During a recent 100+ Mile bike ride, I was reminded of a mantra which not only holds true for endurance events but in business as well: Keep Calm in the Effort.
What does this mean? When engaging in an endurance event, whether a marathon or a long-distance bike ride or both (add a swim for a triathlon, if you’re feeling courageous), the most important thing to remember, is not to exhaust yourself early on. It then becomes a conscious task to remain calm while pushing yourself, breathing properly to provide the oxygen your body needs, maintaining your heart rate within a specified range and not allowing yourself to exceed those parameters. In fact, creating a situation where you replenish your body’s stores of energy even as you continue to demand effort from it.
From a business perspective, managing and growing a business is also an endurance “sport”. Burning out is a very real consequence and something to be aware of and to protect from. Having a plan in place with a clear and achievable goal becomes a necessity. You can then focus on the long-term goal and experience all the noise melt into the background. This focus will cause you to be that rock that your clients and/or employees rely upon. You can see yourself and your team through a myriad of fires, surprises, snags, or whatever you call them by keeping a steady attitude.
Either will require metrics and a way to accurately measure your performance (whether we’re talking of a heart monitor or a budget projection.), a focus on certain indicators or milestones, and making and sticking to a plan. Knowing when to toss that plan by the wayside and take a risk that will results in a positive outcome will come with experience. Yet the goal and plans remain so you may quickly revert to the steady pace and see yourself through that finish line. And finally, above all things remember the most important task: BREATHE.