
6. What’s something people wouldn’t know by looking at you?
As a kid my father would always take me to watch action-packed movies. As a result of that, everywhere I go visualize the most efficient exit strategy — what fence can I jump over or what window can I climb out of?
I think that’s where my affinity towards parkour stems from.
7. What do wish you’d learned sooner (or not at all)?
The way we think the world “works” doesn’t have to be our reality.
Mindset is crucial. Who you surround yourself with and what information you take in on a day to day basis is everything!
8. What are you working on now? What makes it an Adventure?
I’m interested in the spreading of ideas and the authentic connections that make the world a better place, whether it’s brainstorming and providing feedback to fellow entrepreneurs, helping people move better and live a healthier and more fulfilling life, or even connecting those around me.
Currently I am documenting my journey at The Movement Project, where I touch upon the importance of moving your body, creating an impact, and connecting with people on a deeper level in order for ideas to spread and inspire others to change the world through movement.
I want to bring together a tribe of misfits and movers who have decided to end the sedentary lifestyle that lacks creative control.
What makes it an adventure is the execution of taking this idea I’ve had in my head for such a long time and actually making it tangible and putting it out there for others to see.
It’s been so hard to take such a vague idea that’s been brewing in my head and constantly battling perfection to make it just right.
I’m now getting to a point where I’m comfortable and actually looking forward to the evolutionary process.
First of all, a big thank you to Galo for sharing his story with all of us. The entire process of it is fascinating — each high and low is an integral part of what he’s working toward: serving others.
Why has Galo succeeded in making the jump to entrepreneurship?
He reflected on what matters to him.
Going from corporate to coach wasn’t an easy task, but Galo achieved it by honing in on his own talents and interests.
Here at TPV, we believe in living your ideal life, and Galo put himself squarely on that path.
➜ Question for you: What does your ideal life look like?
He accepted not always being prepared.
As an entrepreneur, every step Galo encounters is totally new — but that hasn’t stopped him from going after his dreams.
While we may not be 100% prepared all the time, we do our best by learning every single day and surrounding ourselves with people that inspire us and trampoline us to new heights.
➜ Question for you: Is perfection and your desire to keep “studying” holding you back?
He put aside the judgement of others.
It’s not easy to imagine trying a new experiment and facing the people around us. What if they make fun of us, judge us, or turn away from us?
It’s all very possible — if they’re the wrong people, of course.
Galo put aside the judgement of others because his calling to serve others through movement was stronger than any fear he might’ve felt deep inside.
Here at TPV, we believe that we are all entrepreneurs, and we all have a change we want to make. When we hone in on that change, there’s no holding us back.
➜ Question for you: When you’re making an impact on the world, would the judgement of others hurt you?
It’s your turn to move.
After hearing Galo’s story and breaking down what kind of roadblocks he surpassed to get where he is today, it’s time for YOU to get moving.
How do you feel about the role of movement in your life? Is there something that concerns you about how movement can change your life? What’s holding you back from trying something new, like Galo has?
Be sure to stop by Galo’s The Movement Project for more on how movement can change your life for the better.
Wishing you awesomeness from Managua!
Is This Your Last, Best Hope for A Bold Transformation?