What Can We Learn From Running?

I the past few weeks I started a new training program in preparation for my first ever triathlon. Not being exceptional in any one of the triathlon events I have spent a lot of time training in all three categories, bike, run and swim.

Here are a few things I have learned that relate to success in business:

It's all in your head! A friend of mine told me that running is a mental game. She said I need to stay focused on what I am thinking and my body will just take over. Huh?! Are you kidding me? Tell that to the pains I get in my side......okay, she was right.

Question, what do you think about all day at work? Are you obsessed with negative thoughts? Thoughts like; I hate my job, I can't stand this place, I wish I could go home, If my manager asks me to do one more thing I am going to lose it, why do I bother, etc.
If we will focus on the dialogue that happens inside our heads and force our self to talk in terms of what we want rather than what we don't want our bodies will take over and lead us to the places we want to be!

Focus on what is right in front of you, don't look to the end until it is here.
I used to get very discouraged when I ran because I was always looking way ahead to the end of the run. It always felt like I wasn't getting any closer and that it was taking forever to reach the finish. I have since changed my approach, I focus on the ground in front of me, watching it pass by with every step, now when I look up I feel like I have gone far.

In life, we must clearly know where we are going and the path we must take to get there. Keeping the end in mind we should set ourselves on course focusing on the tasks at hand day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. Every so often we should lift our eyes and check our progress....are we still on track? how close are we now? what adjustments shall I make moving forward? Think of the word WIN....What's Important Now?

Pace yourself before you burn out!
As a driver type personality, when I go, I GO. When it comes to running, once I start I am on....... full steam ahead. The problem with this is that while I was easily able to finish half my planned distance in only 10 minutes, the second half of the run would take me 20 minutes with great pain. What I learned was I needed to pace myself, run at a slower more consistent speed so I could finish strong.

How is your pace at work? Do you feel burned out at the end of the day, week or month? Do you have a hard time turning off your work? Could it be that you are moving too fast or carrying so much burden that the stress is overwhelming you? Do you have an even balance between work and home? For your health's sake, slow down, take it easy and above all find a way to work hard and steady. Ask yourself "What is my health worth?" We can't afford to burn out, there are too many people counting on us, primarily our loved ones; if you won't do it for yourself, do it for them!

What lessons have you learned from your past times or hobbies? Please share them with me, I love to learn from real life experiences!

Life Long Learners Achieve More

Some people look at training and education as a huge waste of time. They go to class, sit and listen to the instructor, go through the activities and exercises and a week later they don’t remember anything. In fact, I heard from one guy who retired after 40 years of service to his company; he complained that over the course of his career he had to participate in no less than 1,000 training events yet he can’t remember a single thing the trainers said. What a waste of my time, the trainer’s time and company money!

Here is what I explained to him. In the course of my lifetime I have eaten no less than 45,000 meals and I cannot recall what was on the menu for even one single meal. What I do know is this, had I not eaten all those the meals I would have starved physically and would now be dead. Despite not being able to recall everything we have ever heard in a classroom; the truth is this, no matter how good we think we are we are never good enough. Every experience in the class room increases our awareness, brings things back to a conscious level even if only for a short period of time. Learning and training experiences feed our attitudes and our souls; they give us the nourishment to help us forge ahead, even when times are tough!

The moral of the story here is to embrace learning and growing, without it we shrivel up and die.

Where do you want to be on the success scale? Somewhere at the top leading the way for others due to your thirst and quest for knowlege that puts you head and shoulders above others OR do you want to be buried under 6 feet of dirt with no hope at all for the future? It's your decision!

Let me know what decision you have made, post it here on this blog!

Where are you going? And how are you getting there?

A dear colleague and friend recently underwent many challenges and changes at her workplace. Sound familiar to anyone? My friend is a living, breathing, walking talking example of positive attitude; last week she made the comment that she was grateful for the opportunity to experience these life lesson. Who thinks like that?! I love my friend's perspective and I believe more of us should think like her!



To put things in a nut shell, life should really be about the journey and not the final destination.



Most people go about their day moving from one hour to the next with the simple goal of making it to the end of the day or the end of the week. These are the same people who move through their entire lifetime just waiting for the next mile stone; once I graduate from college, as soon as I get my 'real' job, after I am married, when the kids are raised; when I am retired. People get so focused on where they are trying to go in life, they seldom stop to enjoy the path that is taking them there.



My grandparents are a great example of a couple who never paid any mind the journey and have now arrived at their destination having never really enjoyed the trip. And for that matter, they really aren't even able to enjoy the destination!



My grandparents were hard working people who did well for themselves, they raised 2 successful sons who in turn raised a total of 8 successful children. Despite living through the great depression and various other difficult times, my grandparents managed to save a sizable nest egg for their retirement.



I believe their philosophy was to live like no one else so that you can live like no one else. While I think this is a pretty good philosophy, and worthy of consideration my grandparents may have gone a little over board with it. Here is what I mean.

• They never wasted anything-If it could be reused it was reused. If it could be saved for later, it was saved for later. If someone else could wear it, they wore it. They had to save for retirement.

• They never bought new-My grandfather was very handy and could fix just about anything. Before they would spend money on something it would be fixed, repaired, patched, welded, sewn, you name it. They had to save for retirement.

• Spend when only necessary-Eating meals out was a rarity. Grandpap would grow a garden, grandma would can the vegetables. Vacations were almost unheard of, they never went anywhere. They had to save for retirement.

So here they are, almost at their final destination, living with very poor health in a nursing home full of strangers. You see, I don't ever really recall seeing my grandparents smile, laugh and actually enjoy themselves. It was always about taking care of things so they would be okay for retirement. Then when retirement came, they had to be careful so that they would be okay during retirement. And when their health began to fail it was always about being careful so they would be okay if they had to go to a home. There was never any joy, happiness or excitement, they were just so focused on the destination they totally missed the scenery along the way.

So how are you living your life? Where is your life heading? And are you stopping along the way to acknowledge even the smallest gifts that are sometimes disguised as disappointment, challenge or difficulty?

Look positively at all the experiences in life, regardless of how bad the experience may be.You will never look back and regret what you missed! As a matter of fact, by acknowledging the bad and training yourself to find the silver lining in all situations you will be happier, healthier and better balanced.

When was the last time you laughed at a really tough situation because if you hadn't laughed you would have cried? Crying, complaining, criticizing and condemning helps absolutely nothing because after all the belly aching is done, the situation is still the same.

Do you know where you are heading and are you happy with how you are getting there? If you could change one thing about your journey what would it be? Post your comment today.