Are fit people more successful?
Discussion
I know a good handful of people who are doing very well at work (CEO/Director level) who also spend a lot of time running marathons, doing triathlons or at least keeping VERY fit.
Is there a corellation? Is it that if you throw yourself into sport, make yourself well known through though physical challenges, etc it contributes to you doing well at work? Are you recognised as someone "fit" to lead because of this?
Or is it the focus and discipline required to reach the higher levels of the management tree is easily transferred into a training regime that can also be fitted around work and family life?
My theory is somewhat scuppered in the fact that I also know several horribly unfit senior managers who clearly have made it to the top via expense acccount dinners and corporate hospitality. (I've watched a close friend go from 12 stone to 19 stone, to a heart bypass by age 45, in about 12 years, but does very,very well as an Account director).
But I think in today's corporate world, being physically fit, and sticking to a disciplined fitness regime is seen, not perhaps explicitly acknowledged, as part of the leadership toolkit, and often is aligned with company values.
Any thoughts?
Is there a corellation? Is it that if you throw yourself into sport, make yourself well known through though physical challenges, etc it contributes to you doing well at work? Are you recognised as someone "fit" to lead because of this?
Or is it the focus and discipline required to reach the higher levels of the management tree is easily transferred into a training regime that can also be fitted around work and family life?
My theory is somewhat scuppered in the fact that I also know several horribly unfit senior managers who clearly have made it to the top via expense acccount dinners and corporate hospitality. (I've watched a close friend go from 12 stone to 19 stone, to a heart bypass by age 45, in about 12 years, but does very,very well as an Account director).
But I think in today's corporate world, being physically fit, and sticking to a disciplined fitness regime is seen, not perhaps explicitly acknowledged, as part of the leadership toolkit, and often is aligned with company values.
Any thoughts?
RemainAllHoof said:
Would have thought it's the general personality that would come across whether working or having fun that leads them to be a success.
It's like the A-grader at school who was also captain of the rugby team and head prefect who then went to Cambridge to get a 1st.
Yes - I agree it's not as simple as just doing one thing. I'm sure there are many sub-categories of behaviour patterns of individuals that make them successful. It's like the A-grader at school who was also captain of the rugby team and head prefect who then went to Cambridge to get a 1st.
Just in the way that there are successful fat cats as well as racing whippets.
I think you have no evidence to backup your hypothesis. For every fit successful person people name via anecdotal evidence, someone else will point out an unfit one.
There are links between success (or more Status, which a lot of people would view as the same thing) and life expectancy:
If you want a long life, win a Nobel prize.
This paper (pdf) by Andrew Oswald and Matthew Rablen estimates that Americans who won Nobel prizes for physics or chemistry between 1901 and 1950 lived 2.08 years longer than scientists of equal age who were nominated for Nobels but never won them.
This is not because Nobel prize-winners were richer than nominees and richer people live longer; the longevity premium, they estimate, is uncorrelated with the real money value of the prize.
Instead, this confirms that high status prolongs life; here's other evidence, from Oscar winners.
This matters enormously.
The difference in status between a Nobel prize winner and a nominee is small; both are enormously successful and respected people. So, if small differences in status at high levels lead to big differences in longevity, isn't it possible that the bigger status differences across society might explain some of the large differences (pdf) in life expectancy?
http://stumblingandmumbling.typepad.com/stumbling_...
There are links between success (or more Status, which a lot of people would view as the same thing) and life expectancy:
If you want a long life, win a Nobel prize.
This paper (pdf) by Andrew Oswald and Matthew Rablen estimates that Americans who won Nobel prizes for physics or chemistry between 1901 and 1950 lived 2.08 years longer than scientists of equal age who were nominated for Nobels but never won them.
This is not because Nobel prize-winners were richer than nominees and richer people live longer; the longevity premium, they estimate, is uncorrelated with the real money value of the prize.
Instead, this confirms that high status prolongs life; here's other evidence, from Oscar winners.
This matters enormously.
The difference in status between a Nobel prize winner and a nominee is small; both are enormously successful and respected people. So, if small differences in status at high levels lead to big differences in longevity, isn't it possible that the bigger status differences across society might explain some of the large differences (pdf) in life expectancy?
http://stumblingandmumbling.typepad.com/stumbling_...
Edited by Fittster on Tuesday 5th July 11:12
prand said:
Yes - I agree it's not as simple as just doing one thing. I'm sure there are many sub-categories of behaviour patterns of individuals that make them successful.
Just in the way that there are successful fat cats as well as racing whippets.
I would expect the less physically fit but equally successful people would be heavily involved in some other time-consuming non-work-related activities. Just google "CEO" and any big company to be taken to a wiki entry. They don't tend to list watching "Corrie" and "X Factor" as things they do. Just in the way that there are successful fat cats as well as racing whippets.
Speaking from personal experience, I know that when I'm in the gym every day and feeling good about myself physically, that transfers into my normal life and working life. If I feel fit physically, I feel fit mentally, which usually means I'm more effective in work and would probably lead to a more successful career.
Unfortunately, I like beer and burgers.
Unfortunately, I like beer and burgers.
If someone strives for a good level of physical fitness which requires stamina and mental strength, these attributes would probably be transferred into other aspects of their life, thus making them successful.
This is of course a generalisation and as already said there won't be a hard and fast rule on it.
In my line of work physical fitness is paramount, but doesn't always mean that the fittest man is the most successful in his career.
This is of course a generalisation and as already said there won't be a hard and fast rule on it.
In my line of work physical fitness is paramount, but doesn't always mean that the fittest man is the most successful in his career.
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