To jeff or not to jeff?

(Plus: get your hands on a freebie)

Today I want to talk to you about jeffing.

?If you're not familiar with this term, it's a long distance running technique - but stay with me - there's an important entrepreneurial mindset lesson to share.

?I recently completed the Leeds Half Marathon.

?(Last year I did the full one, but all my toenails fell off, and I feel like I've proven my point)

?I trained and ran with my friend Kathryn, and we're a big fan of a jeff.

?We like a Classic Jeff, run for three minutes, walk for one.

?On the walk up to Headingley stadium last Sunday, we discussed our game plan.?

?Having run the route the previous year, I knew it was a really fast start, and I wanted to check we were firmly committed to our jeff strategy, rather than just running and seeing how far we could go.

?We made a firm decision to stick to the plan.

?Leeds has a wonderful home crowd. People were lining the streets, 3 deep, with cleverly-worded homemade banners, offering sweets, firing supersoakers at us, cheering us on, ringing cowbells, playing music...

?It was an overwhemingly joyful event to be part of.

?But, hand on heart, I have never felt such a conflict, such a jolt to my ego, such an agonising pulll...

?For having to walk in front of that crowd, because that was the plan we had agreed to.

?Every three minutes, no matter who was watching, and how much they were cheering, we had to come to a halt and walk.

?It was horrible, everything was screaming at me - run, you're only 20 minutes in, they're going to think you can't hack it.

?Even worse, I had 'Run, Claire, Run' printed on my race number, and the amount of people who encouragingly (patronisingly) said, "come on Claire, run!" was GALLING.

?Anyway, we made it around and had a bloody good time doing it, high fiving after every mile, dancing and singing.

?(Plus my chiropractor friend says we did our joints the world of good by jeffing)

?So here's the question I have for you today:

?Would you have stuck to the plan?

?Or would you have got caught up in the moment and just run hell for leather?

?And this is a really interesting question to ponder about how you're running your business.

?So often we get all giddy and distracted by what everybody else is doing.

?Getting swept up in the crowd about the hottest new thing, getting FOMO.

?When actually there is a hugely underrated power and serenity in doing what is right for you.

?In staying in your own lane, so you are peerless.

?In keeping your head steady and sticking to your truth.

?Because you'll end up with a business that is a hell of a lot more robust, and has a hell of lot more integrity in the end.

I'm delighted to be able to share with you that my brand new ebook, helping female entrepreneurs break free of Imposter Syndrome, is almost ready to share with you.

?I've been helping women with Imposter Syndrome since 2007, and have helped hundreds to date tackle their Imposter, and step into their potential as a result.

?To be the first to get your hands on a copy, simply drop me a message with the word 'tackle', and I'll send you a free ebook.

?Right, I'm off to Wales to sit in a waterfall, enjoy your Bank Holiday,

?Claire