Triathlon Lessons: Don't Jack Rabbit

This is continuing series where I'm pulling life and business lessons out of my first triathlon experience.

Don't Jack Rabbit

The race director gave the final instructions, the whistle blew and I took off like a shot in the pool. Only problem is, that wasn't the plan. My turn arounds weren't as fast because I was breathing harder than I should have been. I started too fast and gained nothing for it.

I was a runner in high school, so I knew it was a bad idea to start out a race much faster than your sustainable race pace. It's known as Jack Rabbiting.

Why is it a bad idea? Because you waste a bunch of energy and confidence and don't end up getting to the finish line any faster.

Sometimes we get so excited that we throw ourselves into a project. That's a great feeling and can be effective if we take a little bit of that energy and reserve it for planning out how our efforts will be best expended over the long term to reach the overall goal.

In my race, I needed to keep my heart rate and breathing consistent to do well in the swim and to reserve energy for the bike and run portions. I'm sure we've all thrown ourselves into projects only to find that we haven't made room for them in our busy schedule. There it sits unfinished. The burst of energy wasted because we didn't have a way to get to the finish line.

Sometimes we jackrabbit from one "emergency" to the next, not realizing that if we had planned ahead a little or redesigned that part of our life, the emergencies wouldn't exist. We only have so much Adrenalin to get through the day.

Are you a chronic Jack Rabbit? What reoccurring unhelpful jack rabbiting can you redesign in your life and business?

Dr. Shaun Jamison
Success Coach
www.guideonyourside.com

Triathlon Lessons: Don't Count on the Magic Bullet

This is part of my series on life and business lessons I pulled out of my first Triathlon experience.

Don't Count on the Magic Bullet

You might think this is comical, but I shaved off a bunch of hair to swim faster with less resistance. Granted, it wasn't the Olympics, but I wanted to get into the spirit of things.

Once you've done your training, there comes a time when your options to improve performance are limited. So, seeing as how I woke up early, I figured shaving might give me an extra length in the pool (the event was timed, so the goal was getting the most distance possible.)

Well, the magic bullet didn't work. I came in at the same number of lengths of the pool as I did in practice the week before. I have a theory why that I'll share in another post, but the bottom line is the magic bullet didn't come through.

Sometimes there are great tools and techniques out there that truly do help us achieve our goals. But often we put too much stock in them to the detriment of focusing on tried and true fundamentals.

If you work requires business development, you must prospect. It's fundamental. A good diet includes lots of fruits and veggies and a proper balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Volumes have been written on these topics and every third person has a magic bullet solution for you, but first look to the fundamentals.

In the triathlon, it's skills and fitness. What fundamentals of your life and business will you refocus on?

Dr. Shaun Jamison
Success Coach
www.guideonyourside.com

Triathlon Lessons: We're Never Ready So...

I just finished my first triathlon this week. It was an indoor timed event, so perhaps for the officiando, not the whole experience, but certainly a big deal for me. When I started exercising beyond my regular walks in February, the clock ticked ever soooo sloooowllly on a five minute run.



Thank you so very much to everyone who supported me! To pay back, I am sharing some life and business lessons from the experience for the next few days. Here's the first installment:

You're Never Completely Ready and It's O.K.

My original plan for the triathlon was to train for an event in Northern Minnesota in May 2010(I know BRRRR) that I signed up for. Then I learned about indoor triathlons and consider doing one in mid December so I would be "ready," but the most convenient was November 15th, only a couple of weeks away.

The first reaction is thinking it's not enough time, but I had been taking swim lessons since June and busily biking and running. I finally just decided to do it and had a good experience. Now the mystery and the fear is gone. I can do this. My limitations and strengths are better known to me now.

Think of the different goals that we put off constantly by making excuses. "It's a tough economy, no one will buy." or "I don't have time." or "I'm not very good at _______." Is anyone ever actually ready for anything worth doing? Know anyone that actually had enough money and parenting skills to have children when they started?

Preparation is extremely important. I'm not suggesting people be irresponsible. It's just that at some point we need to let go and accept that gaining experiences requires risk. Sometimes you have to do things before you are ready, because the only way you'll get better is by doing.

What bold risk will you take?

Dr. Shaun Jamison
Success Coach
www.guideonyourside.com

Big Goals Freaking You Out?

Big goals can be big motivators, but they can get in the way too. My former big goal was swimming 500 yards straight through so I could compete in a sprint triathlon in the spring. While that was still my goal, I added a goal of 1650 yards so I could be part of an Olympic distance triathlon team.



After months of swimming and swimming lessons, I decided last week to try to swim 500 yards straight through. I do my workouts at 5am which is convenient, but there was a little draw back. I had it in my head that I needed to swim 66 lengths of the pool.

After about 12 lengths I started to think "this is kind of hard." At 17.5 lengths I began to dispair how I would ever make 66 lengths. Then it dawned on me.

Yep, 66 lengths is my long term goal of 1650 yards, today was "only" 20 lengths and I was almost there. I joyously finished the remaining lengths and celebrated meeting my goal.

In the early A.M., I confused my goals. I let my big goal overshadow the task at hand. I'll get to 66 lengths, but that wasn't the task before me.

Big goals are great, but give yourself the space and permission to focus on the steps to get there and the tasks that build toward that goal. You'll enjoy the process better and avoid overwhelm. It's wonderful to look back and wonder "how did I ever do that?" rather than looking forward and wondering "how in the @#$%! will I ever do that?"

What are your big goals? What steps can you focus on this week that will bring you closer to your goals?

Dr. Shaun Jamison
www.guideonyourside.com

The Santa Run to Benefit Legal Aid: Team Solo Small Law

I created a team for Solo Small Law Firms for the The Santa Run to Benefit Legal Aid on December 5th.

Having a large team would be a great way to demonstrate the impact and importance of small law firms.

The registration is cheap $15 and the fundraising reasonable $100 for adults. It's kid and dog friendly and it's only a little more than a mile down Nicollet Mall so not too difficult.

Please register for the team and show some small law firm muscle.

"To register for this event at: https://www.active.com/register/index.cfm?event_id=1792635&subevent_id=1248826&team_id=725468"

Thanks, Shaun

Further description:

The Santa Run to Benefit Legal Aid is a 1 and 1/4 mile Run down Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis. When you've paid your registration and fulfilled the sponsorship requirement, you'll receive your red suit, hat and white beard when you come to Run - the suit goes over your clothes! Children 12 and under receive a Santa hat. We also had people in home-made Dreidel costumes run last year, and we hope for more this year! There's enough fun to make Scrooge giggle - all to raise money for free legal services for poor and disadvantaged Minnesotans.