The jury is in and the verdict rendered. Exercise, even for the “oldest old” is good for you and may extend you life. According to a study done in Israel, the three year survival rate for 85-year-olds was three times higher for those who were active than the inactive group. Active was described as “more than fours hours of exercise weekly,” and consisted of walking and other forms of fitness. The study also concluded that previously inactive people of all ages benefited from starting an exercise regimen. Those who were part of the test reported also that the “active group” experiences less depression and loneliness. They also had an easier time performing routine, daily tasks.

Forward thinking major corporations have always known that a fit employee was a more productive employee. They perform their duties faster and more proficiently, they have less sick-time and fewer illness that they bring to work (and infect fellow employees) and they have better attitudes and outlooks about nearly everything. Xerox Corporation set up a complete fitness center in their headquarters. It featured Nautilus equipment as well as free weights, machines, treadmills and stationary bicycles and was available to all employees, not just the executives. Other companies have since followed suit.

It has been estimated by the Wellness Councils of America, that for every one dollar spent on employee fitness, there is a direct return of $24. The Art of Health Promotion study concluded that there was a thirty percent reduction in medical and absenteeism related costs for companies who instituted a fitness and wellness program for employees.

Getting employees to participate is sometimes a daunting task. Everyone knows that fitness is important, but few will take the time to get fit. Johnson & Johnson offered their people a reduction in health insurance costs of $500 if they would enroll in the company fitness program. Their facility usage went from 26% to 93% with this cash incentive. The reduction in medical absenteeism more than covered the insurance cost reduction, so everyone benefited.

Fiscal fitness is also very important for companies who want to survive the current economic crisis. Getting fiscally “lean and mean” is necessary to maximize the best utilization of resources. But, it is also necessary to continue, even accelerate, the push for revenues. Getting lean and mean doesn’t mean to cut services, it means to work smarter and waste nothing.

Outsourcing of some daily services is the route taken by many smart operators. Sales lead generation, cold-calling on prospective customers and appointment setting are just some of the business services offered by telesales outsourcing companies. These specialists lift many mundane tasks from sales and operations people so they can focus on the tasks that improve their productivity.