Crossing The Finish Line

Confession time…I decided to run a 5K for all the wrong reasons. My daughter’s boyfriend is a jock, my daughter isn’t.  He wanted to run with her and she couldn’t.  When I saw a sign at our gym for the new class “How to Train and Eat for a 5K” I saw it as an opportunity for her to start running.  Sammi wouldn’t do it alone so to help her we both joined the class.

This was a huge step for me because, although I work out regularly, I’ve always been a firm believer that I could not run.  I knew it was painful and horrible.  Besides, just running to the corner would leave me breathless.  It’s amazing what you do for your kids or so I said at the time.

The class was great because it gave us a coach and gave us a plan to teach us how to run so that we could make continual progress without getting hurt.  But the most important piece was that we had each other.

Day by day our runs got longer.  I found that the more we ran the more it became my personal goal and I was not doing this just for Sammi.  I started to feel an immense sense of satisfaction with every mile I ran.

Training was a challenge.  Sometimes we ran together, other times we had to run alone.  There were days when I’d go out and have a lousy run but the thing was that I didn’t let those days stop me.  I just said, “Okay, today wasn’t a good day, I’ll run again tomorrow and it will be better.”

Exactly ten weeks after our first class Sammi and I ran and finished a 5K.  We got to the finish line in 36 minutes and 28 seconds.  This is not exactly Olympic time but it was our time.  We ran our own race, at our own pace, and we got to the end.

As I look back on this experience I am amazed at how much I’ve grown.  Sure I can run further but that is the least of it.  I’ve tested myself and came out a winner. I certainly challenged my body but the only way I was able to meet that challenge was by challenging my mind.

Every day in our business we face challenges.  We face things that we know are painful and horrible; things that leave us breathless.

In retrospect I realize that there were 5 keys (5K!) that brought me to my goal, how can you apply them to you and your business.

1. Create a support network.  You can’t do it yourself.  Get a coach or a mentor, enlist a friend or colleague to help you.  Other people know things or can see things that you don’t which will make everything easier.
2. Take it a step at a time.  You won’t get to the finish line immediately.  Take your time, go at your own pace.  Take the steps that you need to take to achieve your goal.
3. Have a plan.  Know your goal and have a general understanding of what steps you need to take to make it happen but keep your focus on the immediate next step.
4. Don’t worry about other people. You’re in it for yourself.  It’s okay if someone else is faster, slower or doing it differently than you.  It’s okay if someone else doesn’t have your dream…after all if they had the dream it would be theirs and not yours!
5. There are days when things won’t go right. Pick yourself up.  Dust yourself off.  Redirect your efforts, get going and remind yourself of your goal.

Bonus!

Question your preconceived beliefs. The only reason you “can’t” do something is because that’s what you believe.  Newsflash here…you’re not always right.

How will you apply these keys to your business?  Please share your thoughts with me.