(This article was first published on the Anne Forster blog)
Running is part of my life since school. Running for competition or taking part in races was added at a later stage, when I finished university and started working. Coincidence or destiny? I am not on the track to take running on a professional level, but running taught me valuable lessons for both career and life.
Lesson one: Prepare for race day
Race day without preparation (training, research on the course etc.) is a lost day. Ever started a project without getting prepared (doing your research etc.)? You know what I mean. Preparation is essential for a race and also for running projects at work or in life. Although I have done certain races before or for several times, it remains a new race every time. And even when I have worked through training plans or check-lists. A little bit of positive nervousness needs to be there each time I make my way to the start line. Being too sure about work and only relying on your experience on how you have done things before is no proof it will work out the same way next time.
Lesson two: Don't start off too fast – find your own pace
Yes, there is a magical moment when the horn starts off a race and the runners right and left of you seem to speed away. Finding your own pace is one of the most difficult phases in a race.
Starting off your career can feel the same, your colleagues from school are in their jobs, knowing exactly what they want and seem to speed away? In that moment we feel being way behind, but wait until you keep up and you are running the same pace, there is still a change to get ahead of them.
Lesson three: Take care of your energy level – don't hit the wall
Finding your own level of pace is as important as keeping your energy level over the whole period of time. Listen to your body if you need to slow down, be mindful with yourself. A lot of runners hit the wall when they try to push themselves too hard. Keeping your energy level at the job can be a challenging task too. Demanding projects, ambition, etc.; set yourself goals but be flexible and mindful enough to keep your energy level not to burn out.
Lesson four: Celebrate success – before and after the finish line
Celebrating your success officially starts after reaching the finish line, but let's face it, with your position at the start line you are already ahead of so many others. When running my first marathon, every mile was a huge success for me. Until I reached the finish line I had a lot of support from people who cheered me on, who already celebrated my success. Make sure to celebrate success at work too, running a project usually offers this opportunity, but we sometimes forget to celebrate steps and motivate us.
Lesson five: Enjoy and connect with the runner community
Running and competing in a race is one thing, celebrating with a community of likewise people is another. Don't forget to enjoy, celebrate and connect with a runner's community. To me this is one of the easiest ways to meet new people, make friends and get help or tips on how to improve your performance. Work offers these opportunities too, but too often we don't value or use these opportunities. Connecting with others can make work easier, find support and help in difficult situations or can be a resource to improve or take your career to the next level.
Anne Forster is career coach and hr project manager. She shares her knowledge about career and reorientation on the Anne Forster blog. To find out more visit anneforster.ch, follow her on Facebook and Pinterest or subscribe to her free Blog Newsletter.