Lessons Learned From Accomplishing A Personal BHAG.

BHAGs - Big. Hairy. Audacious. Goals. An acronym commonly used inside organizations to inspire employees to think outside the box, go big on goals and imagine the unimaginable. These are the kind of goals that potentially scare you so much you may not even know where or how to start.?Having just recently accomplished a personal BHAG I thought I'd share a few lessons I learned along the way that I think translate well when it comes to careers and the workplace.

9 months ago I decided I would complete an Ironman 70.3 triathlon before I turn 40. For those that don’t know, the Ironman 70.3 consists of a 1.2 mile (1.9km) swim, 56 mile (90km) bike ride and 13.1 mile (21.1km) run. I knew going into this that one of the biggest challenges for me was going to be time for training but I also knew I could make it work. Then a few weeks after signing up, I was laid off. I suddenly had more time to train but found it harder to motivate myself. It was hard - I was upset, frustrated, angry and sad. Which brings me to my first lesson learned.?

Lesson #1 - it’s often the unexpected bump in the road that can set you up for success in achieving your goals in the long run. It took me several months but I finally started channeling those emotions into my training. Did I train enough? Probably not. Did I have bad days? Of course! Plenty of them. But this past weekend I crossed the finish line at the Ironman 70.3 in beautiful Victoria B.C. after 6 hours and 25 minutes - 35 minutes faster than my goal time. I overcame a lot in the past 9 months, most of which can be best described as getting comfortable with being uncomfortable - and that brings me to my second lesson learned.?

Lesson #2 - it’s ok to be a beginner again. Don't get me wrong - I wasn't a total beginner, but it sure felt that way. I could swim but not for very long and my form (and speed) still needs a lot of work. I could ride a bike but the tri bike is a whole different beast. I have run plenty of 1/2 marathons - but not after swimming and biking for 3+ hours! I focused on having a growth mindset, used the 1% better every day mentality and applied it to my training - focusing on smaller improvements over time. I also discovered it helps to find people who will support you along the way - which brings me to my third lesson.?

Lesson #3: find a community that lifts you up and where you feel like you belong. At my very first sprint triathlon I remember feeling like a total rookie - I had no idea what I was doing and felt so out of place - but that didn’t last long. The triathlon community welcomes everyone with open arms (as long as you aren’t a total jerk). Everyone is racing at their own pace, with their own why. Never have I experienced so much support, guidance, high fives and encouragement than I did during my 1/2 Ironman race. People helping others if they fall, cramp, get a flat tire or just need a pick me up. We were encouraging one another up the tough hills on the bike, smiling and cheering each other on during the transitions and reminding each other that we were almost done on the run. Everyone deserved to be there. This is the kind of community and culture I will look for in my next role and what every employee deserves to experience within their own organization. Which brings me to my last lesson.?

Lesson #4: If you don’t try, you’ll never know. There is way too much fear of failure floating around out there. Over the past 9 months I constantly reminded myself that I will never be totally ready to tackle something I haven’t done before and that failure is about learning. Translation - have the courage to start. I had my tri bike for several months before I actually rode it. I was so scared of that thing. The aero bars, the shifters and especially the idea of having to steer with one hand while I eat and drink on my ride - it was all daunting. But the day I finally got on that bike, I couldn’t stop smiling. Remember to just try - otherwise you could be missing out on something amazing in life or in your career.?

This unexpected detour in my career has turned into accomplishing a goal that at one point in my life I didn't even consider to be something I could do. Now I've signed up for a second one. Accomplishing a BHAG is an incredible feeling and I can't wait to set my next one.

Also - for anyone wanting to try a triathlon - go for it. And if I can help, just ask!?