Guest Blog | How Marathon Training Helps Me Do My Job

Welcome to another Thoughtful Thursday! Each week, Thursday features a new guest blogger to the site. I’m choosing FANtastic bloggers who know the ins and outs of sales and marketing. If you are interested in being a guest blogger, please drop us an email. So grab a cup of coffee and dive in! You’re sure to learn something new.

…The similarities between training for a marathon and a successful marketing and sales career…

I will run my first marathon in October in Chicago. 26.2 miles is the furthest I’ll have ever run at one time. It’s not something you can just ‘wing’ as a runner. It’s not like a 10k or even a half marathon. A marathon requires dedicated, proper training and a methodical approach… similar to a sales and marketing strategy.

Running a marathon wasn’t actually on my list of things to accomplish until recently, when a friend suggested it. I shrugged it off; it seemed like a lot of work. I didn’t know if I could commit the time or have the required dedication. In the past I used my kids as an excuse, but they are now 18 and 20, so that excuse isn’t really valid anymore. It also made me think about the missed opportunities in our professional lives – those things that seem hard and require effort.

Well, I put my name in for the lottery for the Chicago marathon and, low and behold, I was one of the lucky ones. Yay, I made it! Holy crap, I made it. Now what?

I have spent my entire business career in various sales and marketing roles. I’ve been successful, not necessarily because I’m a remarkable sales person, but because I have worked hard, followed a plan and I’ve had great coaches. I figured this approach should work for marathon training also.

The following is what I’m learning (at the time of writing, I have about 10 weeks to go).

1. Ask for Help. If you don’t know how to do something, talk with friends, co-workers, family. Find someone who can help you. Whether it’s marathon running or marketing and sales, those who have done it have stories and recommendations. People love to be asked their opinion and looked upon as experts.
2. Follow a Program. In marketing and sales, we learn quickly the importance of a follow-up process or sales process. Prospects fall through the cracks when a process is not followed. Just like a sales process for prospects, I have a training program that I follow and complete each day. You can’t cram for a marathon; it’s a slow, steady process that needs to be followed and adhered to. You get out what you put in. Funny how that works!
3. The Right Equipment. Good running shoes and clothing are a necessity to perform at your best, protect you from the elements and avoid blisters. In sales and marketing you need the tools to deliver – the technology to help you be more efficient, the marketing tools for your prospect and a perfected sales presentation. And you must use the equipment/tools. They don’t do the job for you, but they will make it easier.
4. Learn from Setbacks. There are good runs and challenging runs. We learn from both. I document how I feel about each run and how I can do better. In marketing and sales you must constantly assess and reassess how a campaign is doing and tweak and adjust as necessary. Sometimes a setback can give you a whole new perspective. Focus on the things you can control.
5. Visualize Success. I have already started thinking about crossing the finish line! In my head, I’m running a lot faster than I will be on race day, but this visualization makes practice easier. In marketing and sales, visualizing success helps me figure out how many leads we need, the best sales process to follow, and how we convert more prospects to purchasers.
6. The power of habits. Getting out to run is a bit like picking up the phone and making calls. Sometimes it’s the last thing I feel like doing, but once I get into a rhythm, it feels pretty good and I wonder why I procrastinated in the first place! Scheduling has been an important part of my success. I plan each week on Sunday night (both for running and for work) by blocking time to complete my runs and my work tasks. Planning ahead keeps me on track.
7. The Team Aspect. When you run a marathon, you need support. It’s not a one-man/woman show. Your family, friends, a running group, and perhaps even a coach all can help by motivating and encouraging you. I may run on my own, but I have a group of people to help and support me and to share my journey. In my career, I also have a team to motivate, to keep me on track, to help and support me.
8. Passion & Faith. This is something we need in all aspects of our lives. When we are passionate about something we work harder. When we have the confidence/faith in ourselves we can accomplish it. Work is a little more interesting and enjoyable when we love what we do and believe in ourselves.

Things don’t always go as planned. A perfectly scheduled life hardly exists. Flexibility, along with a little humor, helps. You may not execute a campaign the way you envisioned. A prospect may delay a purchase, or a run may need to be cut short because of a work commitment. I may not run the marathon quite the way I plan. Being nimble and flexible will go a long way in reducing stress!

The next 10 weeks are exciting and scary, but I’m learning to push my limits and expand my boundaries. I’m being reminded to do this in my professional life as well. Similar to a sales presentation, preparation is key. Regardless of what happens in October, I will be stronger and fitter, professionally and personally.

Meet the Author

Angela McKay is the VP of Client Experience with Lasso Data Systems. She has worn a multitude of hats over the last ten years with Lasso and has been responsible for marketing and account management. She consults to and helps clients who use Lasso CRM, by providing online strategy and email marketing expertise to help homebuilders achieve better results. In addition to her work at Lasso, Angela is actively involved with NAHB’s Professional Women in Building as the Communications and Education Chair. Representing PWB, Angela has facilitated leadership sessions and presented on branding and the influence of the female buyer.

Connect: Twitter – @lassocrm | Website – http://www.lassocrm.com/

Categorised in: Guest Blogs, Thoughtful Thursdays