I run for my mental health.
I run for fun.
I run long distances partly because I get to eat more on those days without (much) guilt.
I run because it’s become a solid part of my identity.
Plus, there’s the whole “blood-pumping fuels the brain” thing.
Oh, and I read my books on Audible while I run, so I also run to learn how to constantly improve my value proposition and offering, and by extension my whole way of life.
If you’ve been following me, this is old news. Sorry, but you never know when someone new is coming along to read for the first time.
Right?
I started running in races in 2013 because my adult daughter dared me to enter a half-marathon with her. It was her first, and it ended up being my first as well.
From then until now I would say running became without question my favorite way to exercise.
Speaking of the half-marathon – do you see the picture I’m posting with this?
That is NOT my daughter.
Though that IS me being 50% blocked by her in my finish line photo.
See the funny look on my face?
I remember EXACTLY what I was thinking in that nanosecond:
Congratulations, you just smoked an over-60 male at the last second.
It hit me in the next instant that this was going to play hell with the finish line photo (I’ve been to this race before, you see), and I was right.
This photo, anyway.
You see, from my perspective I heard rapid heavy footfalls, then a shorter girl darted ahead of me and made a little lateral move to get partially in front of me as well, step-step two fluid maneuvers, there it was.
As you can see, I was surprised.
Was it a conscious effort on her part? Probably.
Do I really believe it had a malicious intent? Not at all.
I think there was some kind of animal competitive instinct behind it…
I am 1,000% certain it was nothing personal.
She would’ve done it to whomever was there. It just happened to be me.
I wondered if there was more to the story, so I sought to find out.
You see, my new friend Hallie Kircher-Henning, age 25 of Minneapolis, Minnesota, race photos as well as race results are public record.
So, too, are Facebook profiles if you have nothing to hide and have enabled public viewing.
I am grateful that you did.
You were in Girl Scout Troop 2284, photographed with someone that was obviously a respected icon of yours. You could tell it was an important moment for you.
Chosen to speak at, based on the year and your current age, what probably was your high school commencement. That’s a huge deal.
Trading in the blue of high school for the black mortarboard and gown of a college graduation four years later. Bravo and congratulations are in order.
A large group of fellow runners pictured numerous times with you.
I was also moved by the free verse poem you wrote for your mother. You have a real talent.
Hello, Hallie, nice to meet you. I figure we can be friends since we have a professional picture taken together.
Now, for the allegory alluded to in my title…
I keep finding metaphorical comparisons in my 3 favorite things in life, being business, running, and the pursuit of the good life.
This latter consideration can even be thought of as spiritual attainment, or self-actualization. Or both.
It’s okay. I do.
I am looking for certain goals out of myself in relation to my business and my running.
One of the major one’s being the time left over beyond work to enjoy life while I’m still alive to live it.
In all things, seek balance.
Get to your kid’s soccer games and piano recitals. Do the fun thing your wife suggested over the weekend.
Do you, only happier.
And by self-actualization, I mean be the best you that you have to offer the world.
Listening to my pre-selected 180 beats-per-minute mix while running, and having my little nerdy math thoughts such as gait stride times cadence equals velocity, I was also thinking a lot about an idea that I’m coming to embrace from a highly successful entrepreneur’s podcast episode:
Boring makes money.
Really? Hell yeah, and the reason is if you are doing The Things that create new customers, reduce churn, and provide more in use value than you take in cash value, and you hit on a successful formula, then rinse and repeat that shit.
Don’t fix what ain’t broken.
A successful work paradigm takes balance, just like a good running performance does.
Consider the dualistic nature of running. You thrust your left foot forward into the air, and while still airborne launch off on your right foot with an equal and opposite thrust forward.
Rinse and repeat. Many times, until you reach your finish line.
Consider this idea: if your foot is about one foot long, and your gait stride is typically four feet, that means you expend 0.2 miles of effort in actual running, and spend the remaining 80% of the time flying.
Flying, I said.
With an attitude like this you can run the full marathon and enjoy a hearty breakfast with friends afterward.
Or start an amazing business providing happiness and convenience for dozens, hundreds, thousands, or millions of people.
Or make new friends just because their bib number identified their results online for all to celebrate.
Everyone, run your race. Accept good mentorship as the gift it is, but ultimately be uniquely yourself.
Everybody else is already taken, after all.
Do great things, because a great man I admire said once that imagination is the gift we all have that makes us closest to God.
I have finished every single half and full marathon I ever started, and I’ll tell you the simple reason why:
I refused to lose. Failure was never an option.
That is where I draw my corollary between my running and business lives.
This business will grow and thrive, and never fail myself, my wife, my staff, or most importantly my clients.
Refuse to lose, and when you fall get the hell back up, dust yourself off, and mount that horse again.
Hallie, my granddaughter Haley is just 6 years younger than you, and I look to you both and your entire generation for hope.
Keep on refusing to lose.
Keep that drive alive, and always do you.
I am in awe. Thank you for being a part of my Half-Marathon Sunday morning, and Godspeed.
(Oh, and P.S.: there were plenty of other very good photos, too. No worries!).