Monthly Archives: December 2007

No Failure – Only Pending Personal Bests

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A few days ago I wrote about my 2007 personal best running goal to break 7 minutes for the mile.

Alas I had 2 attempts before 31st December and did not make it. My first time trial on a windy and cold day ended in running 7 minutes and 20 seconds.

running goal

(My daughter took this photo while I was warming up.)

The second one was a little better at 7 minutes and 17 seconds.

Of course I was disappointed at not breaking the 7 minute barrier but at least I have improved my personal best by 3 seconds.

And I’m sufficiently motivated to make my 2008 personal best goal a very doable sub-7 minutes.

Even if you have little interest in running, here are some goal setting lessons I learned from my running in 2007:

  • My ‘dumb’ goal of “running in the zone” remains valid every time I do a run.
  • I need to buy a sports watch with split times so I can track my progress with some ‘smart’ goals in my training diary.
  • I have been training to run the first 1/2 mile at sub 7 minute speeds – but neglecting the stamina work necessary to run the full distance.
  • I love running – it’s impossible to worry while running :-)

This post has a touch of public accountability in that I sense a (motivating) pyschological driver to ‘close’ the goal out.

It doesn’t feel like pressure in the sense of a time bound limit with dire consequences for failing.

More like an encouraging warmth from the thoughts of those who may read these words and wish me well – as I do you!

- Mark McClure

Career Change Goals – 2007 Review

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Here’s what I’ve come up with for the career goals “reality review” exercise I wrote about here:
http://markmccluretoday.com/reviewing-your-career-change-goals

1- Complete this paragraph in 15 minutes or less.
I had some interesting experiences on my career change journey in 2007. For example, here are 5 important lessons I’ve learned from the past 6 months:

  • My ex-employer hasn’t missed a beat.
  • I work best when the apartment is quiet.
  • The world doesn’t owe me a living.
  • Cash flow is king.
  • My dog (Kuri) seems blissfully unconcerned for her future.

2- Complete this paragraph in 15 minutes or less.
I know that my career (change) goals had an impact on other areas of my life this year. For example:

  • I ought to get out more lol! (my family think so too)
  • Long term employment’s fermented a “selling time” mindset.
  • Mealtimes are more regular.
  • My weight’s within 2lbs of when I was 22. (No diet).
  • You can’t beat a run in the park.
  • A weekly status report is a vital business tool.
  • Change really is uncomfortable.
  • Thank goodness for the power of self-coaching.

There’s probably more but I’ve spent about 30 minutes and that’ll do for now.

How about you?

- Mark McClure

Productivity and Workflow Timers

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One of the dangerous habits in growing this new online business is that there’s a very strong survival instinct to keep on working… and working… and working. In fact, to work way more than I ever did in any corporate career role.

(Note to myself: I can mentally hear a few of my mentors call me out on “survival instinct” because from their financially independent hilltops, they see it more as the legacy of an addiction to “salaried employment”. Choke. Splutter… but don’t I get time off in lieu lol!)

Let me explain.

My current online business strategy has 5 broad categories around which I organize my time and effort. These are:

  1. Online Products and Services.
  2. Targeted Traffic.
  3. Copywriting.
  4. Freedom.
  5. Administration.

In a typical working week I now know that at least 2/3 of the tasks in each category currently require a computer. About half of those require Internet access.

And from observing other successful small (mainly online) business owners I believe the ideal solution for an owner (as opposed to manager) is to have those computer-related tasks supervised and performed automatically or, better still, outsourced to competent others.

But how to get there?

I think there are a number of steps before these can be outsourced or given to interns, virtual assistants and the like:

  • Document the task and it’s intended starting input and end result.
  • Record the time taken to complete the task.
  • Put the documentation securely online.
  • Keep a master physical copy of the doco.
  • Structure the total task work flow to take 40 minutes or less.

The last bullet point is of great interest to me as an educator, coach and business owner. Obviously, I want the tasks done well – that is, to at least the standards specified in the task documentation. No less.

The reason why it’s 40 minutes is simple.

Continue reading →

The 6 minute Mile Personal Best Goal

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Some really big goals are best experienced as a journey towards and beyond your own personal best in a given field.

For example, I like to go running – although I am probably classed as a jogger these days in the eyes of most club runners.

And I no longer have much desire to compete against others (except for the odd power walker!) though I do enjoy challenging myself.

My really big challenge – something I call an OG (or “olympic goal’) is to run 5 miles in 30 minutes.

Cough..splutter. Considering I was a 400 metres hurdler many moons ago, achieving that OG in middle age is a tall order indeed.

I also enjoy running for its own sake and (most times) get tremendous enjoyment and peace of mind while doing so. That alone is a worthy endeavour (to me) and justifies the time and effort.

There are currently no detailed training plans and deadlines for my OG goal – but I did set a 2007 goal to run a mile in 6 minutes – where anything less than 7 minutes will qualify.
So, 6 minutes and 59 seconds would be enough.

I call these types of goals, “personal best goals” (or ‘PB’ for short) as they go beyond my current best performance. In addition to PB goals for running, I use them in most areas of my life as targets to aim at.

There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with “healthy competition” (that term deserves a post all to itself) but some goals can be deliciously personal. And this is one of them.

Now that the year is almost over, what I think I’ll do is ask my daughter to be both timekeeper and cheerleader – and just go do a time trial.

Hmm… I guess that means I’m making myself publicly accountable for this running goal.

Fine by me.

Expect an update when the deed is done.

“There is no failure – only pending PBs”!

– Mark McClure

Reviewing Your Career Change Goals

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In this end of December lull between the old and the new year, do your thoughts sometimes turn to what might’ve been and what’s yet to come?

You’re not alone.

As both a career changer and a coach, I’ve noticed 2 direct benefits of a yearly review:

  • Life’s a great teacher – so by looking critically but compassionately at the past 12 months you can “prime the pump” for what’s realistically possible in the next 12.
  • Your career and other categories of your life are often linked in ways you tend to forget e.g. wealth, health, family, friends, personal growth.

With these benefits in mind, here’s a wee exercise that might just set you up for a great 2008.

All you need’s pencil, paper and about 30 minutes of quiet time.

  • Complete this paragraph in 15 minutes or less.
    “I had some interesting experiences on my career change journey in 2007. For example… “
  • Complete this paragraph for your main life categories in 15 minutes or less.
    “I know that my career (change) goals had an impact on other areas of my life this year. For example, my family…”

An important part of setting future goals is becoming more aware of your existing reality. It’s especially true for beginning career changers who are often unaware of just how much they and others (including loved ones) have “invested” in your current life path and direction.

I will return to this subject in a post before New Year’s Eve.

– Mark McClure