Running for Life Balance

Teresa Garza — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:09:24 +0000

Answering questions after the seminar with a few fellow marathoners

Recently I’ve had the amazing opportunity to be a guest speaker at the Seattle “Rock & Roll” marathon. The experience was incredible and I truly enjoyed meeting and chatting with the folks I met at the seminar and during the race. This blog includes the primary excerpts from the seminar. Whether you are a runner or not the C.O.R.E. approach to achieving your goals may offer some guidance in your personal Quest. In whatever you do… be EPIC!

If you are a runner or triathlete (or have a desire to run a marathon or triathlon) then you have an opportunity to leverage your physical fitness to achieve goals in other areas of your life. The many months you spend training to cross the finish line of a 26.2 marathon or 13.1 half marathon (or 140 mile Ironman) is a HUGE achievement! While you prepare for your event you are learning many valuable lessons that can easily translate to success in other areas of your life. One of the critical elements of running is balance. Strengthening your physical core is essential to running success. In achieving goals outside of running, strengthening C.O.R.E. muscles includes an integrated approach of development:

Clarity
Organize
Relationships
Energy

One example of Balance may include a career change:

Over the last few years, I have received many requests from potential clients to guide them in their new career paths and have been privileged to support many in this critical transition in their life. Since career change is a reality for so many, I’ve used this example to further explain the principles of the C.O.R.E. personal development approach.

Strengthening the C.O.R.E. muscles of career change include (not limited to) the following:

Clarity: Self Awareness, mind, emotions, body sensations feeling, Self Management; Vision;

Acknowledging Emotional Impact
Identifying a Clear Vision
Ability to Focus, Discipline
Aligning with Purpose and Passion

Organize: Structured plan, skill competency, systems, tools and technology, processes, planning;

Resume Writing/Internet Savvy
Leveraging Resources (social media)
Skill Competency Assessment
Financial Planning

Relationships: Supportive, inspiring, conversational competence, empathy, political competence, give/receive support;

Building a Network of Support
Managing Toxic Relationships
Awareness of Others
Navigating New Cultures/Relationships

Energy: Self-observe that own behavior, matches intentions; basic understanding of physiology, nutrition; self care; Managing Personal Energy

Effort Allocation, (muscle of NO)
Interviewing/Networking Behaviors
Self Care Strategies
Awareness of Habits that Interfere/ Support

The C.O.R.E. model can be used in designing a personal plan for achieving any goal of personal growth and development. I wish you the best on your journey and hope that you find this useful in planning your next Epic Quest.

The Endurance That Eventually Burns Out

Teresa Garza — Tue, 18 May 2010 21:29:26 +0000

What happens to the endurance athlete or endurance business owner who doesn’t schedule time to balance their life and priorities? It is easy to fall into the “label” of being a hardworking person who is driven, dedicated and well to be quite honest a workaholic. For many of us we are happy to play that role, in fact most of the time it takes us out of the reality we may be trying to avoid for whatever reason deep down inside. It’s no different whether you are in corporate America, a local business owner or an endurance athlete; the role of being a hard worker seems to stick with many of us.

It becomes comfortable for us to be known as that great professional who is so successful at what they do. However, that road can be a lonely road. When you are “that person”, that “work-a-holic” burnout is usually on the horizon. A body can only take so much mentally, physically and emotionally. Talented people burnout and fall into a cycle of having to put in more hours to keep up. This leads to work performance issues, relationship problems with family and friends; even sometimes resulting in divorce. Health issues can arise in a person who is all work and no play, as well as lack of life effectiveness.

A top level executive once stated that people at his corporate office wear the hours they work like a badge of honor. While being proud of the work you do and complete is not a bad thing, if you are wearing the “work-a-holic” badge like a badge of honor, it may be time to step back take a hard look at yourself and evaluate the reasons why.

A good night’s sleep can do a world of wonders for increased productivity at the workplace the next day. The day usually looks clearer, your thinking ability is much greater and the work load usually appears less. If you take a moment to look at the stock of your life, you will come t know that you can accomplish more that you ever thought possible. Time is a great equalizer we all have twenty four hours in a day and seven days in a week, it’s what we do with our time that makes the difference.

Don’t be the person that allows work performance issues into your daily routine, only because you aren’t giving your body and life the right balance. If you are an athlete, a business owner or just someone in the company, learn to give your life the proper balance in order to stay at the top of your game.

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Running for Life Balance

The Endurance That Eventually Burns Out