What an Ultramarathon Taught Me About Work

In May I ran an ultramarathon race called Mauna to Mauna.  More specifically it was a 7 day, self-supported stage race.  I carried a 20lb pack on my back that held my week's rations of food, clothing, and equipment.  The race directors provided water, a shared community tent, and a map of the route.  While everyday was a different distance, it averaged out to a marathon per day for a full week, with a long stage of ~50 miles in the middle.  The terrain was brutal (over lava fields and volcanoes) and climate varied (ranging very wet and extremely cold nearing freezing to so hot the back of my hands blistered in the sun).   Events like this teach an individual a great many lessons - here are 10 that I found highly relevant to the work I do with my teams and our client partners.My race detailed report of the experience can be found here:  http://shawnboomrunning.blogspot.com/2017/06/mauna-to-mauna-race-report.html

The lessons one learns and character one builds during the pursuit of stretch goals becomes chiseled into the soul.  Here are my top ten lessons that an ultramarathon event like this can translate to work life:

1. The goal may be a personal one but the journey is made up of amazing people by your side who you rely on for support, encouragement, team work, ideas, and shared passion:  share the journey
2. When the moment feels awful and you hit an ultimate low, if you refocus on the basics you can always climb back to a high.
3. In the moments of exhaustion, when battling raw challenges, it becomes just how right Maslow was: all you really need is food, water, air, a warm place to rest, and people around you
4. The value of the right gear can’t be underestimated.  Carry only what you need and find multiple ways to use it to problem solve.  Everything has multiple purposes.
5. Passion takes you further than talent and persistence carries you more than preparation
6. Leverage persistence appropriately:  Have a plan but be smart enough to recognize when you need to change it because there are different ways to accomplish the end goal
7. When you think you are alone in your battle, you will eventually realize others are observing and learning from you – act accordingly.
8. There are times for both big picture thinking and tactical work.  It can be overwhelming to think about the thousands of steps required to get to the end. Breaking the journey into parts and celebrating each milestone makes for more celebrations but it’s important to check back on the big picture as you progress.
9. Know what your goal is and don’t confuse yours with someone else’s
10. Bring nothing negative to the trail.  Nothing erodes the pleasure of a moment like someone complaining.

and a bonus #11:  Hard results matter!  Did you achieve your goal or not.  If not, what can you learn and take with you for later.  If so, success it addictive!