The personal best strategy has been a game-changer for me in both professional and personal settings, from helping clients reduce anxiety in a teaching clinic to improving sales performance in a global retailer. The process is simple but powerful: set a specific, achievable goal, take actionable steps towards it, celebrate your success, and set a new goal to keep progressing. Athletes often use this approach to improve performance, and it can work just as well for anyone looking to make meaningful changes in their life. Whether you're aiming to improve well-being, advance in your career, or deepen relationships, this strategy offers a clear, motivating framework to guide your progress.

Before transitioning to business and philanthropy, I was a professor and Director of Behavioral Medicine at The California School of Professional Psychology, focusing on heart-healthy lifestyles. My work included promoting exercise to combat health issues like type 2 diabetes in communities. Regular moderate exercise offers various psychological benefits, such as reduced anxiety, improved self-esteem, and increased energy. However, maintaining consistency can be challenging. Bandura’s self-efficacy theory emphasizes the importance of setting achievable goals, tracking progress, and adjusting strategies. Whether walking or running, setting realistic, stretch goals and staying accountable is key to sustaining an exercise routine and improving health.

Walking is proven to have significant health benefits, supported by extensive research. Regular moderate exercise, such as walking, reduces the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. It also helps improve cognitive function, prevent weight gain, and reduce the risk of osteoporosis, falls, and fractures. Additionally, exercise can improve sleep, reduce stress, and combat depression. The US Physical Activity Guidelines recommend 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, along with muscle-strengthening exercises twice a week. Walking, a simple and accessible exercise, can be a great way to achieve these health goals.