Run Your Own Race: Shift Your Mindset and Take Out the Head Trash
Heads up: this story is adapted from a much bigger project I’ve been working on. More to come in the next few months—stay tuned!
I’ve completed 4 Ironman Triathlons, 12 marathons, and countless other races.
I’ve raised tens of thousands of dollars for charity, earned by putting one foot in front of the other.
Fiercely competitive? Absolutely. Unless…..
Unless I’ve fallen behind. My biggest flaw as a runner is that I don’t do well if I need to make a comeback.
If I’m already ahead of a competitor, I’ll do anything to stay ahead—and to extend my lead as much as possible. But seeing someone ahead of me isn’t motivating. It’s demoralizing.
The voice in my mind starts up:
You’re not going to win.
You’re already screwed.
You’ll never come back from this.
Instead of speeding up, I slow down.
That voice inside my brain is spewing negative self-talk. It can crush me if I don’t have it under control.
I bet you have an internal voice of your own to contend with.
***
I first heard the phrase “head trash” at a workshop for entrepreneurs. The definition is simple: it’s the story you’re telling yourself.
Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't—you're right.”
Whether the story is right or wrong is insignificant. Your brain reinforces that story until it becomes your reality.
And as an entrepreneur, your mindset effectively IS your business. Your thoughts shape your actions, which directly impact your success.
At its worst, head trash is toxic, paralyzing stuff that holds you back.
You’ll never be successful.
They’ll always be better than you.
It’s never going to happen.
What could you possibly have to offer?
Sound familiar?
***
If you want to grow your business—and I know you do—without being miserable, you need to manage your head trash.
For me, that starts with getting my head on straight. And THAT starts with extremely basic healthy habits.
Here are a few things that work for me (and many other entrepreneurs I’ve helped over the last 30 years):
- Sleep: get enough of it
- Exercise: do some three or more times per week
- Food: make it relatively healthy and eat enough but not too much
- Vices: limit them, especially when you’re stressed
- Time off: take it—more than you think you need
- Awareness: realize head trash exists and call it out when it shows up
Last but not least, a mental reframe. The most successful CEOs tell themselves they are capable of rising to any challenge. They believe that solutions to their problems exist.
Instead of, “Can I achieve XYZ,” they ask, “How will I achieve it?”
That implied belief in yourself can make all the difference.
***
I’d love to tell you that my head trash is gone. I’d love to share a heroic story about a recent race, when I came back from behind to run a personal best time.
The reality is that between chronic plantar fasciitis and a skiing accident that resulted in major surgery, I’ve built a new relationship with running. I can’t go as hard, run as fast, or stay out as long.
The head trash still shows up, but I’ve found ways to manage it. (If you see me taking meetings on the treadmill, I’m working hard to keep my head trash at bay.)
And whether it’s age or acceptance…I’m okay with all of it.
Finally, I seem to be running my own race.
