No B.S Friday: Sometimes like just bumps you around…
Running is one thing.
Running on soft sand is another.
Running on a jumping castle is another again.
And running on a jumping castle while some massive bastard jumps up and down around you is a completely different kettle of fish.
Generally, with the people I’ve mentored over the years, I find myself talking a lot about running on soft sand.
That is, how do you sustain traction and momentum when things become a bit of a slog – when you ‘ve got to put in twice the effort just to hold your usual pace?
And for most of us, it’s the soft sand that kills us.
Take New Year’s resolutions for example. They’re easy in the first couple of weeks. The calendar’s clear, you’re feeling fresh from the break, you’re super inspired. It’s like running on a spring-loaded sprint track.
But then things get hard. The ground beneath your feet begins to get soft and unforgiving. The weekends start filling up with obligations – kids birthday’s and trips to Ikea. You remember that your day job is frustrating and saps your energy. You’re not even sure how much you want what you thought you wanted anyway.
Once you hit the soft sand, you’ve got to dig a bit deeper. You’ve got to tap your motivation and keep it on tap. You’ve got to become efficient in your strategy and translate intention into habits. You’ve got to leverage the knowledge and experience of others.
This is all stuff I’ve written about before – the disciplines of soft sand running.
But sometimes life gives you something else entirely. Sometimes it feels like you’re on a jumping castle with a bunch of massive fat blokes and you’re fighting just to keep your feet.
I’ll be honest with you. That’s what it feels like for me right now.
As you know, a key element of my business is events. What’s the outlook for the events sector right now?
A bunch of fat blokes on a jumping castle.
Covid is still loose, and the situation is still fluid. It’s impossible to build concrete plans.
Thankfully, we began the pivot towards online several years ago, so we’ve done better than many people in the space. But still. I’m asking myself how much longer we’re going to stick with our ‘temporary’ response measures.
At some point I’m going to have to say, nup, this isn’t an exception anymore, this is my core business. At some point I’m going to have to make that call.
When?
Four fat blokes on a jumping castle.
So what can you do?
I think it’s like my Grandmother used to say: When life gives you jumping castles, jump around.
The truth is that life is unpredictable. That’s actually what makes it fun. It’d be kinda boring if everything you ever wanted to do just flowed without a hitch, all the time.
So I think you have to hold tight to your intentions, and keep committed to progress.
But sometimes you also just have to acknowledge that you’re on a jumping castle, and these blokes are going to bump you around for a bit.
Whee.
So far, 2021 is giving us more jumping castle than sprint-track.
That’s ok. It’s all part of the mix.
And at the end of the day, whether you find it frustrating or fun, it’s all up to you.
Have a great year everyone.
JG.