Commitment: Pushing Past Fatigue & Staying in The Game for The Long Haul

I have been agonizing about this week’s blog post. I am Jewish. I am grateful for all of the supporting messages from people in the wake of Kayne West’s antisemitic remarks. I am concerned, yet, somewhat emotionally numb to it. I have received my share of antisemitic comments and had to develop a thick skin to find the calm within. Antisemitism is often referred to as history’s oldest hatred, going back many centuries. Hate crimes against Jews in the US, and around the world, have been on the rise for several years. But it almost feels like “nothing new under the sun.” I am trying to focus on the words of support from my friends rather than the words of bigotry and hatred.

I keep referring back to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words: “There is little hope for us until we become toughminded enough to break loose from the shackles of prejudice, half-truths, and downright ignorance.”

Antisemitism is being expressed in many different forms persistently and continuously on social media. It is alive and kicking, everywhere, even in the workplace. See SHRM article about antisemitic incidents in the workplace.

In the face of antisemitic rhetoric, threats, and violence, I will do what my people have done throughout a long history of persecution, prejudice, and hatred - return to life, celebrate life, and do my best to live well and thrive. And with that I will move on to write about trying to live well through healthy goal setting, specifically my 50 states half marathon challenge.

I am a maximiser. That means that when it comes to the investment of valuable resources, I am always trying to drive the best ROI, squeezing as much juice as possible out of every day. Thus, being in Wisconsin for a fun-filled weekend of dancing, I thought it’d be a good idea to check WI off the list. The Haunted Hustle Half Marathon in Middleton was my 9th completed this year. But after many hours of staying on my feet moving and dancing, I lined up at the corral start in high spirits and with very tired legs and feet.

Here's the big question in training and racing: when should you run on tired legs to build endurance, and when should you listen to your body and stop to avoid injuries? In this particular case, I decided to run for it. However, the question is relevant and very important when it comes to career planning and development decisions. It’s all about the balance of “pushing forward” and “pulling back” – when to push ourselves beyond the comfort zone and the limits of our abilities in order to grow, and when to pull back when we’ve pushed ourselves for too long.

The definition of “strength” is personal. Attaining physical fitness has a different meaning to everyone, but it is mostly associated with running longer or faster, or doing more for a longer duration. When discussing career accomplishments, grit, determination, and persistence are often mentioned. Being career-driven means always thinking about upskilling and uplevelling to get further in one’s career. This requires commitment to continuous effort and lifelong learning. But it also involves a deliberate practice of pulling back, of being strategic with rest. To achieve ambitious goals, we need to find the balance managing opposite energies: push and pull, striving and stillness, effort and ease. Playing the long game, everyone needs a break to refuel, recharge, and rejuvenate. If you are mentally and physically depleted, you will struggle to navigate the journey. You need to listen to your body and soul to know when to stop to refill your “gas tank.” Pulling back is often not a setback but rather a set up.

The modern career path is defined by job mobility, and it is very rarely linear. For most professionals, work life is like running an ultramarathon through thousands of miles of untamed wilderness with many twists and turns along the way offering a spectacular array of challenges, opportunities and choices. Building a successful career means not settling for easy, putting in the hard work and staying “on the grind.” While you don’t want every day to feel like a grind, some days will be really challenging. Your body and soul will feel heavy. It is OK. That’s how you build strength. You don’t improve your skills and achieve great things without some fatigue. But you cannot do your best work if you are exhausted all the time. For long-term career success, it is critical to learn to manage fatigue and let the body and soul recover. Thriving in your career means striking a balance between hard work and staying physically and mentally healthy.

Consistency is the key to success, but you’ve got to strategically increase your stamina and endurance. Here are 3 tips for staying in the game and going the distance:

Go Deep: consider what you want to achieve, why you want it, and which skills you’d need to move towards success.

Go For It: to achieve your goals, you’ve got to chase them. Make a plan, execute the plan, adjust the plan as needed. Be persistent.

Go Easy: manage your pull and push energy. Ensure strategic expenditure and conservation of valuable resources.

The bottom line: set the right goal, get the right program, be consistent in your effort, adjust as needed, and be vigilant about rest and recovery to achieve long-term career success and personal fulfillment.