Tenacity And Commitment – What Marathoners And Small Business Owners Have In Common
My daughter and her best friend, two incredibly powerful young women, ran the New York Marathon this year. It was my daughter’s second marathon in New York City, and the first for her friend. I must say, what an experience to watch, let alone participate in.
Many lessons were learned. We watched her at the 17-mile spot and near the end, at approximately 25 miles. I cannot even imagine walking 26.2 miles let alone running it in 3 hours and 40 minutes! Can you imagine the mental control, the spiritual control the physical anguish felt by over 40,000 runners demonstrating what is (to me at least) near superhuman effort? In a few words, it requires incredible tenacity and unreal commitment, refusing to give up no matter what your mind says and your body feels. You hold the course and step, step, step, step, up hills, down hills, over and over, through the pain, for close to four hours, running all the way. It’s an amazing feat, beyond my comprehension and I thought I was tough! I do 20-30 minutes on the elliptical machine and that’s a challenge, but almost four hours? That’s laughable, not even imaginable.
At the end, the amazing toughness these people demonstrated was clear. Grimacing in pain, some barely moving but still running nonetheless, some stopping to massage the painful cramps attacking their legs, onward they go, determined to not let anything stop them. I observed my daughter quietly preparing for this event, running ten miles daily, occasionally farther, working out at the gym… They have worked so hard and for so long to train for this event, nothing can deter them from their mission, from reaching their goal.
Here is the message I gleaned from this… small business owners are marathon runners, facing physical pain, mental torture, and spiritual challenges, the likes of which few others have ever endured and could possibly understand. Only those few small business owners with the tenacity of a marathon runner will ever see the end, the finish line, and fewer will cross in good shape and only the smallest handful will win. However, in my book, every participant is a winner, every participant understands what it takes to be a marathon runner–or a small business owner–sacrifice, punishment, tenacity, commitment and an unwavering belief in one’s self.
All who enter are winners, everyone that dares to enter the race, be it a marathon or a small business enterprise, and to declare themselves ready and willing to sacrifice their bodies and mind and spirit and to persevere with the tenacity of a marathon runner. They conquer fear, deprivation and the desire to stop when being punished. All are winners, pulling each other towards the goal rather than competing against each other, evidenced by the many who stopped and helped their fellow runners through a tough spot or moment. Most compete not even against the clock (although it is certainly a benchmark, a measuring stick of progress) but against themselves, conquering every barrier that appears, mental or physical, every desire to stop and rest, refusing to give up, maintaining a “no problem” attitude, a fierce commitment to achieve the goal, no matter what it takes. That is the definition of a small business owner and I bow to your demonstration of your personal power.
Yes, my friends, we as small business owners are all running a marathon, much longer than 26.2 miles, and all uphill. We endure, fighting our demons and insisting we will win, taking no prisoners and doing whatever it takes. The tenacity and commitment of a marathon runner, that’s what it takes. Small business owners are heroes–superheroes, actually. Bless you all, you are demonstrating excellence that defies logic, imagination, or understanding. I bow to your commitment, to your tenacity, to your success. You are all marathon runners, running super marathons–a small business is a super marathon–long, hard and punishing, requiring the ultimate in personal self-sufficiency and self-control to succeed. Hallelujah! You are the backbone of this country.
As for my daughter and her friend, what an incredible feat you’ve accomplished. I stand in awe of your accomplishments and acknowledge this is far more than a race, it is an incredible demonstration of your personal power. You are our future and we are in safe hands. I am very proud of you both, you are my heroes.
