Running a marathon or a business requires planning, patience and a relentless commitment to continuous improvement. The reward in both situations is longevity, one of the most celebrated measures of success.
In the last five years, I’ve completed 10 marathons and learned valuable lessons from each one. Running has its challenges, but it also connects you to like-minded people who become competitive partners who help you grow.
Did you know that Apple, Google and Facebook are among one another’s largest customers? They compete, just as we do in marathons, but they have discovered over time that working together advances their respective goals.
Running marathons teaches you to think strategically. That measured approach positions you for readiness when circumstances arise to achieve your goals.
If you have a clear vision and goals for your business, these marathon lessons will help you capitalize on the growth opportunities that come your way.
Multiple paths to victory
Experienced marathoners build on their success. They know almost anything can happen during a race that can translate into a setback or an unexpected advantage. The trick is anticipating every scenario to give yourself a chance.
Readiness, not hope, is always your greatest strength, so build a strategy based on the conditions necessary to achieve your company’s goals. List and study those conditions to understand what could undermine them.
Establish milestones that will inform your progress. Use them to move quickly from plan A to plan B and plan C and so on. A marathon is finite, and so is your business budget and other resources. Yet, there are always multiple paths to success if you strategically plan for them.
Working in focused cycles
The process of training for a marathon is typically divided into six- to eight-week training cycles. The conclusion of each cycle provides a checkpoint for analysis, celebration and a reset before moving on to the next cycle.
Working in cycles keeps teams focused and motivated on what matters most. This leads to more effective time and energy management to consistently achieve peak performance.
Running a marathon or a business is hard work. Take time between cycles to reset and absorb the lessons learned to refine your systems and improve future projects.
Continuous improvement
Injuries are an athlete’s greatest fear. Strength and mobility training will greatly minimize them, but the problem is supplemental training competes with the rigors of daily running workouts.
The solution is microdosing strength training to make small but consistent gains. I’ll personally perform one or two strength or mobility routines on light days throughout the week and more if I’m feeling fresh.
Every microdose is an investment in the future. It may take months for the gains to be noticeable, but those gains make the habit hard to break. In business, anything you should do regularly — such as checking in with former clients — can become a unique strength with microdosing.
If you’ve never run a marathon, I can assure you the hours pass like minutes when you find your flow. I’m confident these lessons will help you find that flow in your business by minimizing the doubts and stress that hold owners back from the growth they deserve.
