This isn't a sprint, it's a marathon...

Hello everyone out there!

I ran my first race this past weekend and it made me realize how much it relates to our industry in Network Marketing. I would like to share my experience with you today now that my body is feeling better and I had time to reflect on the race...

But first, I want to share a little about how I came to run this "marathon".
On February 28th while I was at the More Heart Than Talent "Breakthroughs to Success" weekend seminar hosted by the great Jeffery Combs, I had decided to not only quit smoking, but also begin running. I had a lot of support from the individuals there at the weekend event. It was a very emotional decision since I had been smoking for so long to suppress certain feelings and be rebellious. It has not been easy, in fact after the event I continued to smoke and never put on my running shoes.

April rolls around and nothing has changed except for the fact that I wanted to stop smoking and be more productive in my business. I decided to stop smoking once and for all after an eye opening conversation with Jeffery Combs.

So the next day I set a date to stop smoking, April 28. I decided not to look back. This is it, April 28 and it's over. I did not pick up a cigarette and felt sad, as if losing a friend and then unorganized. Things began to feel chaotic all around me. I knew this would happen as the withdrawals would show themselves physically and emotionally. I was ready for this. I would handle it and be strong.

I was feeling sick. Nauseous and a constant headache loomed over me day in and day out, but I was not going to give into the addiction. Wow, it's just nicotine, I thought. At least I’m not a drug addict or an alcoholic. Interesting how we disillusion ourselves into thinking our addiction is never as bad as the next guy when in fact it is probably worse!

A friend had invited my husband and I to her Boston Marathon Congratulations party at her home. She had completed the Boston Marathon and wanted to share the experience and photos with us. It was a great accomplishment for her and a long time goal.

She began to tell us that there is a shorter run coming up and we should all do it. I said I would since it was one of my goals to begin running. I asked her to sign me up for the race.

This party was last week. I ran the race 6 days later. I didn’t think it would happen so soon but there it was. No training, no experience, nothing. Only 2 1/2 weeks of being smoke free. Three days before the race, I was physically sick, vomiting. In fact all week I was sick and weak.

I ran the race and made pretty good time.
How does this relate to our industry and our businesses? Simple answer really. It came down to a decision to just do it.

Think about this for a moment...

First- it is the excitement of doing it, saying to yourself I can do this, this is awesome! I'm sooo excited! Everyone around you pumped up. You have your goal or your finish line in mind. You know "why" you decided to sign up for this. Then the timer goes off and you hit the gates running feeling the adrenaline pump through your body as you take off with a smile on your face thinking, "Yeah! This is awesome; this is going to be easy."

Second- it begins to get a little difficult. You're tired and thinking, "What did I get myself into? What made me think I can do this?" Then you picture the finish line, your goal. This is why you can do this. Just remember to take one step at a time. Put one foot in front of the other.

Then- you look up and see this hill in front of you. Oh man, I can’t' take that hill! Who put that hill there? I didn’t know there were going to be hills, too! Just remember the goal, remember the finish line, and keep the end in mind and in front of you at all times. One foot in front of the other, this isn't a sprint, it's a marathon...

And then whew, with perseverance, you made it to the top of the hill. It feels good and now the rest of the way is smooth sailing, or so you think.

Smooth sailing for a little while, then you begin to struggle. You're not excited anymore. You're tired and want to stop. You see another turn in front of you and you don't think you can make that turn, forget trying to get to the finish line...

You see every single one of those feelings and thoughts were running through me while running. I know that every single one of you have had those same thoughts and feelings in your business, too. All the leaders have as well. Ask them. They will tell you that they started off excited, began to tire or burn out. They had their hills or obstacles they had to deal with. They had their struggles. We all do.

The difference is the perseverance and remembering to keep the goal and finish line in front of you at all times and continue to put one foot in front of the other, one step at a time. You will get there. Believe you can. I did.

Towards the end of the run, I began to struggle big time. My chest was hurting; I was hot, tired, and cramping. A woman ran next to me and must have seen the struggle in my face. She said to me smiling, "We're almost there, you can do it." Yeah right, I thought as I smiled back at her. I am about to pass out here and I still can't see the finish line. Who knows what’s around this corner I am approaching. However, I picked myself up and pushed forward. Guess what, she was right. As I turned the corner, the finish line was just up ahead. Seeing the finish line switched something in my head and I ran the rest of the way without feeling the pain anymore.

That brings me to another point. How many people give up and or quit after a couple of hills? How many give up or quit right before turning the corner? So many individuals quit not realizing how close they were to the finish line and their goals. You will never know how close you were to success if you stop putting one foot in front of the other.

Remember this, in business as well as any goal you desire to achieve; it is 10% training, 90% mental attitude.

I ran that race with no training, 2 1/2 weeks smoke free, physically sick the week before and finished with great time. It was my first race.
I committed to it, believed I could do it, persevered, and envisioned my finish line every step of the way.

I want to thank the great Jeffery Combs for his amazing encouragement.

If I can do it, you can. Just do it...