I like to find my flow or cadence in business through executing a series of sprints rather than one continuous marathon.
The default setting in business is to commit yourself to one long marathon. Just start running and keep running. 60 hour weeks, evenings and weekend sessions are the norm. The finish line is a long way off and never in sight.
The alternative setting to this, is to allocate your capacity in a series of sprints followed by breaks.
Marathons
I acknowledge at some stage in every business journey, the marathon setting is essential. To survive our formative, while challenged by cash burn and time decay, there are omnipresent pressures to work one long never-ending shift.
The ‘work hard play hard mantra’ is often feted as a badge of honour. Working all-nighters and being ‘on’ 24/7 seems admirable. It might even be performative in front of business partners or a dynamic team. ‘The Busy Fool’ I refer to in my book rarely gets called out.
The marathon works for a while.
Until it doesn’t.
In time, the marathon breaks down the body, mind and spirit. Cognitive function can decline in conjunction with your health. Relationships suffer or break down. Hobbies and interests fall away as you lose perspective. Worse, depression and burnout can enter.
These factors are simply a matter of when - not if.
Nobody is immune.
Sprints
Alternatively, you can change up your game plan and adopt a series of sprints. Shorter impactful bursts of energy to attain your goal.
Same goals and targets.
Just a different route.
Allocating a minimum of 3 hours per day to deep work on your most important strategic goals is a building block. Understand your biorhythms for when you do your peak work and allocate time within this zone. Block time for phone, email and business administration in dead zones when you are not at peak. Intersperse blocked time with mindfulness practices, exercise and reflection. Manage these time zones.
Starting with your working week, think of Monday as stretching and warm-up. Set up your week for success by drafting your runsheet, key goals/priorities and game times. I do this Monday mornings.
From Tuesday to Thursday, run a series of predetermined sprints where you come on to and off the track for a series of bursts. Bursts might be internal meetings, client meetings, deep work on projects or business administration. Typically, I recommend setting these up in 90 minute or two-hour windows. By Thursday close of business, try and have your key targets and deliverables closed. Sprint then stretch.
Fridays I like to taper and work on my special projects. When busy, I might get in early Friday and spend two hours clearing my week so I can move onto my own work and set up next week for success. Warm down Friday afternoon from the working week.
Evenings and weekends should be for warm-down, stretching, recharging, rebalance and perspective. Enjoy hobbies and interests. Invest in and enjoy building special relationships. Make non-negotiable rules for your evenings and weekends. No work or screens. Detox from business and ensure good sleep hygiene.
Levelling up here is a gamechanger. You will not only feel more vital, but you will have more impact as you effortlessly find flow.
Be the best version of yourself.
Sprint don’t Marathon.
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