Upgrade your life
I love to look back and reflect on past success but I have found that in the last 6 months my gaze on the past has held me back. It’s been hard to define my path forward with our business, with my personal goals, and how I can upgrade my life towards my ideal lifestyle.
A goal realized is no longer motivating. I found that goals are great, until you achieve them - most athletes struggle after that first marathon. This is the 2nd week of January which means most people have already given up on that big goal they set for themselves. When you look at goals - what is the motivating driver behind them? Athletes are ‘goal’ driven people and often do best with a set of standards to create sustainable outcomes. Think about a few rooted fundamentals when looking at 2019.
Questions to ask yourself as you define direction for 2019
What is my mission and vision for life? What practices do I need to integrate to support them? How do I create an environment to support them? How can I bring these to the forefront of my life? Who do you need to bring along to support you?
I’ve been thinking about this idea of ‘The Process’ more and more. The idea that goals are just one part of a bigger picture or even setting a goal that you can never achieve means making a shift. Instead of running a 5:00 mile - how do you run for life? What do you want to do during your tenure as a runner that will allow you to set longer term check points and make lasting decisions? How do we view life and think in an upward projection?
The idea of upgrading
I’ve been working with someone that has walked with me through this process (Nora Abell). She has shared with me the idea of upgrading your life. When you get stuck - ask yourself… ‘What’s the upgrade?’ How do you solve the problem? How do you do that thing for the last time? How do you achieve your near term objective? Nora walked the path with me and helped me better define my mission and vision in work and life. This was worth every penny and highly encourage all of you to seek a mentor in your life.
Where goals fail
Step 1 - set your intention. Step 2 - define how you will accomplish the goal. Most people never make it beyond step 1. When you set a goal - describe how you will accomplish it. Ask yourself what you will need to change and when you intend to accomplish it by. Hold yourself accountable - no one else will.
My intentions for 2019
2018 was spent running less, working more, and it didn’t serve me as much as I’d hoped. I shifted my goals to focus on growing Lifelong Endurance and Peak Performance Running - it’s time to give to myself more time and get back to loving running. My priorities for 2019 - intention shared first, Step 2 in italics.
Priority #1 - Make time to Live
I’ve been focusing on giving myself more time to enjoy the parts of my life I ignore when I get ‘busy’. I often put friends and the people I’m closest with the furthest from me. 2019 will be a year of reinvestment in my closest relationships.
Re-engage with my wife in her sports. Katie is always tagging along with what I’m doing. Time to put some air in those bike tires. See also, Getting out my comfort zone. Log more 1:1 time this year.
Travel for fun (and work too). My fun travel for 2018 was to Boston for a wet and soggy race and for our honeymoon in Guatemala. Katie and I are excited to travel and see new places. Book 2 fun travel trips in 2019.
Build closer relationships. Knowing the people in my life more closely. Take time to recognize people at the point of impact.
Make more time for the things I love with the people I love. Spend 35 days on the water this year with my friends and my wife. Keep Thursday sacred as ‘My Day’.
Priority #2 - Running
Breaking my foot in late 2017 as we were building out Peak, getting married, and building our business in 2018 left me beat up and tired. I went to Boston tired, under trained, and mentally unprepared for the conditions. I spent the rest of 2018 trying to get back in my groove with running by forcing myself out the door. I am shifting my mindset for 2019.
Work on my weaknesses. Strength training is a big part of my coaching programs. Reintegrate and reinvigorate. Time to make it fit in the schedule! Make strength training a regular part of my workouts, after the workout - hit the gym. Make time for it.
Run under 2:40 in Chicago. My lifetime goal in the mid 2:30’s is still reachable. I need to train smarter than ever before to make it a reality. Enlist some help - I will be leaning on Jesse Riley and my support system to keep me training smart and fast.
Leg Speed. Economy is essential to my success. Lowering my 3K PR to the mid to low 9:00’s and getting my mile under my PR of 4:38 will be great indicators. Make speed work a priority in my build up and attend as many (4) Boulder track meets as I can this summer.
Priority #3 - Diet
I haven’t been eating well because I’ve made myself too busy. I’ve said ‘YES’ to a lot of things this year and I need to have a diet in place that will keep my energy high, keep me fueled for workouts, and fit in my life.
Cook meals ahead and package them ahead of time. Portion control and good choices are far easier this way. Cook ahead on Sunday for the week.
Be conscious of my calorie intake. I often eat too little throughout the day and struggle to fuel well for my workouts. It was often that I left myself without options. New office - means I can have better options. Bring in only good choices, limit opportunities for failure.
Get back to race weight. I am by no means overweight but I’ve got a sweet spot on the scale where I feel I perform my best. Working there by Chicago is perfect. Application of the 2 points above should align me for success.
Priority #4 - Mission and Vision Work
I’ve recently come to understand what my mission and vision for my life are. With this knowledge I can put purpose behind what I do. This ultimately allows me become the best version of myself.
Create bigger impact and outcomes in my work. Bring the stories of my athletes to the forefront. Share 12 success stories with the world.
Share my personal journey with all of you through 52 blog posts
Build Lifelong Endurance and Peak Performance Running into businesses that align with the mission and vision more clearly. Make the Mission so clear that everyone knows what I’m trying to do in my work.
My Mission and Vision for Business and Life
M: Inspire athletes to become the highest and best version of themselves by applying the fundamental principles of athletics, guiding athletes through the application of the small details, and the importance of how to take ownership of the outcomes.
V: I believe we achieve more together when we are recognized, loved, desired, and respected by one another.
Share your 2019
The process is simple and I’d love to see my athletes and followers take a few moments for themselves. Don’t just set goals. Reflect on 2018 and ask yourself ‘ What is an upgrade?’ You can still put time goals behind it, but look at the bigger picture. How can you live closer to your mission and vision? Have you even sat down to define it?
Reflect on 2018 and where you ended up
Define and prioritize the areas you want to improve
We skip the reflection part. We forget to congratulate ourselves and be proud of ourselves. I’m naturally someone who pushes even after the initial objective is achieved. Stop and reflect and you’ll find that you did some big things this year.
The next part is the easiest - create 2-4 categories you’d like to improve on and set objectives for yourself. This gives you projects to work on. Once you set these objectives you will find that life opens up opportunities for you. You will be more present and more likely to be happy with your outcomes.