It's a marathon, not a sprint!

You might have heard of this saying before, just like me, but I never understood the true meaning of it until I actually ran my first half marathon yesterday in Toronto. #towaterfront42k

Running a marathon is a mental rollercoaster that echoed how life can be if you want to be successful in your career. You need to focus on one boring task for an extended period, suffer, grind, feel the urge to quit a hundred times, and still, persist until you’re done (not tired). Interestingly, like professional growth, you’re never really done. As soon as you cross that finish line, you start thinking about your time, the records, and how you can improve for the next marathon.

I'm still in the early stages of my marathon journey. Nearly two months ago, I decided to register for the 2023 Toronto marathon after only one month of training. Very much like my usual self -excited and impatient for growth- I didn’t settle for the 5k, 10k, or even the half marathon; I went for the full 42k race. I followed my inner voice which said, ‘Go for the full run! the sky is the limit, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve practiced!’ However, after running 20k, I realized that it's best to be kind to myself and save the dream of running a full marathon for 2024, but I stepped far outside my comfort zone and completed the 21k in 2 hours and 14 minutes!

Marathon is a simulation of life. When you start, you’re surrounded by fellow runners, but in reality, you are truly alone in this journey. YOU alone are responsible for each step. While some people cheer you on along the way, YOU have to contend with your inner voice telling you to quit. In short, much like life, only you can change the narrative and prove to yourself that you are more than just your pain and weaknesses.

In conclusion, the half-marathon was a valuable lesson that reminded me that the path to growth may be painful, but I need to be patient and focused on my goals, stay hard and keep doing those boring and vital tasks every day. It taught me the true value of discipline, goal setting and enduring hardships and I'm absolutely excited to apply these lessons in my career and continue striving for success.

In summary, as a reminder, whether you're applying for jobs, reaching out to people to market your product, or grinding every day, remember that life is like a marathon, not a sprint. Be patient with yourself and stay committed to your goals.

#marathon #choosetorun #growth