Sweat the goals!
A post from Rachael …
As some of you will know, last week I competed in the Dawlish Triathlon. As I stood on the beach waiting to dive into the chilly waters off the Dawlish Coast reality struck. This was it. This was the culmination of months of training. The nerves subsided and excitement took over. I was about to leap in and go for my goal.
Just like starting my business, when I first set my goal it felt audacious and yes, a little scary too. I wasn’t entirely convinced that I would succeed but….. I like a challenge. I went on the internet and did lots of research into what I was embarking upon. I decided on priorities and made a plan, just as you do with a business. I learnt new and scary things like how to swim long distances in cold, often choppy, seawater. I devised a training schedule, I grew in confidence and yes I surprised myself. It’s funny how once you work out your strategy everything starts to feel real and achievable.
I trained hard and I improved, despite the chilly waters, the aches and, dare I say it, the sore bum!
Rather than think about whether I could achieve my goal, I visualised what it would be like to pull it off and how I would feel, which ensured that I remained focused and determined.
There’s no doubt that without a clear vision, a well thought-out strategy, the encouragement and support of Team Absolute, friends, family and colleagues (and a physio!) combined with a lot of determination, I wouldn’t have made it to the start line, let alone the finish. But I did and in the process I quashed my doubts and beat my own limited expectations! It reminded me of why I’m in business.
What this first foray into endurance sports taught me is that if you don’t push yourself, you don’t develop yourself; you don’t stoke the fire that drives you to take on the bigger challenges that life and business throws at you. It also showed me that even though I’ve started on this particular journey a little later in life than most, you can always grow and develop!
So I feel a tremendous sense of achievement having met my goal. I wish I could bottle the euphoria I felt in the 24 hours after crossing the finish line, but sadly that’s not possible. So, just like winning a new client or making a sale, I’m going to get out there and do it all over again but next time it will be bigger and better; I want to repeat the thrill of achieving a goal that pushes me hard and to new levels. I encourage everyone that reads this post to do the same.…. you’ll feel great.