The 18th Mile: It’s Not the Finish Line Leaders Should Focus On

 Most people know that a marathon is 26.2 miles long.  Successful runners also know that it’s a mistake to focus solely on that distance.  Smart leaders can benefit from similar thinking.  Whatever marathon we are running with our teams, to get to that distant goal, it’s not the finish line we should focus on, it’s the 18th mile.  Here’s why. 

Notes and Resources: 

• Prefer to read?  Here’s the full post:The 18th Mile: It’s Not the Finish Line Leaders Should Focus On
• When it comes to clearly defining the problem we are trying to solve, this post can help, and demonstrates why it’s so important to invest the time to do this part right:  What’s the Problem:  Problem-Solving Lessons-Learned from Moneyball.
   
• Team culture is critically important in helping us make it through the 18th mile.  Here’s more on how to build one that will go the distance:  How to Build Team Culture From the Ground Up
• The study of fund raisers is described in this paper prepared by Ashley V. Whillans from the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia
• My post Beat the Hamster Wheel – 5 Ways to Keep Going When You’d Rather Not has several ways to help you and your team persevere.
   

Quotable:

“Expecting and preparing for things to become difficult is the first step to overcoming them.”
- Ken Downer
 
“The presence of an obstacle doesn’t necessarily mean we’re on the wrong path, just that we need to be more creative and resourceful to continue forward.”
- Ken Downer
 

 “The true team players emerge at the 18th mile.  Pay attention to who they are, value them, encourage them, support them; they are not always who we thought they were.”
- Ken Downer
 

Related posts:
How Serving Can Make You a Better Leader
Type 2 Fun: The Secret to Achieving Your Goals
Spotlight the Support
 

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