action > planning > dreaming

I have to admit that I have many very good intentions. I just wrote about one good intention in my "dealing with soda addiction" writing. My wife noticed another good intention of mine the other night as we looked over our bookcase. I have probably 10 different cards that I purchased to give to her while we were dating. Inspirational cards. But they never were personalized nor did I give them to her. So the cards may be inspirational, but they didn't do any inspiring.

In the book, Good to Great, Jim Collins talks about some characteristics that they found in their research that surprised them. Here is one I also found surprising:

"Strategy per se did not separate the good-to-great companies from the comparison companies. Both sets of companies had well-defined strategies, and there is no evidence that the good-to-great companies spent more time on long-range strategic planning than the comparison companies." (page 10)

I don't know why, but I have always felt that the best plan always wins. Maybe that is why I'm constantly analyzing and reanalyzing my annual training plan for the triathlon season? In the end, the best plan is the one that is used. Triathlon is a perfect exemplar for the old say, "there is no substitute for hard work."

I recently was browsing the bookstore shelves and saw a title that said something like, x weeks to Ironman. My first thought was, "x weeks!" I hope the person buying that book is in great shape.

I'm a dreamer. I always have been and hopefully always will be. But dreams without a plan are just dreams. In the same way that plans without action are nicely designed charts and graphs.

Gordo recently said it quite well in his blog, I'll leave you with his thought. And hope to write more on characteristics that help define successful people.

We don't need a perfect plan -- we simply need to do a reasonable plan consistently. This applies in all things. If we can persist and enjoy doing what it takes -- we've won regardless of outcome and our outcome is much more likely to be positive. The most dangerous competitor is one that is willing to do everything to beat us but has a low attachment to outcome. Beware of the quiet smiling ones! -- gblog quote

Information Thirst.

I can't tell you how much time over the last few years I've thought about "What it takes to be successful". I've often thought that the definition of success you use would determine how you go about becoming successful, but as I learn more from experience and reading, I am becoming more convienced that there are a few characteristics all successful people share.

1. Thirst for Information and Knowledge - When I started school at the University of Nebraska, I thought that once I graduated I would automatically be a success. (It was in the late 90's and I think a lot of us thought that.) I had always been taught that an education was a key to success.

Education maybe an advantage, but what I've seen in some of the people that I admire, is that they haven't let a diploma dictate the end of their learning. In fact, it appears that their thirst for knowledge only grows once they realize that information gives an edge.

Example one - one of the people that I've admired from afar the last several years has been Gordo Byrn. His story is what initially drew me back to his website, because I was always amazed how he had stepped aside from his professional life to chase the triathlete's dream.

Later on I was impressed with how he continually improved his knowledge in exercise physiology and sports nutrition. It was always was ironic, I thought, that he was out there meeting the "right people" testing out ideas on himself in order to reach an end - improving his ability to coach and race. At the same time I was learning the principles of physiology to reach and end - get my diploma. Ultimately though my goal was to help people improve their race performances and health.

It may seem like a small difference, but an important one from my point of view. Sometimes in order to get my diploma, I had to sacrifice the application of the principles and focus on retaining the principle.

It is also interesting how one of the bigger debates on his website that comes up regulary is about training principle concepts in the lab and practical real life applications of those principles. Almost a physiology vs. psychology vs. time management difference.

Example two: I recently started reading Mark Cuban's blog, blogmaverick. A post I found interesting was this one on success & motivation. The most interesting thing to me was how Mark learned about computers. Not at Indiana University (not sure what he studied), but by reading the manuals of the software and computer business. What he found was that the knowledge he gained by reading the boring manuals many wouldn't touch, gave him a knowledge and skill others didn't have.

Reading. Reading anything and everything that deals with your industry. It really does seem to be one very important key. It demonstrates this thirst for information that seems common.

One application of this reading practice that I found very simple, yet insightful came from the book "Love is the Killer App," by Tim Sanders. (Who I believe worked for Cuban at one point). He basically says to be generous with the information you learn through the books you read. And when appropriate, be generous with the gifting of the books you discuss. Simple.

There are some more characteristics that I think I've seen... and will write more when I've have some more time.

Dealing with Soda Addiction!

As I laid out my training schedule for the end or 2005 and beginning of 2006, I thought that after the marathon I would take a needed break. I'm still exercising of course, but doing some other activities that are not swimming, biking and running.

I also thought that this time would allow me to focus on two habits that I wanted to change. Two habits that I feel would help my performances, but more importantly, help me have a healthier lifestyle. The two habits are: daily devotions, prayer and meditation (a habit that I have not had in well over a year) and SODA ADDICTION.

Most people are surprised by my addiction to Moutain Dew, Coke and Dr. Pepper. And I've always allowed myself this habit. But recently it has become too much. Not that I'm drinking more soda than I have in the past, but because I've realized that my moods and emotions are depedant upon soda.

Let me say two things first of all:

1. I am not a person that would tell everyone that soda is evil. But too much soda is not healthy AND many people probably substitute soda for quality foods.

2. Anytime that food or drink are a source of coping with moods or boredom, a person should be honest with themselves about the habit.

So I have approximately 9 weeks before I start my training program for the Derby Marathon in Louisville., and I felt like these nine weeks will be fairly low key and will allow me to improve my nutrition. I do realize how the holidays will make this nutritional focus even harder on me.

I'm also not preaching total abstinence, but it may be necessary at some point during the period?

This is not the first time I've decided to try and work on my soda consumption. But it is the first time that I feel like I have the support and mental energy to give it an honest try.

Tecumseh Trail Report.

You can find my race report for this race here:

http://www.ditschfitness.com/about/gary.php

While the report says just about everything needed to say about the race, I will give a little bit of advice about reserving a hotel. Do not pay attention to the photos on the internet and always remember you get what you pay for.

When Nikki and I showed up at the hotel, I was pretty dissapointed. Nikki would say mad. But I really wanted to spend a nice weekend racing and relaxing with Nikki and the hotel that we reserved (not giving names) was not what I had hoped for. Anyway... Nikki and I stayed there the night before the race, cancelled our room the second night and stayed in a Holiday Inn Express the second night.

And guess what, I did feel smarter when I woke up after staying at the HIE. Probably because the hotel was 10x as nice. It actually had clean sheets, which we did not have the night before and it only cost 8-10 dollars more.

I am generally a show-up-and-find-a-place-to-stay guy. So I guess I have a lot to learn about reserving rooms online!

But read the race report. We could have stayed anywhere and that race would have brightened my weekend.

Cold . Cold morning

Walking this morning I about froze..... and it got me thinking about running the marathon tomorrow. Burrr. I only hope that there is no rain. I'm not sure I could handle freezing cold weather (19 degrees right now) and being wet.

Getting ready for Tecumseh Trail Marathon.

It is kind of hard to believe that Nikki and I will be running a marathon on Saturday because I have not even been thinking about it all that much. Normally I would be starting to get a little nervous about not performing well or all the worst case possibilities.

I guess because we've approached this race as a fun event and have planned on doing a lot of walking, just trying to finish it has taken some of the pressure off.

The one thing I'm a little nervous about is the weather. The weather channel has predicted possible rain or snow on saturday.... that will make for a pretty cold day. But we'll be ready.