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Harvey Mackay
Column
For the week
of August 30, 2010
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Succeed
in The Marathon of Life
I ran my first marathon after
my fiftieth birthday. I've run nine more since then, including
the New York and Boston marathons. I'm proud of that fact for
a number of reasons, not because I ever came anywhere close to
finishing first, but that I finished them all.
A marathon is 26.2 miles. It
is as much of a mind game as a physical challenge. You train
your body to keep going when you think you can't take another
step. You visualize the finish line and the celebration as you
cross. The key ingredient is motivation.
There are more than 500 marathons
held every year around the world. Most of the participants are
amateur athletes, whose reasons for competing span the spectrum. |
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Training for a marathon is much
like preparing for the challenges in business. The pace may
be different, but endurance is every bit as important.
My good friend and marathon
coach, Bill Wenmark, knows plenty about both running and business.
Bill says: "If success in business, like a marathon, were
easy everyone would do it. Whether you think you can, or whether
you think you cannot, in either respect you are always going
to be right. When you master this internal strength you will
become a respected leader of others.
"People who start a marathon
are not the same, and never will be the same, once they cross
the finish line. I just finished my 100th marathon. It was
just like my first: proud, strong and willing to take on any
challenge. Confidence, character, integrity, grit, focus and
determination go a long way in the marathon of life and define
many successful people."
Any business or career that
wants to be around for the long haul can benefit from these marathon
training tips that I received many years ago.
- Set your goals and share
them with others. When
you announce your intentions, you are more likely to follow through.
Write down your goals and hang copies by your desk, on your
bathroom mirror, in your car, on your smart phone, and anywhere
else you will see them regularly.
- Keep a record of your training
and progress. When
you run, it helps to keep a log of the dates, distance, conditions,
times and whatever else affects your performance. When you work,
your record-keeping will remind you about project progress, expectations,
agreements and factors that could determine outcomes.
- Remember that you are only
human. As important
as training and preparation are, there will be days when not
even your best efforts are enough. Every now and then you need
to recharge your batteries and give yourself a rest.
- Use the buddy system. Work out with a few friends to stay
motivated and on track. Ask other friends to act as coaches
and your support system. Do the same with your career. Use
trusted friends as a sounding board, and develop your network
with contacts whom you can also help.
- Take it a step at a time. Don't think about the whole course
-- break it into doable segments. You've heard the saying, "The
journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
Well, you can't get to the end of anything if you don't start
at the beginning and work your way through each phase.
- Have some fun. Exercise or work that is all drudgery
saps your energy as well as your spirit. Running a marathon
is hard work, but hard work can be fun. Building a business
or career is like a marathon that doesn't stop at 26.2 miles.
If you're going to go the distance, you should enjoy the scenery
along the way.
Running may not be your thing,
but most all of us have to earn a living one way or another.
The majority will work anywhere from 25 to 45 years. The average
person will have three career changes and perhaps ten jobs before
their fortieth birthday.
Statistics like these make a
foot race pale in comparison to the treadmill so many workers
must master just to bring home a paycheck. Good training and
the right mental preparation will help you find a job you love,
that challenges you and satisfies you, and makes you want to
get back in the race every day.
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Mackay's Moral: |
Start off on the right foot --
preparation is the difference between dropping out of the race
and finishing it. |
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The Author  |
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Harvey Mackay is a nationally
syndicated columnist for United Feature Syndicate. His weekly
articles appear in 52 newspapers around the country, including
the Chicago Sun Times, Rocky Mountain News, Orange County Register,
Minneapolis Star Tribune and Arizona Republic.
http://www.mackay.com/
Copyright, Harvey Mackay. All rights reserved. |
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