Warning: This blog post may change things for you and your business. It’s about motivation. It will take you MAYBE 4 minutes to read.
It’s been too long since I went running on the farm roads behind my house. Way too long. Truthfully, I don’t remember why I started driving to a neighborhood down the street, parking my car, running and then driving back — when I have the beauty of dirt roads surrounded by fields and forest directly behind me. But, yesterday, I took my old running path.
I knew I was home the moment my shoes hit the dirt. My joints breathed a sigh of relief to be off the pavement. So did the arches of my feet. I ran faster and harder … and then I felt that familiar — but forgotten — awareness… acute awareness….
Who am I kidding? Let’s call it waves of outright anxiety.
An anxiety born from the reality that I live (and run) where bears, foxes, snakes and more make their home. An anxiety born from knowing that it’s currently bear mating season.
Anyway, this anxiety gave me the wind — the motivation — to run with a bit more purpose. Get in. Get done. Get out. I was killing it. Running faster and longer than I’d ever run in a neighborhood. On the way home — there’s a 1/2 mile stretch where I have to run beside the road — I remembered this little game I used to play.
I’ve never discussed this game with a single soul. Because it’s a game called chicken. In my mind, I’d play it with oncoming cars. I’d spot a car, pick a drive way and as they came towards me, I’d run like hell towards them…. and see who could pass the chosen driveway first. The competition motivated me. Even if those drivers thought I was crazy. Even though they had no idea they were part of my inner competition.
Notice that yesterday’s run was fueled by two different sources of motivation. NEITHER were apparent to me when I was on the couch and wondering weather I should run or not. NEITHER were expected. BOTH came after my shoes were tied, my running songs were chosen and I was out the door.
You don’t have to be motivated to do anything. You can do what you need to do FIRST — without “feeling motivated.” Yes, you can do “it” anyway. And let the motivation show up… as it often does… in the doing.
To any driver that passed me yesterday, I want you to know: I won. I won every single competition yesterday. One, just barely. But still. I won. =) Until tomorrow….
