| Though it may not seem like it when we're drenched in | | | | accomplished by choosing to focus on either the |
| sweat and our legs feel like lead, marathon running is | | | | process or the outcome. In our business life a process |
| as mental as physical. When we're exhausted, | | | | goal would be improving our customer relation skills, |
| continuing consists of mind over matter. This takes | | | | while an outcome goal would be making X amount |
| enormous mental power. Once developed, this skill can | | | | more dollars. For your first marathon, process goals |
| be transferred from the racetrack to the boardroom. | | | | are better. Since meeting them may be as simple as |
| Training for a marathon is an ideal place to improve | | | | adhering to our training schedule, they guarantee |
| the skills needed to achieve success in business: | | | | success. As we all know, success produces |
| strategy, clear objectives, and a positive attitude. | | | | self-confidence. Developing this gives us courage to |
| These techniques are also crucial to completing a | | | | challenge ourselves to achieve greater victories. |
| marathon. Without them, even the most fanatically fit | | | | Outcome goals, like beating a rival, are more risky. |
| athlete is doomed to fail. Through physical training we | | | | Since external factors can interfere with them, they |
| can develop and master these skills. | | | | are harder to succeed at. |
| In business, investment and marathon, a well-planned | | | | Maintaining a positive attitude is crucial to |
| strategy is essential. In each situation, we must commit | | | | accomplishment. Without belief in eventual success, |
| to our plan, yet be willing to adapt it if it isn't working. | | | | we'll quit at the slightest obstacle. This is true both in |
| Though strategy can be complex or simple, with our | | | | career and running. Everyday, marathon training |
| first marathon it's best to choose the latter. | | | | teaches us persistence through discomfort. This is |
| Simplification is a great way to remove self-imposed | | | | essential. Without challenging ourselves we can never |
| pressure. This can mean concentrating on maintaining | | | | progress to higher success. Besides the things we tell |
| a steady heart rate or pace. We need to do this | | | | ourselves, a positive attitude also includes motivating |
| during both training and our marathon, since sustaining | | | | inner images. |
| this relaxed-focus helps remove the barrier of | | | | Many superior athletes use mental imagery, or guided |
| performance anxiety. | | | | visualization. These include Marion Clignet, 1996 and |
| The strategy of shifting attention to our body's | | | | 2000 silver medallist on the French cycling team, and 6 |
| sensations is called association, and it's a tactic used | | | | times Masters winner Jack Nicklaus. Medical experts |
| by many elite athletes. The self-focused introvert may | | | | have also tested this method. A recent article |
| find this more comfortable than directing attention | | | | published in the Journal of Sports Science states: "The |
| outside. The outgoing extrovert, however, may be | | | | power of mental imagery in sport performance has |
| more suited to the disassociation technique. This | | | | been widely noted. Keep your thinking and mental |
| involves turning our awareness outward. According to | | | | rehearsing of your upcoming races positive and it may |
| a report published in The Journal of Sports Psychology: | | | | contribute to new personal records." |
| " Considerable evidence exists to link disassociation | | | | The importance of mental imagery is also noted in |
| strategies with increased pain tolerance during | | | | Olympic runner Jeff Galloway's Marathon: You Can |
| endurance tasks." Disassociation may also useful | | | | Do It. In this book, Galloway encourages us to rehearse |
| during a dull seminar, or an extended visit from our | | | | parts of our marathon every day. He says that this will |
| mother-in-law. | | | | help us prepare for and find solutions to problems we |
| Just as business meetings have objectives, so should | | | | may encounter and help us "tough it out." This strength |
| your marathon training. Whatever your personal goal, it | | | | doesn't end in out legs and lungs. Finishing a marathon |
| needs to be specific, measurable, and reasonable. | | | | makes us more tenacious, helping us bring home "the |
| Similar to our professional life, these can be | | | | gold" in business. |