LEARNING through the JOURNEY
If you’re reading this article, I already know a lot about you. I suspect you’re interested in helping others and making life better for you and your family. And if you’re like me, you’re assessing what you’ve learned from your mistakes and thinking about where you can be even better starting now.
I love working with goal-oriented people who genuinely want to change the world by helping people reach their goals. The people I surround myself with make me better every day because of what they do and why they do it.
About 25 years ago, I was introduced to ultra-running after reading a Sunday article in the St. Paul Pioneer Press about a group of athletes who get together and run extreme distances at Afton State Park in Minnesota. I began running with these ultra-marathoners, and I became hooked on the sport. I competed in numerous races in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and my goal was to one day compete in the pinnacle of trail running, the Leadville Trail Ultra in Leadville, Colorado. After receiving a promotion to lead a pharmaceutical sales force in the Chicagoland area, I put my ultra-marathon dreams on hold while family and career took precedence.
Over the years, I’ve never forgotten my goal to get to Leadville. In August, I was invited to participate in the Leadville Trail Ultra! But not as a runner, but as part of the race crew in support of my friend, Jason Paulin. You can imagine my excitement when Jason asked if I would be willing to be part of his Leadville race crew to support him as he attempted to complete the grueling 100-mile ultra-marathon through the Colorado mountains. I jumped at the chance.
I’m a big believer that life teaches you so many lessons if you’re willing to open your mind and your heart to what’s around you. And being part of this particular weekend was no exception. Here’s what I learned.
There’s Power in Having a Higher Purpose
Jason’s desire to run 100 miles isn’t just because he has a very high pain threshold and is exceptionally disciplined at reaching goals. Jason made the decision to run an ultramarathon to support his campaign for suicide prevention and awareness. “This past year has been very sad and concerning when it comes to mental health. I have had several friends and acquaintances commit suicide. Suicide is a problem in our society and one that needs more attention, research, and awareness.” Have you ever set a goal and find yourself drifting away from it days later? Consider how deeply you’ve landed on why that goal is so important to you. You’ve made a decision, but have you really decided to do whatever it takes to reach your goal? For Jason, his higher purpose helps him get up early and practice good habits every day to put him one step closer to his goal.
You’re Better When You’re Busy
At one of the aid stations about 37 miles into the race, I was talking with Jason’s wife, Brooke, about what she’s learned about how pursuing big goals has a positive ripple effect in every aspect of your life. “We’ve learned that we’re better when we’re busy.”, Brooke said. I was struck by how this statement goes against conventional wisdom. After all, we’re all too busy to do a lot of things. And we talk to people all the time who are simply too busy to get things done. How about you? Have you ever rationalized different actions or decisions by saying you are too busy? I know I have. Now consider this, what if you’re actually at your very best when you tackle more than you think possible. What if getting way outside of your comfort zone forces you to improve your time management, your prioritization skills, your nutrition, your sleep habits, and your mindset. How? Because you can’t get it done any other way. In a way, you’re tricking yourself into becoming your best self. Instead of binge-watching Netflix on weeknights and weekends or spending
A recent study shows we spend on average of 144 minutes per day on social media. That’s over two hours per day! We can spend our time better.
You Can’t Do It Alone, and You’re Never Alone
Any big goal can’t be accomplished alone. For Jason, he counted on his race crew to be ready at each aid station to give him the proper nutrition, clothing, hydration, supplements, and encouragement. He used a built-in support network to help him every step of the way. He went public with his goal of running an ultra-marathon and why raising awareness for suicide prevention was so important to him.
Commit Not to Quit
The day before the race, all the racers attended a pre-race orientation session at the local high school gymnasium. The race officials urged the runners to “commit not to quit” during the race. There will be times during the competition when you want to stop, and those are the moments that will define you. Will you keep going, or will you quit? You might be wondering if Jason finished his 100-mile ultra-marathon. In fact, he missed the 3 am cut-off at about 72 miles into the race. And Jason never quit. He slowed down, but they had to drag him off the course instead of him stopping and walking away. What goal are you pursuing right now that’s causing you to have thoughts of quitting? Don’t do it. Commit not to quit. You can slow down, but keep making forward progress.
It’s Not About the Finish Line
I challenge you to reframe how you think about your goals. If you’re like most people, you focus on the finish line. It’s a trap. Focusing on the finish line naturally means you stop when you reach your goal. You and I know that’s not the key to happiness. Dr. Amit Smood from the Mayo Clinic conducted research showing the happiest people share three common characteristics. First, they always have a goal. Second, they are taking meaningful steps towards that goal every day, and they know they have the power to reach the goal. Finally, they know their goal makes a difference. Jason is living proof it’s not about the finish line. He’s a changed person because of his decision and the habits he now implements in his life. By the way, Jason has registered once again for the Leadville 100 in 2020. He’s taken everything he’s learned from his 2019 experience, and he’s making another attempt in 2020. There’s a positive ripple effect in our lives when we pursue big, hairy, audacious goals.
What’s my point? Focus on the work. Celebrate the unintended consequences you discover in life when you are giving yourself to the process of reaching your goals. You’ll find greater, long-lasting fulfillment than crossing any finish line can provide you. A great example of this is from Jason’s wife, Brooke. Brooke ran with Jason from 10:00 pm to 2:30 am on the final leg of his race. Following the race, Brooke texted me about how grateful she was for the experience. “I get to experience moments that I would never have. 1 am. Full Moon. Freezing at 10,800 feet was pretty magnificent”.
What’s Your Next Big Goal?
The older I get, the more time seems to accelerate. When I was younger, the days seemed so long. Now, they seem to be shorter and shorter. Let’s do something meaningful with these next 90 days and in 2020. For each of us, this means something different. Some of you want to reduce weight or increase lean muscle. Others want to become healthier. You may want to become a better spouse or parent. Maybe you want to take a meaningful step toward true financial freedom. Set your goal. Get your team around you. Act now. It’s not about the finish line. Just start your race. Commit not to quit.