I am an amateur runner. My charm had come to run three years ago from a running race in the city. I completed the 10 km race in one-and-a-half hours. This was my first challenge when coming to this sport. Before that, I did not prepare for a running race and just signed up to run for fun with my colleagues. After that time, I became passionate about this sport and spent a lot of time practicing it. In the process of running, I have come up with many positive things.
Similarity
We can easily determine the benefits of running for our health and well-being in the media, especially in the context of rapidly evolving information technology. My blog will not talk about that anymore. I feel that there is a strong correlation between running and work. There are three main factors in this correlation.
Baggage
The first factor I want to mention is “baggage”. When you run, the first thing you need to equip yourself with is running shoes, because they help you run comfortably and protect your feet when running on the road. Next, you need to know the subject of running, such as running posture, how to take a breath, how to keep pace, …, in short, it is a running skill. In our work, too, we have to equip ourselves with basic knowledge to professional knowledge. We cannot work without the knowledge and skills of what we are doing.
Moreover, when running long distances, water and energy must be added to keep the body active. The addition of mineral water or energy food cannot be avoided, you need to prepare it before. Similar to improving your career path or you can develop more creative solutions at work. You cannot get it with limited knowledge but need to expand it, learn and absorb new ideas and new sources of knowledge.
“The better prepared we are, the easier it is to conquer the running track or to solve difficult problems at work.”
Target
On the other hand, you cannot run forever without reaching the finish line. You cannot do it when you don’t know what it means to do it. We need to have “target”.
I set a goal for myself to run a half marathon. Initially, I could run only 3 km at a pace of 9. After that, I trained to increase the number of completed kilometers to 5 km and 10 km at a better pace. Finally, I completed 21 km at a pace of 7. Instead of trying to reach the 21 km goal from scratch, I attempted to achieve a smaller and easier target. Distances of 3, 5, 10, and 21 km are called targets. Similarly, you need to set a target for your work and career path.
For example, I set my goal that in the next three years, I will be promoted to department head. This is a challenging target, and it is difficult to perform in the short term. So, I have to set easier targets related to this, such as I need to be the best member of the team, I have to lead the team, and I can help my team become the best in the department.
In addition, setting a clear target from the start keeps us on track and focuses more on it than when we do not have a target. The target also gives us the motivation to obtain it. This means that you have to work hard and have a reasonable plan to do so.
We need to practice the skills of determining a target and planning to achieve them. It sounds very easy, but knowing the target and making a good plan is difficult. The target must be clear and can do it somehow. It is not far-fetched or absurd. One tip that can be applied is that the target should have metrics to measure.
“If you take care of the small things, the big things take care of themselves.” — Emily Dickinson
Partner
The last factor that I want to talk about is a partner. Most of us have heard of this famous quote:
“If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together” — African Proverb.
It is an important factor. Partners may include friends, colleagues, leaders, or anyone. I can run alone on a long road. However, when I joined the marathon, many participants ran together. I seem to have more strength and run faster at the finish line. Sometimes, I was very tired and wanted to stop running, but everyone around me was running very enthusiastically, and I also received encouragement from behind. Therefore, I attempted to complete the race. Also, in working, you can learn more from your colleagues and leader. A good colleague will help you a lot in your work, such as helping you gain new knowledge, helping you complete difficult work, helping you realize your shortcomings, and giving you the right advice.
You are not alone in society. When you need someone’s help, there is someone ready to help you. This certainly does not occur naturally. You must know how to find the right person. Good partners do not show you everything, but they will work with you to find solutions. They appear not only in work but also in your daily life. Otherwise, you are also a partner for others. Let us improve your skills and knowledge to become good partners.
“You should be better than yesterday and spread it to everyone.”
In conclusion
Running not only helps you have a healthy body but also helps you have a strong and resilient will. There are many new and breakthrough ideas when running on flowery roads and fresh air. Running is an opportunity for you to listen to your body and mind. I discovered an interesting connection between running and working, how about you?