Wisdom from the sports field

Today my kid had cross country at school. The kids are only 6 and had to go about 750m. They all worked hard. I already had a leave day booked for today when the date was announced, so I was actually able to go and cheer my kid on.

This morning, we talked about the race plan they had practiced at school last week. To jog, not go all out and run out of puff, and save your sprinting for the home stretch.

My kid is fit and healthy, but not naturally athletic by any stretch of the imagination. When the kids came past the supporters area and cheering parents, about 2/3 of the way through the course, my kid was far and away at the rear.

But my kid stuck to the plan. When the other kids ran out of puff, my kid jogged past them and showed the pace in the home stretch. Was it a great finish? No. Were there a good five or six kids overtaken? Absolutely.

And - most important of all - my kid raced the whole way wearing a massive smile and with joy.

So, apparently I’m the person who remembers the fundamentals in unusual places whether that be the instant noodle aisle or the sports field.

Whatever you’re trying to build, my advice is to stick to the game plan. Don’t get distracted by the noise or the shiny tool or the model drop - lift good ideas and what works, but also have the strength and wisdom to do *you* because that always works better.

And above all, run your own race rather than worrying about anyone else’s. If you can do it with a smile on your face, that’s even better.

That’s the lesson I’m bringing home and following today.

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Wisdom from the sports field