On New Year’s Day every employee of Lawrence & Schiller received an email from one of our co-workers challenging us to participate in a company-wide weight-loss and fitness contest. That initiative sparked a 12-week adventure for the 24 Extra Milers who accepted the challenge and a great new spectator sport for the rest of the company.
I was asked to be “The Judge” of the contest. My job was to conduct weekly weigh-ins and write reports for the company blog. Those stories evolved into a unique combination of fact and exaggeration. At the request of several folks here I’m going to post them on “L&S Unscripted” over the next 12 weeks.
Here is how the L&S Biggest Loser contest worked:
- Every contestant paid a $25 entry fee which was awarded to the top 3 weight losers at the end of the contest. Weight loss was based on percentage lost rather than pounds lost.
- Every week contestants paid $2 to weigh in. Half of the weekly fee was awarded to the top weight loser for that week. The other half was given to the contestant who logged the most steps on their pedometer.
From my vantage point, looking past people’s feet to see the scale window while they weighed in, I learned a lot about my co-workers socks and have become an expert at guessing people’s weight. Watch for me in the Fool the Guesser booth at the next county fair.
A special shout out to L&S Media Strategist Korena Keys. Her challenge initiated an event where 175 total pounds were lost and lives were literally changed. Here is her New Year’s Day email.
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To: L&S All Staff
Subject: Review. Regret. Resolve. It’s 2009.
Date: 01.01.2009
New Year’s Resolutions…
This is why I hate New Years Day. Everyone expects you to have all these grand resolutions on top of the guilt of over-indulgence during the holidays. Save money; be nice to people; lose weight; spend time with family; exercise; you know the drill. On top of this, you are smacked with TV ads showing you how you can get abs of steel simply by using their special bungee cord, you lose fat in your sleep by swallowing a pill, or join this gym because it will make you feel good just knowing you belong. Blah, blah, blah.
I know I will be pressured in making resolutions and, come February, I will not even remember what they were. So, my first, and only, 2009 resolution will not be to lose weight. No, I am not falling in that trap again. My resolution will be to get healthy (with the hope this will result in a smaller pant size).
Maybe you are better than me and can follow through on your resolutions. For me to be successful, I need accountability. Someone I know will track my goals and question me when they start to slide. Someone I know is simply watching to see if I will succeed or fail. Someone who scares me into success. Someone like you!
If any of this sounds familiar to you, or you just want to see me try, then I would like to invite you to join me on Tuesday morning at 7:30 here at L&S (Synergy War Room). We will have an introductory meeting to kick off the L&S Biggest Loser competition. I know, it sounds corny. But I figure that if it will help me, then it will probably help others in the office as well. On Tuesday, we will outline the program so that you can decide if you would like to participate. The contest will be held completely outside of office hours, and will have two parts; the first based on percentage of loss (not quantity so that it is equitable between all species, shapes, and sizes), and the second on the effort. More details to come on Tuesday.
If you are interested, but unable to meet Tuesday morning, please talk to me before Wednesday, January 7th.
Breakfast will not be served.
Korena
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Come back every week for the weigh-in reports.
- Mark “The Judge” Glissendorf
