This post is about something I first learned from my running that I’ve successfully applied to building businesses, achieving business goals and achieving personal goals. I think it could be a useful strategy for solving our nation’s deficit.
I run very long distances, 30, 50, 60, 75 miles at a time or more. In order to complete these long races I’ve learned something very important. While it’s necessary to keep the entire distance or task in mind the only way I can successful complete these long runs is to break them into many smaller distances. When running a race I have a plan for the entire distance but focus only on getting to the next aid station. Aid stations are strategically placed 4 to 10 miles apart along the entire course. I can always complete another 4 to 10 miles, however, if I think of the full distance I have yet to complete I become discouraged and can even quit.
I’ve applied this same strategy to a variety of situations with great success. To extend the running analogy; often when I do get to the next aid station my view of the situation changes. I’m thirsty, hungry and tired but at the aid station I get something to drink, something to eat, get some encouragement from the volunteers. Now my perception of the task ahead has changed. The hydrated, fueled and encouraged Tom can see that getting to the next aid station 6 miles away is something I can and will accomplish. Had I only focused on the 20 miles to complete the event even the hydrated, fueled and encouraged Tom would want to quit, it’s just too far.
It seems to me that our politicians are trying to come up with a plan to solve the entire deficit all at once. Not surprisingly they are unable to agree on a strategy for such a huge endeavor. I suspect that if they shortened their vision to just the first “aid station” they could compromise and agree on a plan to begin. Once at that aid station there would be a new reality about the deficit. From that new reality with new information it should be easier to come up with another plan to reach the next aid station. Using long distance running as the analogy again eventually we can finish the race. Not without pain, not without discouragement, not without doubts, not without disagreements but we could finish none the less.
The important thing is to complete the task one step at a time. What daunting large task are you or your business putting off? Perhaps just breaking the task into steps and taking the first step is what you really need to do to get started. Try taking just a first step and do it today. You may be amazed at the positive results.
What I fear most, Tom, is that our leaders believe they have indeed already arrived at that first aid station. When in all actuality, they may have in fact distanced themselves (and ultimately us) from that first stop. Also, I do my very best to have a positive outlook on most things in life but to my own admission I believe we have reached the point of no return with this national deficit. In order for us to find a way out of this mess, it is inevitable that everyone must bear the burden and suffer for quite longer than most are willing to admit or accept.
For those visual people like myself, try this on for size:
http://usdebt.kleptocracy.us/
What I fear most, Tom, is that our leaders believe they have indeed already arrived at that first aid station. When in all actuality, they may have in fact distanced themselves (and ultimately us) from that first stop. Also, I do my very best to have a positive outlook on most things in life but to my own admission I believe we have reached the point of no return with this national deficit. In order for us to find a way out of this mess, it is inevitable that everyone must bear the burden and suffer for quite longer than most are willing to admit or accept.
+1