Is it normal for your hair stylist to give you homework when you walk out of the salon? My stylist Matt does.

Matt and I leave no subject uncovered during my hair appointments, so let’s just say we know each other pretty well.

A few months ago when I was having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, Matt was finishing my hair he said something that has stuck with me. He turned my chair around, looked directly into my eyes and said, “You need to start thinking as if…as if you are successful because if you start acting as if, you will be.” That was my homework assignment, to act as if.

Last week when Rachel Cosgrove launched her new book The Female Body Breakthrough, she sent along her first coaching video where she talked about her first lesson: To act as if you are fit. She firmly believes that if you change your thinking your actions will follow.

I think Matt and Rachel are on to something. If you want to be a success in business, at school, at a body transformation, or whatever goal you set for yourself you must change your mind.

How do fit and successful people act, how do they dress, how do they walk, how’s their posture, how do they talk, what do they read, what do they eat? Watch them. Learn from them. Act like them. Repeat.

Now, I better run I need to get my hair done and look presentable in case the Sports Illustrated Swim Suit photographers stop by for a photo shoot…as if!

I learn something new from Rachel Cosgrove every time I read one of her articles. Rachel is a sought after personal trainer, a gym owner, and an amazing athlete.

I have been reading everything Rachel for a few years now. Maybe you’ve read her articles, too, she’s been published in all the right places including Women’s Health, Men’s Fitness, Shape, Muscle and Fitness Hers. She’s also been featured online at Bodybuilding.com and Figureathlete.com. It might be an understatement to say she impresses me.

I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be coached by Rachel. When I learned she was writing a new book, The Female Body Breakthrough, I thought here’s my chance to get inside her head and learn even more from her.

I also sent her an email and asked if she could tell me more about her book. She said:

You can expect to read real life stories of both myself and my clients along with solid research and advice that comes from years of studying what works for women to change their bodies. This book is more of a journey and as you progress in to the book so should your journey to becoming a fit female. The book is full of every visual tool I have ever used with a client, quotes to inspire you and stories and pictures. Chapter 1 lays out The Fit Female Credo which is a summary of what is to come in the book. The Fit Female Credo is the rules to live by to become a Fit Female.

The Fit Female Credo
1. Act as if you are a fit female.
2. Get out of your comfort zone.
3. Fuel your body to be fabulous!
4. Train hard or go home.
5. Get hooked on feeling fit, not a number on the scale.
6. Be an early riser.
7. Make rest and relaxation a priority.
8. Obstacles will arise – anticipate them!
9. Keep a journal or a blog.
10. Eliminate the negative people and surround yourself with positive people.
11. Think about your thoughts.
12. Attitude is everything.
13. Manage your stress.
14. Put an end to body bashing and instead celebrate your strengths.
15. Don’t rely on will power. Have strategies.
16. Stop rationalizing and making excuses.

And then she told me that if you order the book through Amazon.com on November 12th she’ll toss in some free gifts.  So, I’m going to order my copy of The Female Body Breakthrough today so I can get a bunch of free stuff including: a poster with The Fit Female Credo, 3 months of video coaching with Rachel, and 5 fitness, nutrition and mindset related E-books.

Here’s the link if you’d like to get in on this special offer, too: www.thefemalebodybreakthrough.com

Now, I better wrap this up so I have time to wrap up some birthday gifts for my brother and my sister-in-law…Happy Birthday, guys!