Slow and steady wins the race

Sometimes life can feel like a race; all eyes are on you as you push through each segment of the track and inch closer and closer to the finish line.

Sometimes life can feel like a race; we talked about this in what race are you trying to win. All eyes are on you as you push through each segment of the track and inch closer and closer to the finish line. As such, I would say there might be four main types of runners in the race.

We have the walkers (no, I’m not talking about zombies here), the people who are in no rush to get to the finish line; they intend to appreciate every inch of their journey as they work toward their destination. They might speed up a little from time to time to get their energy and oxygen flowing, but they do it because they know it's good for them, not because they are trying to win the race. They move slowly but take no breaks.

Then we have the sprinters, who reach their destinations by using high intensity in short bursts. They exert large amounts of energy for short periods and then rest to recuperate. They have learned from their training that coupling intensity with recovery allows them to sustain their approach. They move quicker but take more breaks.

Then we have the marathoners, the ones that keep a more paced approach throughout the journey. They reach their destination by using maintainability instead of intensity. They maintain a slower pace but for extended periods, and when necessary, they rest to recuperate as well. They move slower but take fewer breaks.

Lastly, we have the sprinthoners who primarily sprint to their destination using a high-intensity approach with little to no periods of recovery. They push for as long as possible until their body is no longer able to sustain their approach. They move fast, take no break but often don’t finish the race.

Which one are you? Perhaps you’re a bit of each? That would make sense; life isn’t black and white. Are there areas in your life where one style seems to show up more than another?

Whether you're an athlete running sprints, a professor working with children, a nurse saving lives, a stay at home mom nursing a child, a software developer innovating, a CEO or director leading an organization, or anything in between, we all need periods of recovery from the intense efforts we put in.

When we play the long-term game and cycle through periods of intensity and recovery, we maintain our productive energy and focus, which enables us to do our best work over and over again.

When we fail to recognize the long-term approach and give everything we have to the current project or task, we risk robbing ourselves of being able to keep running in “the race” called life.

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Quote of the week

Sleep has a big impact on your ability to be effective as a manager and a leader. When you're tired, you're less capable of being empathetic to the people around you.

From Your Brain at Work Podcast, episode Creating More Human Organizations with Ariana Huffington and Dr. David Rock. This podcast is a great resource if you’re interested in Neuroscience and leadership.

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If you've enjoyed reading these as much as I've enjoyed writing them, consider sharing it with your friends and family. I would greatly appreciate it

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Have a great Sunday and a wonderful week.

Miguel,
Sparknotion – Think Differently.