The power of "zooming in"

We are often encouraged to "zoom out" so we can see the big picture, the vision, where we are heading. I have found it is just as important to "zoom in" as we strive to realise our vision and reach the desired destination. It can be really daunting committing to an end goal that is audacious and requires significant work to achieve. More often than not we are wondering how the hell we are going to get there. It doesn't matter if the goal is work-related or personal, the challenge comes with the same feelings of anxiety and excitement and requires the same principles to be applied for us to be successful.

The late Stephen Covey wrote about the principle that "all things are created twice". The first creation is the concept or the vision, the second creation is actualising the vision, making it happen. I used to talk to my now grown-up kids about this concept when they were in their early teens, thinking they were not really listening to me at all. Until my son said to me one day, after he qualified as a lifeguard and got some work at the local aquatic centre, "See Mum, first creation was the idea I wanted to be a lifeguard and second creation was I did the work to get my certification and applied for the job and got it!"

In both my corporate career and personal endeavours I have found that "zooming in", "chunking", "narrowing focus" is the key to the second creation. The underpinning actions guiding this approach include:

1. Planning, in detail, the steps to get from where you are now to where you want to be (the end goal).

2. Narrowing your focus to a day-to-day mindset. Ask yourself, "What is immediately in front of me that takes me one step closer to the end goal?"

3. Being consistent and sticking to the plan.

4. Stuff happens and sometimes we deviate from the plan - don't be hard on yourself, just refocus and get back on track. Don't give in to the temptation of giving up because of a few setbacks.

5. Don't be afraid to modify the plan. As we work towards our end goal we will be learning along the way. Agility and flexibility are assets but only in combination with a solid foundational plan.

6. Don't be afraid to seek out the expertise and support of others who will help inform and guide your approach and encourage you along the way.

7. As we go about realising the second creation I have emphasised the need to be "zooming in", but it is important to regularly remind ourselves of the inspiration that comes from the first creation, the vision, the why! It keeps us motivated and heading in the right direction.

In April this year I achieved a significant personal goal of running the Boston Marathon, but of course the journey started a long time before I crossed the finish line. I had many years of running under my belt, but a marathon is next level. How did I do against my own advice?

1. I had a training plan mapped out that required me to allocate sufficient time to workouts (sometimes over 3 hours in duration). In order to execute the training plan, I needed to be in good shape, so no late nights and a commitment to healthy food choices was the way to go.

2. Each day was about getting the work done and trusting the process. I was just focusing on the workout for each day, but they soon added up to increase my endurance and strength.

3. I did stick to the plan. I printed out my spreadsheet for each month and crossed off the completed sessions each day. This was very satisfying as it was like achieving mini goals along the way.

4. Even though I rarely missed a day of the plan I did have some "lost" days due to COVID vaccinations and unavoidable commitments. I actually "zoomed out" in those moments to remind myself that these missed days were just a blip in the overall scheme of things and would have no bearing on the end result.

5. I did modify the plan along the way when I tested myself out by doing a half marathon around town in the early hours of a Saturday morning. My hip flexors became so sore I could hardly put one foot in front of the other by the end and this did have me worried! What to do? After some research I realised I needed to introduce some targeted leg strength training and stretching sessions and thankfully this did the trick and resolved the issue.

6. I devoured articles on running marathons and spoke to people I knew who had run a marathon. The knowledge and insight I gained enabled me to really hone my approach not just for the training component but also for race day.

7. Being signed up to the Boston Marathon App and receiving regular and inspiring stories kept my "why" very much front and centre.

"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day-in and day-out." - Robert Collier

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