Award-winning keynote speaker, inspiring organisations to improve performance through embracing change, overcoming challenges and achieving extraordinary goals. Mother. Motivator. Mariner. Marketer. Transatlantic rower.
Individual brilliance or team performance? In yesterday’s TCS London Marathon, Peres Jepchirchir broke the women-only world record to finish in a time of 2 hours, 16 minutes, 16 seconds. Was this a feat of individual brilliance, or the culmination of an exceptional team performance? At first glance, it’s easy to put it down to individual performance, and clearly exceptional talent plays a huge part. But, while I don’t know anything about the team behind Peres, I would bet my house that she has a carefully-constructed team to support her, working on everything from coaching to nutrition and psychology – and it’s likely the combined efforts of her team that ensure she is able to perform at her best on race day. Whether you’re a marathon winner or one of the thousands of ‘fun’ runners who finish the race, some kind of team effort will probably have played a part. Perhaps not in the formal sense of the word team, as we would see with the professionals, but most runners will have some kind of support network – even if it’s just family and friends cheering them on, maybe providing ‘cover’ during long training runs, or people to help raise sponsorship funds. Nobody achieves anything significant alone. So don’t even try. Even once the starting gun had sounded and the race was underway yesterday, it wasn’t a solo effort. Four women, competing against each other for the win, also ended up working together to result in them all finishing faster than the previous race record-holder. So even your biggest competitors can help you achieve your goals. Whatever you want to achieve, remember it’s ok to ask for help. It’s not a sign of weakness, but necessary to give ourselves the best possible chance of success. Surround yourself with people who can give expert support and guidance, moral, emotional, and practical support, and you’re much more likely to end up where you want to be, than if you try to go it alone. Teamwork makes the dream work, whatever your dream may be. #teamwork #supportnetwork #goals
Andy Coley
9mo
Any great achievement is never a solo effort and even your competition keeping pace with you can urge you on to make you even better. I remember running a 5-mile, the 'Hayling Island Billy Line Race' with someone who I thought was better than me, so I kept up and ran my best even 1-mile times, at the end I said.. "thanks for running with me, I was struggling to keep up, but that really spurred me on", she replied "Oh... I was just keeping up with you, I thought you were faster than me, I've never run this fast either"!
Great post, it’s easy to forget that we need others, often because we are so focused on helping others, which in its self proves the point. Asking for help can be challenging but when we realise life was meant to be shared the light shines
Farhana Hussain
9mo
Nothing significant is achieved alone, it’s so true! There is NOWAY I would be where I am today without my team (family, friends, mentors, business team, my faith) and I never dream of not having one.
I love this post! 100% no one achieves anything significant on their own and as you recently pointed out, the strongest members of our teams are often the ones we live with! 👏
Nathan Simmonds
9mo
team all the way, a carefully considered, discern, supportive collective of incredible humans all playing their part to lift and rise and succeed :)
Ruth Ferreira
9mo
That was one hell of a run! I bet there’s a huge team behind her. Nutrition, mindset and physical training. What a legend!
Completely agree. Realising what support you need and asking for help is critical to all our success.
Business Development Officer @ Kent at Wave Community Bank | Networking
9moAnyone who can run a marathon deserves the ultimate praise. Doesn’t matter if it’s world record pace or snail pace, if you can run just over 26 miles, you’re worthy. My last attempt at running anywhere resulted in me pulling my achilles and still not quite making it to catch the bus!! Support networks are vital and anyone who says otherwise is not being wholly honest. I am thankful I have several. I have needed them quite recently and I don't think without the support of my "chaps" that I would be in a position that I am now to cope and move on.