Going The Distance
Posted by Asa Beavers on Tue, Apr 01, 2008 @ 12:28 PM
As humans we tend to always be in a hurry. And for business owners nothing can ever happen fast enough. We take action on something and then almost expect an immediate result. But that’s not quite the way the world works. We have to exercise patience if we are truly going to get the lasting result we seek.
Speaking of exercise, I was out for a run last Saturday and in my state of “runner’s high” my mind wandered onto business. Saturday’s are the day of the week where I like to go out for a long, slow run. Some runners have called this their “LSD” training day, meaning long slow distance. This type of training is necessary if one is compelled to stretch their endurance and test their limits running marathons and longer triathlons. And I got to thinking about how I’ve told business owners to treat their businesses as a marathon, not a sprint.
As I put one foot in front of the other at a slow, steady pace I found my mind was clear and thoughts came easy. (I sure wish I could write as I run because the thoughts were really flowing.) My pulse was steady and my breathing relaxed. In other words, I wasn’t pushing myself so hard that I was out of breath and my body tense from exertion. And then the analogy hit me clearly… when we run our businesses like a sprint we impose mental and physical stress on our bodies as well as those who work for us. And the result? We may win a race but did we make the business better for the long run?
If you’re feeling worn down running your business, are you treating everyday like it’s a sprint? Chances are you’re in a constant state of busy-ness working “in” your business, and not commiting sufficient time reflecting on how the business is operating and how to make improvements. Working “on” your business is about building endurance. Like an endurance runner, it’s your LSD time. It’s a time where you can clear your mind, bring the stress level down, and concentrate on making things better. And things won’t get better overnight. It’s your own discipline, consistency and patience that will build a business that endures. Happy training!