Life as a Marathon: A Journey of Small Steps

I often hear people say they can't imagine running a marathon. The most they can run, they tell me, is 10K, or 6.25 miles. My response is always the same: "It's because you don’t go from running 10K to 42K overnight. You do it one mile at a time." The journey of running a marathon mirrors life and work in so many ways. It’s about taking small, consistent steps forward, improving just 1% every day, and being willing to endure some pain along the way. But in that struggle, you also find moments of happiness and satisfaction.

In the workplace, we often face challenges that seem insurmountable. We may look at a large project or a long-term career goal and feel overwhelmed, much like staring down the 26.2 miles of a marathon. But just like in running, the key to success is breaking it down into smaller, manageable parts. Every small victory, every learned skill, is another mile towards the finish line. Progress might feel slow at times, but if you commit to improving by just 1% each day, you’ll be surprised at how far you can go.

I don’t consider myself good at writing, but I've been on a journey to improve my English. I knew that forcing myself to write, even when it felt uncomfortable, would help me get better over time. And here I am, not the best, but at least 1% better than I was before. The same principle applies whether you're running a marathon or working on personal or professional growth, success comes from small, consistent efforts.

Just like in a marathon, you have to be willing to push through discomfort. But with every step, you’ll get closer to your goal. And one day, when you look back, you’ll see how far you've come not because you jumped from 10K to 42K in one go, but because you steadily moved forward, one step at a time.

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