I am not a marathon runner but I wonder how they feel when they get close to the end of the race. I have heard that at one point, with a few miles to go, the temptation to give up creeps into their mind. Maybe that should be my next research project: how do they overcome those thoughts?
Over the past couple of years setting up this website has seemed like running a marathon, and as we get close to the end, thoughts regarding why am I doing this have crept into my mind. The feeling is similar to the one that I had when I was trying to get my MBA while working full-time. I recall a couple of weekend afternoons when I closed the book and asked myself “what am I doing?”. My buddies were on the lake skiing on a sunny afternoon and I had my face in a book. I almost quit twice and probably would have if not for a couple of mentors that talked me out of it. Right now, I am reminded of those days.
I guess the thing to do when these thoughts start taking over is to 1. keep your eye on the prize and 2. lean heavy on the friends that will keep you moving.
We make the point in one of our articles how important it is to have a target that is worth pursuing. A prize worth reaching will turn into an obsession and at times this is what is going to be needed to keep you going when thoughts of throwing in the towel start taking over.
I am lucky that I have a group of friends and family that are lifting me up. My mom the other day put it well when she said “I know it is hard but you are just going to have to suck it up and get it done. You have a group of friends that are ready to help you out if it gets to be too much.”
So with the prize clearly in sight and the wise words from my mom ringing in my ear we push on.