I am completing my first full Ironman tomorrow and have been thinking a lot about my strategy for it. Of course it would be nice to meet certain time or pace goals, but I don’t control those. It would be great to place in the 2nd quartile, and I don’t control that either. I can influence all of those but I don’t control them. It would be great if we have gorgeous weather (looks like we will) and that we wouldn’t have any jellyfish (looks like there will be lots), but I can’t even influence either of those at all even if they do concern me. So my focus for the Ironman is to keep within heart rate zone 2 and to have a good time. I can control both of those. And I if do that, I will have a great experience and even have the best chance at performing at maximum speed as well. By focusing on what I control, I will have the best outcome on what I can influence. But if I focus on things I can’t control and stress out about them, it will create a worse result for what I can influence and I also won’t be controlling what I can. It I will have a bad time. This is exactly the same in business. Stephen Covey said it best. We have three circles: control, influence, and concern. By focusing on our circle of concern, we shrink our circles of influence and control. By focusing on our circle of control, we grow it into our circles of influence and sometimes even into our circle of concern. If I spend my energy on things out of my control, I won’t be creating the most leverage from those things I can control and my outcomes will get worse.
I had two reminders of this just today, one from the Ironman itself, “All you have left to do is show up and give your best on race day – whatever it brings. Accept what you can’t control – other athletes, the weather, or bad luck – and remain in control of your attitude and your ability to adapt to whatever race day (or life) throws at you.” I couldn’t have said it better. The second was on The Daily Stoic Podcast this morning. Check it out if you like.
I used to spend way to much of my time focused on (also called worrying about or stressing out over) things that I don’t control. It is such a waste of life! I get to feel bad worrying about them now and most of those things don’t come to pass anyway. Ask yourself if what you are focusing on is in your control and if it is not, challenge yourself to find what is in your control and move your focus there. You and those important in your personal and business life will thank you.
Have a great weekend!
Art
PS: If you want to follow my adventure tomorrow, you can here: adventure
