Start Line or Finish Line

Several years ago, I ran my first half marathon. 13.1 miles is a long way for an old man to run without stopping to take a break! I didn't break any speed records with a time of 1 hour and 50 minutes, but I did finish the race. The mental aspect of a long run is likely more challenging than the physical pain. I managed this process much like I manage challenges of any kind.

• I frequently tell people that I didn't run 13.1 miles but rather I ran one mile 13 times. I broke the long run down into manageable objectives to better navigate the challenge. 13.1 miles seemed pretty imposing, but I could always do one more mile! One more concept!
• I would often focus within one of those mile runs on an object in the distance as an objective. I could get to the stop sign, the tree, or the next street. Having something to focus on to take my mind off how far I had to go made it manageable as well. Short-term goals were key.
• If I came in contact with another runner, I would intentionally express some word of encouragement to them. The key was to stay outward focused on others whether they needed or wanted the encouragement. An outward focus takes the focus off self and the inward struggle.
• Finally, while I had a goal of completing this race, that was not my purpose. The goal of completing this race was just another step in supporting the identity that I have chosen to become....one of an athlete. Thus, when I crossed the finish line, I was not done, but rather ready to take another step. While the finish line was the same as the starting line in the race, it was also the same for me symbolically.

As you near the end of the year, many of you will point toward the end of the year as another finish line for you and/or your organization. Maybe its been a tough year. Maybe it's been a year that you would like to forget. It could also have been a terrific year for you and/or your organization. Either way, how are you approaching December 31st? Is it a finish line for you or the starting line?

You may need to take a little time and rest, regroup, and renew your mindset to start 2025 strong. Don't go limping into a new year and waste valuable time. Here are some thoughts for you personally or for your organization to ensure you get off to a fast start:

• Clarify purpose and identity. These two elements are key for individuals and organizations. They provide direction, focus, and motivation throughout all the ups and downs that we experience in the course of a year.
• Set meaningful goals. Goals matter! Goals help us manage our activity, measure our performance, and motivate our effort. They are not the finish line, but rather an engine to drive us! Be sure to focus on input driven goals and not just outcome based goals.
• Connect! Connect with people close to us, within the organization, or in our market. The ability to connect will drive personal fulfillment, organizational culture, and market success.
• Raise your standards and not your expectations. Expectations are wishes, wants, and dreams. Standards are the norms we live and operate by in life. Expectations lead to disappointment. Standards lead to sustainable success!

The new year is a new opportunity. It's a fresh start and an opportunity for you to reflect and make adjustments on things you would like to do differently. It's an opportunity for you to reconnect with people! It's an opportunity to re-set those metrics that are meaningful to you and relinquish those that aren't key to your success. It's also an opportunity for you to re-think how you approach the new year.

My approach is pretty simple:

1. Get up early!
2. Focus on what I can control!
3. Go to bed tired!

Starting the day with an early morning workout sets the tone for my day. A 5 AM start is uncomfortable and a challenge. At the end of that workout, I have already accomplished something meaningful, placed myself in an uncomfortable situation, and taken a step forward in living out my identity. Start positive!

Focusing only on what I can control allows me to engage with things that will make a difference. So many of us waste valuable time, energy, and resources on subjects and things we can't control. Focusing on what we can control makes us more productive, impactful, and fulfilled! Focus!

Ending the day knowing you have done all you can do to have all the impact you can have means a lot. It's that validation that you made a difference today that reignites to awake with energy and passion for the new day ahead! Give it all and end empty!

What are you staring at - the finish line or the start line? I hope it's both. The finish to 2024 but the start to 2025! The start of a new opportunity that you will approach with great passion, focus, and energy! Mindset matters!