A performance check-up
June 15, 2018
Gail Bower in Leadership, Strategy
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I have a confession. For the last 8 years, I’ve been a wimpy runner.

When I started running, a friend told me about an app, called Couch to 5K, a timed and guided walk-run program that takes you from being a complete beginner to a 5K-runner in 7 weeks by increasing the amount of time running vs. walking.

In the last few years, I parked my run in week 3 or 4 and called my 30-minute workout a success. During these weeks, the longest, continuous running lengths are 3-5 minutes.

That all changed last week.

On the recommendation of another friend, I’ve been meditating using an app, called Headspace. (Love it!) Last week, Headspace issued a few new programs led by founder Andy Puddicombe and Nike Running Global Head Coach Chris Bennett, combining meditation and running. In the first session, you run continuously for 12 minutes and 15 minutes in the second.

I completed both runs easily. In fact maybe too easily.

This minor feat made me realize that I’d stopped my own progress. Running for 12 or 15 minutes without slowing the pace to a walk is a different experience than walk-running.

Where might you have grown comfortable with your performance? Where might you have not noticed that you are capable of more or better ways of operating — running or growing an organization or even living our life?

Your challenge
My challenge to you this week is to consider where you might 10x your performance? But before you figure out how to accomplish that, imagine the benefit. What would it feel like? What would new results mean for you? 

Send me an email and let me know what you discover and what the new results would mean. 

Here’s something surprising I found. I felt inspired to push myself even more. If I can run 12 minutes or 15 minutes, I’ll bet I can double that and run 30. That’s my next goal.

What’s yours?

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