A Life Changing Move{ment}

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At Ment, we are about more than just “talking the talk” so for the rest of this month, we are going to show you how this whole 3:59 thing can actually have an impact. Hearing people’s goals and motivation to be better are awesome, but sometimes we think to ourselves, “That’s great, but does it really work?”

We would like to introduce you to Shawn Rhodes, an ordinary guy who has done extraordinary things with the help of Dan Klein and My 3:59. Similar to Dan Klein, Shawn received a cancer diagnosis in 1999 that changed his life. Years later, Rhodes recovered and realized that life is much too short to waste time.  

After reading Klein’s book in 2017, Rhodes found that it resonated with him and inspired him to go after those things that seemed impossible to him. He decided to move toward those goals full force – literally, when he decided to enter the half-Ironman, a worldwide triathlon that takes place yearly in the U.S. From then, Rhodes chose to take on the full Ironman in Louisville in 2018 with Klein by his side and later, participated in multiple other races and sporting events. Rhodes has continued setting 3:59s for himself every year and aims to participate in the RAIN, a 160-mile bike ride across Indiana later this year. 

   

Rhodes said that this goal not only helped him to work on his physical health, but also his mental and spiritual health as it allowed him time to clear his mind and focus on those aspects of his life.

Rhodes spoke on the importance of the SMART method used in the My 3:59 movement and how it holds you accountable and allows you to put things into perspective. He also discussed the method of Klein using social media to interact with others taking part in the Together Challenge, a commitment made by a community of people participating in the movement, and loves to be a part of witnessing the support from one another.

“It’s neat to see where everyone is at with their own personal challenges,” Rhodes said.

Rhodes first met Klein in 2002 when they were both Olympic torch bearers during the relay that took place through Bowling Green. Years later, Klein and Rhodes have become close friends and even participated in their My 3:59s together.

He expressed how powerful the experience has been for him and stated that we underwent what he would call an “epiphany.”

“Here I am doing all of these things that used to be impossible to me…it has been almost as life changing as my cancer diagnosis.” 

There are so many others out there with stories like Rhodes and with the right help of My 3:59, our community has seen a large impact. It was a no brainer to partner with My 3:59 and to take part in challenging ourselves. Inspiration is truly growing in our community and beyond as we all take the first steps toward moving our own stones.

Rhodes referred to one of Klein’s quotes stating, “If you think you can or you think you can’t, your right.”

A quote that we may just have to start looking more at ourselves here at Ment. We have come such a long way from seeing the potential for Bowling Green’s first ever coworking space, to making it a reality – it was a big jump. With the help of Klein and his movement, this will be our year to go above and beyond as we attempt to do bigger and better things moving forward each day. Just as Klein’s story resonated with Rhodes, we hope that we can one day leave our mark on Bowling Green.

 

 

 

Sharing Our 3:59s

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With all of this 3:59 talk, I know what your thinking – what is YOUR 3:59??  I guess it’s about time we share with you some of our personal goals for this year. 

First off, I’m just going to be real with myself here – I am far from perfect. I have strayed off of my productive path this past year and lost site of what is important. But as they always say, “There’s always next year right?” Well I am claiming this as MY year. I have many 3:59s. More than there is time to share! However my main one is simply to start living in a state of wellness

We’ve all probably heard this general statement, but what does this mean to me? Overall, it’s doing little things that may be simple, but not always easy – things like drinking more water, eating healthier and becoming more active. I’ve been looking into some of our community partners such as Beet Box, Zest and The Spot and I have to say, I think they are going to be making my 3:59 a little easier to accomplish.

I also created a professional 3:59 for myself to have successfully branded my name and business by the end of this year. This means increasing posts and content on my social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) as well as working on my LinkedIn profile and website.I think I just might be paying a little visit to Ment’s brand manager, Hayley Kruth for a little help on that one. 

I’ve got a lot of work to do this year but it helps to know that I have encouragement from my fellow Ment members and to know that I am not alone. Here at Ment, we all taking the challenge to achieve something new this year. Here are a few of the things that our fellow staff and members are choosing to work toward: 

Our community relations intern Carli and Hayley decided to make theirs with lifestyle goals in mind: 

 Carli Hughes – Ment Community Relations Intern

“Become more active”

“Say ‘no’ more”

 

Hayley Kruth – Ment Brand and Community Manager

“Write at least two blogs a day”

“Run a 10K in May”

 

A few of our other members were in the same boat as they provided answers such as: 

“Be confident”

“Stay active”

“Finish MBA”

 

Many of our members chose to set professional goals – something that is a must if you are working in a professional environment or position. Some of these included: 

“Broaden my local and professional network”

“Execute effectively” 

“Strengthen professional network”

“Lead peers / develop team performance and capability”

 

Others chose to go with a more direct path – something else that may prove to be useful in the future. Being specific about what you want and providing exact times, dates or numbers can be that push of motivation that you need and makes your goal measurable. When you are looking at your SMART goal, you won’t have to question the extent of which you need to do this because you have already identified it. Here are some examples that we took from a few members: 

“Make 5 new clients” 

“Land one state level IT Quality contract” 

“Reach 350 participants”

“Grow my thought leadership value in marketing a business strategy (blog, teaching, etc.)”

 

Perhaps you have some rather simpler goals that can be daunting. Things like drinking more water or finally getting around to that spring cleaning that you’ve been trying to do since last year. As one member said: 

“Clean out some baskets and drawers at home ‘It’s a major task!’ ” 

That it is, and we know how you feel Jackie!

 

Maybe you want to be broad and just throw it all into one summarizing statement: 

“Do more better”

Well Tim, I think that just about covers it. Ditto! 

 

One member decided to give herself a little advice and reminder for her 3:59 this year: 

“Remember to try your best everyday. Count your blessings and remember that nothing is permanent except for tattoos.” 

We couldn’t have said it better – a daily reminder that we could all work towards remembering. 

It’s kinda cool how everyone is at a different place in their lives, isn’t it? We’re all working towards something that will get us one step closer to the next successful chapter in our books. The most important thing to remember: it’s not about how you get there or when, but that you take the first step in doing so. Start working towards your impossibles right now and know that we are here to help you along the way! 

While we may not be able to run that 10K with you, we can guarantee an open coworking space that gives you the necessities to succeed in all aspects of your daily life. What is that saying again? “Happy ment member = happy life?” Although, if you come to the office with your yoga mat or drawers full of sewing supplies to sift through, we won’t judge – we will probably just join in! 

The Newbie Pack in Review: The Spot BG

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You guys have heard us talk about our friends at The Spot before, however today we are bringing you in on our entire experience with them. Hayley & I looked up their class schedule and decided we were going to attend an upcoming yoga class. Upon viewing their website, we decided to YOLO it and purchased the student introductory offer, giving us 14 days of unlimited access for $49. 

If you’re like me, once you sign up for something it is so much easier to commit. It was even easier to be able to just walk across the street and get our classes scheduled for the following two weeks, one nearly every day. This was intimidating at first, being two formerly active, but crazy schedules allowing no room to exercise, women. But let me tell you, it was so worth it. 

We’re going to share some of our favorite classes below:

Power Vinyasa Yoga

We started the week off with Monday morning yoga at noon. This power yoga class was fast paced yet relaxing, energizing, and enabled us to break a sweat during the day to break up our usual routines. Yoga provides a nice brain break for all ages, and you can move at whatever speed you feel comfortable with. 

Boxing & HIIT 

Shew, this one will leave you feeling sore, in all the right ways. If you have any frustration to work off, this is the class for you! I love a challenge and feel so good afterwards. 

Reformer All Levels 

Hayley & I had never experienced a pilates class before and it is unlike any other workout. The reformer class is great for all ages! Jump boards are entertaining while working your legs and abs at the same time, and you can adjust the resistance as needed. Think trampoline while you’re laying down. 

TRX

I was unable to make it to this class, however Hayley received a head to toe workout using just her body as the weights. Once you figure out how to use the equipment, it truly feels amazing to use your own body to do the work – similar to yoga. Like many classes we went to, TRX will leave you feeling sore but accomplished. 

Spin

A personal favorite, because I needed a good butt kickin. As the lights go down and the music gets loud, spin allows you to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Ment member Emily frequents Spin class and says her favorite part about the class is how Charolette the instructor pushes & motivates her. Emily tracks her scores through her Apple watch and is constantly working towards new goals. 

Aerial Yoga

This class was so much fun. Grab a group of your friends and head to aerial for a relaxing full body stretch and look cool doing it. Why just hangout when you can hang upside down? 

When you get stuck, it’s okay to laugh about it. 

And Lastly… Yin Yoga

The best way to end the two weeks was with Yin yoga. This class is peaceful, slow paced and allows you to relax your brain while getting a good stretch in. We call this adult nap time, and if we could do it every day we definitely would. 

 

Recap… Now unfortunately I found the Spot a little too late and move away from Bowling Green in two weeks *cue tears* however Hayley is looking into becoming a member! If you’re considering trying out the Spot, we say go for it! From the encouraging environment to the multiple different options for breaking a sweat, we can honestly say you owe it to yourself to give it a try!

 

Why You Should Celebrate Halloween This Year

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With Halloween today, spooky season is in full effect. 

Let’s keep it short and sweet. Here is why I think you should be celebrating. 

 

It gives you a reason to be together First and foremost, Halloween is an excuse to celebrate! We work hard and deserve days to celebrate with our family and friends. Whether you are passing out candy at home, taking your kids trick or treating, or attending a Halloween party this year, be sure to enjoy yourself and the company. 

 

You get to act like a kid again – Just because you might be old doesn’t mean you don’t know how to have fun. Whether you have children or you don’t, take a note from their book – dress up, get excited and eat candy.

 

You get to put your diet on hold for the day – This might be one of my personal favorites. Don’t be afraid to indulge in all of the spooky sweets and treats this weekend. From the monsters much to the witches punch, it’s all fair game. Even if that does mean digging through your child’s bag of candy or having an extra glass of witches punch. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. After all, Halloween only comes once a year!

 

If you are reading this and your weekend plans include sitting on the couch, I encourage you to change them. Spend this weekend with your family and friends and go make some memories. Let’s enjoy this tradition and all it has to offer! We all deserve a break from the real world at some point. 

 

Bottom line is, have fun. 

Happy Halloween!

 

3 Tips to Break a Sweat

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Don’t stay bundled up this season. 

It’s time to SWEAT

As the days get shorter and the temperature drops, it is easy to get trapped in a routine involving work, eat and sleep. Holidays are near and summer is long gone, so who needs to work out anyways, right? Wrong. 

I had the chance to sit down and talk with Loralee Stephens, owner of the Spot this past week to gain some tips and tricks when it comes to this thing called exercise and getting it done.

With over 18 years of of being involved through the industry from being a group aerobics instructor, personal trainer, fitness director, and club manager, Lauralee has experienced it all. She fell in love with the pilates method and has been a full time studio owner since 2006. 

To my surprise, Loralee said that just like everyone, she does not particularly always love or want to work out. However, when her alarm goes off at 3 a.m. she is excited to get up and start her day.

With these few tips, Lauralee has managed to have some of the same clients appear in her classes for 13 years. If you are stuck in a rut and can’t seem to get out of it, it’s time to make a change. Don’t just start 2020 on a good foot, end 2019 on a good one as well. 

And here’s how…

Have an accountability partner

 

Finding an accountability partner is so important. This is for the days that you just wake up and tell yourself, well maybe I’ll do it tomorrow instead and it slowly turns into a reptivite and vicious cycle. If you and your partner commit to holding one another accountable, you would be surprised what you can accomplish. Set goals together, workout routines, even dietary needs. 

 

Make a commitment 

 

Write out your workouts in your calendar and set specific time aside to accomplish them. Sign up for a class and pay for it ahead of time. Tell yourself you can do this. If you make exercising a part of your daily schedule, it will benefit your life in so many ways, both inside and outside of the office. 

 

Find a community

 

Lastly, and potentially the biggest one. Finding a community will take your experience to a whole new level. Join a gym or class that you are excited to attend, not only for the workout but for the people you get to see when you walk in the door. Find a community that will love you where you’re at but challenge you to grow. After all, we aren’t ment to walk through life alone.

 

Click here to purchase a 14 day unlimited class pass from the Spot for only $49. It’s time to get out and sweat!

 

Community Over Competition: Breaking it Down

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Community over competition. We’ve heard it a thousand times, we preach it, but sometimes it can be hard to believe it. Fear gets in the way. We get it, we’ve been there and totally understand. 

 

Let me just say this for those in the back row who need to hear it: No matter the industry you’re in…saturated or not, you are needed. You are wanted! You have the potential to bring something to the table that no one else can simply for the reason that you are you. We were each created as unique individuals with a purpose, so find that purpose and chase the heck out of it. Quit comparing yourself to others and stay true to who you are. 

 

Okay, now that that has been said, I would just like to mention that there is nothing wrong with friendly competition. We all want to be the best, and to do so we must do our best, but in doing so that does not mean putting others down along the way. Rather than envying the person conquering goals next to you, compliment them. Learn from them and find what works for you. 

 

Find your people, the ones who will cheer you on but also let you know when you’re in the wrong. Now do the same for them! This community should inspire you for continued growth and if they aren’t…you should probably find new people. 

 

This is what coworking is all about. On the second floor of 911 College Street, we have graphic designers, engineers, leadership strategists, etc. We are cultivating a community full of a variety of small businesses who all share different strengths and weaknesses. 

 

Last week, women of all ages gathered together in our space to hear from life coach Kathryn Freeburg about what it really means to empower. Ment was a safe space full of positivity and love, something we strive for each and every day. 

 

At the end of the day, we are only human. Humans require positive interaction and a community to lean on. If you show up for your community and your clients, they will do the same for you. We are not ment to walk through this life alone. 

 

7 Things to Enjoy this fall in Bowling Green, KY

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Fall is in the air and if you’re like me, you know there’s nothing better than pumpkin spice scented candles, a good latte, fuzzy socks and flannels. As cozy as it may be to lounge around inside this season, we urge you to get out and enjoy the fresh crisp air, as well as all of the unique local activities Bowling Green has to offer. 

 

  1. Jackson’s Orchard Pumpkin Festival – Owned by a local family, Jacksons has been operating since 1969. Enjoy the orchard and all it has to offer from wagon rides to the pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, corn maze, face painting, etc. Don’t miss out on the caramel apples or cinnamon doughnuts, two of my personal favorites. 

 

  1. Attend a WKU football game – Football in the fall. Enough said. Check out the WKU schedule and see if there are any games you are able to attend in the following months. Enjoy tailgating and cheering on the tops this season! The homecoming game against Charlotte is October 19th. Make sure you mark your calendars for that one, you won’t want to miss it!

 

  1. Enjoy the local Bowling Green Bourbon & Brewfest – On October 26th, the Bowling Green ballpark will host its 5th year annual event with local distilleries and breweries, live music, food trucks and much more. They even offer designated drivers, how cool is that? Grab your friends and purchase a ticket here.

 

  1. Grab your girls and head to Gypsymoon Marketplace – This upscale pop up shop takes places at Highland Stables November 7th-9th. Vendors from all over offer a variety of vintage and handmade items. This event is one of my personal favorites and a great time to get ahead of Christmas shopping!

 

  1. Ready to jump into spooky season? Take a visit to Skeletons Lair, an outdoor haunted scream park located on Cemetery Road. Between the haunted woods, hayride, and house, you will most definitely be entertained. I’m not sure who invented paying money to be scared out of their mind, but honestly i’m here for it. 

 

Unable to make it to any of these events? Just go outside and enjoy a nice walk while the weather is nice. Take time to hang out with your friends and family and do something nice for yourself. You deserve it! Happy Fall! 

 

The Convenience of Coworking

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Work when you want & can

 

Coworking spaces are on the rise all around the world. If you are following Ment, I’m sure you are familiar with who we are and what we offer by now. However, have you really thought of the benefits you could gain by giving coworking a try? 

 

You have heard it before, one of the biggest pros to coworking is convience. Before you look scroll past and ignore the rest of this post, I want you to break down your life and ask yourself how convenient it is. Are you commuting an hour to your office every day? Trying to work 9-5 at your home office while starting a family? Driving 15 minutes to spend $5 on a fancy latte just to share on your instagram story? Neglecting cooking dinner every night due to your chaotic, all over the place work schedule? Lets face it, we all have things that come up last minute and cause inconvenience, but often times we place ourselves right there in the very situation. 

 

Coworking instills a convenient, professional workplace that you can go to, right in the heart of your town. For an affordable price, you are able to know and trust the environment you work in and get things done, so you have time for fun later in the evening without feeling guilty. 

 

The friendly environment that coworking offers provides individuals with a community rather than competition, whether it be working together to complete tasks, or even blow off some steam over a cup of coffee. Coworking allows you to network and build connections with like minded individuals who will inspire you to do your best. 

 

Do you travel for work? Many coworking companies offer sister spaces, in which you can go and work for free. There’s nothing worse than working out of your hotel room or airport between flights. Here at Ment, we partner with IHub and Center 615, based out of Louisville and Nashville to provide free day passes to our traveling members. 

 

Overall, coworking reduces uncertainty and allows you to leave your work where it belongs – at work. What is your next step to add convenience in your life? 

 

Ment To Thrive

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An Empowerment workshop & inside look on Kathryn Freeburg’s journey as a life coach

Everyone has a unique story and I truly believe that everyone’s story is worth sharing. So here is mine…. I grew up in Bowling Green, KY, but I was adopted from Guatemala as a baby. I went to Bowling Green High School and Western Kentucky University. It took me almost 10 years to graduate from college and little did I realize that I was showing myself what I would be helping others believe today: you get to decide the timeline of your life and what you do with it.  I am married to my wonderful and strong husband, Tim, and we have two golden retrievers: Chip and Joanna (yes, like Fixer Upper) and two labs Boom and Blitz (named after the Seattle Seahawks mascots). Our house is full of love and dog hair and we wouldn’t want it any other way, except for a stronger vacuum. I met my husband Tim on a plane as I was on my way to Canada to meet my biological brothers, who I found over Facebook, for the first time… but that’s a story for another day. 

 

Up until the last couple of years, I allowed the opinions of others and society’s “rules” decide my life for a while. I let people influence how I dressed, what I ate, watched or said – I even let them influence what I thought about myself. While I have been very fortunate to have lived an overall  happy life, it hasn’t happened without its fair share of heartache, ugly cries, low bank accounts, anxiety and challenges. But I wanted more than just a happy life- I wanted to live an abundantly joyful life. It wasn’t until my entrepreneurial husband encouraged me to go to a personal growth workshop by Tony Robbins that I realized that I wasn’t serving my purpose and more importantly, myself. After many conversations, budgeting, panic attacks, dreaming and pints of Cookies N Cream ice cream we decided as a family that I would quit my full time job with benefits and I would pursue my dream of being a life coach. Talk about sweaty palms when I turned in my resignation! I remember the day that I walked out of my job for the last time as an employee that I only felt peace and excitement for what I was about to do. I guess you could say that I “Marie Kondo’d” my job and thanked it for helping me pay my bills and meet some incredible individuals who were vessels for some amazing moments, but most importantly I was thankful to my job for showing me that I didn’t have to work a traditional job for my life to have meaning and that I didn’t want to. I want to live a life how I decide and with whom I decide. 

 

Fast forward through trainings, self growth, quiet hustling like a ninja, some anxiety and lots of dance parties in my car with my husband when successes came and here I am. A life coach who is serving others and building a community that is based on love, kindness, compassion and inclusion. I have the privilege to work with individuals of all ages and small groups to help them feel loved and step into who they were born to be: whoever they want to be. 

 

You are here to thrive as you decide. You are not here to be complacent and do the motions of what your friends, mom, boss, teacher, significant other or society as a whole tells you to do. You are here to thrive as individuals to bring your talents and gifts to the community table to help others. As you gain knowledge, confidence and unbury your dreams you step into the state of thriving. You step into the state of gratitude, humility, self confidence, and see yourself for who you are and love it every step of the way. You step into you and who you were born to be. 

 

As your life coach, I stand as your unconditional advocate. I meet you where you are right now and show up to help you grow into the person or place you envision, together. From here on out, you are never alone. I will always be in your corner, even and especially if there are times when it feels like no one else is. You are already worthy of anything and everything you dream of. All you have to do is take one step forward – I’ve got you. I see you

 

You are loved and needed in this world. You have a story to share and a life worth living. I am ready to stand with you, but you have to decide when. It is either one day or day one – which one will you choose? 

 

3 Tips to Start September off Right

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As labor day weekend draws to an end, we all hopefully will head back to work this week with cleared minds and hopefully some rest. September has somehow snuck up on us, and can I just say how rude of summer to come and go so quickly. As business men and women, it is essential that we take each and every day to our full advantage. Today, I’m going to offer three tips to start the month off on the right foot and make it the most productive one yet. 

A new month brings the chance to start new, set goals, accomplish more and overall better yourself. Focus on where you’re at today, where you would like to be in the future and the steps you are going to take to get there. 

Get a good night’s sleep: I’m sure you have heard this one before, but how often have you actually tried to enable it in your routine? Leave your work at work, come home and be present with the ones you love and when it is time to unplug, I challenge you to really and truly unplug this month. Leave your cell phone charging across the room, lay your clothes out for the next morning and get to bed at a decent time. Wake up a bit earlier this month than you’re used to, even if it’s just 15 minutes. Use this time to manage morning tasks, answer emails and eat a nutritious breakfast. 

Set Goals: If you don’t have goals, WYD? This month set goals for yourself or your business. Whether it be one big one or three small ones, the ball is in your court. Put these goals somewhere you will look at them multiple times a day and each time you’re working on something, ask yourself if what you’re doing aligns with a specific goal. If it doesn’t, it probably is taking away from something more beneficial you could be doing. And that leads us to…

Avoid Multitasking: My personal worst. This month, rather than micromanaging one hundred little projects, try focusing on one project or task at a time. Decide how you want to manage your ideas and follow a list or timeline to check things off. Believe it or not, this will actually decrease stress and increase productivity. 

Find an accountability partner to help you establish these goals and stick to them. I hope these few tips help you start September off on the best foot possible!