Joseph (Chip) Doering, President
Doering Leasing Co.
Milwaukee, Wi
www.doeringleasing.com
What does your daily or weekly fitness regime consist of?
"Workout 6-7 days week, 4-5 days running, total 30-40 miles week, 2 mile swim Thursdays, 45 minute spin classes at 5:45 am mondays and/or Fridays, in summer add 1-2 road bike rides week. Ran 3 marathons in 2006."
Other than the obvious health benefits, how has being fit improved your life?
"Generally help me feel good about myself, helps me eat right and drink less alcohol after all the work I put in. Realized how much pain a person can really go through, what does not kill you makes you stronger. Actually every day I work harder, have more confidence in the things I do, and generally feel i’m getting a lot out of life."
How does personal fitness affect your work life?
"I probably set business goals too low early in my career. I have set some pretty high fitness goals and as I get closer to reaching them, I realize anything is possible not just for fitness but in life. I have re-evaluated our corporate goals, set the bar very high, and expect to meet those goals within the next 10 years. I have also learned that when you try hard and succeed at something and become satisfied, one gets complacent and does not realize that they can go a lot further if they keep trying. When running a marathon for example, it’s amazing how bad you can hurt, feeling the impossibility of it, on the first one and think you’ll never be good at it, but 7 months later , with training, you look back and realize how much improvement has been made when you think none is possible."
Do you have a corporate health or wellness initiative?
"Yes."
How does fitness or wellness affect your overall organization?
"Trying to lead by example to reduce lost work time, lower health insurance costs, etc.. although the results are discouraging so far."
What advice do you have for other executives interested in starting either a personal fitness plan or corporate wellness initiative?
"If you are not maintaining some sort of good fitness level, you are really missing out on a lot of life. Business executives tend to be type A personalities enjoying challenges and succeeding. Fitness is challenging and offers all the health benefits at the same time."
