Running a marathon needs focus, passion, strength and endurance; just like your career. Below are tips from our marathon-running LaSallians that, if applied to your career, can equip you with transferable skills to use in the workplace.
Learn to say no. When you have a goal that you know is going to take time, dedication, and sacrifice, it’s important to learn how to say no to outside influences, so you don’t spread yourself thin. The same goes for your career. I used to always be a YES person, and didn’t realize that saying no is not only healthy, but it’s completely acceptable! Don’t tell your manager YES to every task, when your plate is full and you won’t be able to complete a deadline. Set realistic expectations for managers, coworkers, and clients, and then hit those expectations on time, with your best work.
Always persevere. Running a marathon takes determination and mental toughness, much like starting a new job. In a new position, you’ll have highs and lows, especially in your first few weeks. Push through those low points, whether it’s getting a side cramp at mile 6 or feeling a little lost during your first big project. You can overcome these hurdles by knowing your resources, persevering, and having a positive mindset.
Create mental mile markers. Looking at a whole 26.2 miles can be overwhelming, so instead, I broke it up and turned it into smaller pieces. In the beginning, I focused on hitting the first 6 miles. At the end, I concentrated on getting to mile 23, where my mom was waiting to cheer me on. Then when I saw her, I flipped my attention to only 3.2 miles to go! This mentality is helpful when setting goals for your career. It is easy to get bogged down by the big picture, so splitting your main goal up into smaller portions can make it less overwhelming. Plan out the path to accomplishing your goal and consider the mini milestones it takes to get there. Use these steps as mental check-ins to make sure you’re on track.
