Entrepreneurs have high demanding schedules that come along with the job. With countless daily tasks and deadlines to be crossed off a to-do list, it is not always easy to take the time for self-care and remain healthy through exercise. However, there are many lessons all avid runners can learn from their time spent on the pavement to the time spent in the office. To remain healthy while also staying on top of all your to dos in the business world, you can apply a few running lessons to your work life and become the best CEO you are capable of. Motion PR CEO Kimberly Eberl found motivation through the power of running with lessons that boost both fitness and work productivity. Below are eight entrepreneurial lessons from running that can be applied to operating a successful business.
Starting is the Hardest Part
People always say the first mile of a race is the hardest, and anyone who has started a business can agree that the first couple of years aren’t a walk in the park. While waiting at the starting gate, the eager runner and the burgeoning business owner, experience a similar set of emotions—anxiety, fatigue and frustration. People often get butterflies at the start of a race, but think about how you’re up and out at the crack of dawn, being productive and energized, while a lot of people are still asleep in their warm, comfy beds. It’s at that moment, you start to feel a sense of accomplishment—You got laced up and dressed and by doing so, you’re closer to that finish line. Similarly, many can recall being nervous before making several big decisions—hiring, investing, and expanding, but then remember, you won’t be any closer to your goal, if you don’t participate and get ready to move.
Make it Mind over Matter
No matter how much you practice strict workouts or prepare business plans, it all can fall to the wayside if you lose your focus. Getting distracted by emotions—I’m too tired, I’m afraid, I’m behind the pack—can often happen in races as well as with a business, which is why you must stay clear headed and think about what you have done to prepare and be successful. Thoughts are powerful; you have to keep them in check and stay the course.
Accept Responsibility
When you run a business or a race, there’s people who support you—either on the race sidelines or in and outside of your office walls, but ultimately, it’s up to you to succeed. Yes, there will be times when you need to hire a lawyer or other professional to help you out in a jam. You need to be your biggest cheerleader and toughest critic, as it’s your own two feet or bottom line that’s either moving you toward the finish line or closer to your business objectives, which is empowering as well as frightening.
Work through Obstacles
The optimism and ambition you experience when starting out are tested by several obstacles, whether ia painful leg cramp or a promising business opportunity that fell through. It’s at these moments, though, that you must realign yourself and push through, putting the left foot in front of the right foot and doing it over and over again. If you give up once, it will be too easy to give up the next time, so you must be determined to move through an obstacle to get over it.
Lead by Inspiration
Realize that you should never take your abilities for granted. Try giving high-fives to the onlookers who came out to watch the race, and do the same in your business. You want those who show up to know they are appreciated through after-work socials and sport-league activities.
Have Fun
Look for fun and joy at work too, whether it’s laughing with a colleague or client, or learning something you never thought you’d learn. Stopping to laugh and having fun throughout mundane tasks and circumstances can help with motivation and mental health along the way.
Set Realistic Goals
Always approach races and work looking for mini-“finish lines” to keep motivated. Each day you’ll run further and have milestones of success, which will motivate you to run even longer. I asked Adam Jankovits, founder of b2b lead generation software Leadberry how important realistic goals are in his industry. He told me, “In the business world, setting realistic and achievable mini goals is critical; if they aren’t realistic, you’ll frustrate yourself along the way. Once achieved, celebrate your mini victory, knowing that you can keep inching up to reach the final goal.”
Cross-Train for Success
When someone first starts to jog, they usually run just to prepare for a race, probably not bothering to stretch nor strength train. Over time, however, you learn how important it is to include a variety of workouts. The same can be said for business—you’ve got to shake it up at times. Learn the value of spreading your wings beyond your core specialty to follow the evolution of your industry and to increase profitability.
Melissa Thompson , CONTRIBUTOR
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adp/2017/04/1...
Posted By: Jose Lopez
Tuesday, April 25th 2017 at 4:35PM
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