Start Small and With What You Know

I recently listened to an inspirational BBC Outlook podcast on the unbelievable story about Kathrine Switzer’s determination to run the Boston Marathon. Interestingly, in 1967, women were prohibited from participating in this popular racing event.

At this time, it was believed that women were unable to run 26.2 miles! What a crazy thought!

If you get a chance, watch a YouTube video about the incident where she was attacked by Jock Semple, who oversaw the race. While she is running, he tries to remove her number from her shirt. Kathrine’s boyfriend, a football linebacker, lowers his shoulder into Semple and sends him flying.

This is an unbelievable story that changed women sports! In fact, because of Switzer’s determination, women were permitted to run in the Boston Marathon beginning in 1972, and she eventually pushed for women to do the same in the Olympics.

Start Small and With What You Know

When Switzer was asked in the interview how she managed to pursue these monumental changes, she responded …

“Like any movement … you start small and with what you know.”

?This advice from Switzer is powerful, and we can learn so much from it. I get that most of us are not trying to start movements of this magnitude, but we are looking for ways to improve our own lives.

The start small message is important because it simplifies the improvement process. A good question to ask here is the following:

“What is the next best thing you can do with where you are right now?”

Switzer reminds us to take action today with what we know. I remember the many times I have procrastinated, convincing myself I had to wait for more education or experience before moving forward …

• “Let me finish my degree, and then I can apply for that job.”
• “I need to complete 5 years in this position before I am ready for a leadership position.”
• “Let me first make enough money to be comfortable with the monthly bills before I look at other employment opportunities.”

I understand that many employment opportunities have specific requirements, but there are actions we can take now to prepare for them. For example, if I’m interested in a leadership position at my company, I can inform my manager this is my goal and seek advice on what I can do now to prepare for the opportunity.

There is another interesting aspect to the Switzer story that reminds me of the importance of seeking a mentor. As a teenager, Switzer mentions to her father that she wants to be a cheerleader on the high school team.

Her father responds … “Why would you want that? Instead of cheering for other people, why don’t you pursue a sport where people cheer for you?”

The rest is history.

As a professor, I’ve had many students share with me that completing their degree is a monumental goal, and they are unsure if they can stick with it. My advice to them is to focus solely on the classes they are taking right now. In other words, change the mindset to one that concentrates on the stepping-stones along the way.

The perspective here is to take small steps in the direction of the goal. By looking at the journey from this angle, the big goal becomes manageable, and the pursuit enjoyable.

In other words, focus on the small wins, and celebrate along the way.

?Homework Inquiry

During the next week, here’s your homework inquiry: What is your next stepping-stone?