Why Boxing Makes You a Better Leader

Almost everyone in a position with any amount of responsibility lives what I call an "integrated life"; we have laptops, tablets and smartphones so that we can be plugged in 24/7.  Sometimes it can be very difficult to unplug and have time for your thoughts to decompress, but there are rare occasions where activities require our full attention.  For a few months, I boxed at a boxing gym (not currently) and one of the things I realized as a side benefit is that when you are boxing, the only thing you think about is boxing.  Trying not to fall, miss, forget to breathe or get embarrassed by some teenage kid with great coordination is all consuming.  What does this have to do with leadership?  It allows for creativity to build!  I would often find that after leaving the boxing gym my creativity would accelerate and I would have productive business ideas for the next day.  I would go home and make notes in my Moleskine; yes, I still prefer a notebook over all of my gadgets.  Now, I'm not saying that everyone should box but I am saying that everyone should take time to decompress and allow for creativity to reactivate.  Find one hour this week and do something to unplug, decompress and allow your creativity to flow.