Lessons in entrepreneurial grit
It is extremely easy to assume that using vulgar language is a way to attract more readers. People do, after all, go to great lengths to attract attention. This is unfortunately only my version of how a word I did not expect from my blue-eyed boy shocked me so much that I did not bail out of my plans. And in the 6.5 hours it took me to Run-the-Berg, I realized that there are a lot of lessons to be learned about entrepreneurial grit in exercising personal grit!
Trust me. It is amazing what you can think of while running a trail run in the Drakensberg.
Lesson #1: Children are sometimes right
I entered the 42km Run-the-Berg race at the end of 2022 with a couple of friends. Amongst these friends was my long-time running buddy with whom I have shared an infinite amount of trails. It was a massive blow to my plans when her employer denied her leave request. Devastating on many levels.
My ever-increasing workload also hampered my training plans. Lucky for me my Mindful Runner coach Anja, stayed very calm and understanding, but I knew very well that things were taking a nose dive for the worst. And so one excuse started piling up after the other. Until one day when I told my son I was planning to bail out of Run-the-Berg.
His reply was quick and straight to the point. Loosely translated Johan‘s reply came as: “Mom, I have been hearing ‘Run-the-f**cking-Berg’ since last year. You can’t quit now!” Hearing these words from someone who very seldom has a foul word passing his lips, the truth came as an utter shock! He did not have to add anything else.
Lesson #2: If you want an excuse you will find it
Did I mention that my workload keeps on growing? Don’t get me wrong. It is super exciting to see our podcast “Expedition Business” grow in leaps and bounds. So too is our marketing coaching & consultation business addVentures Communication where we keep on adding venture to our clients’ lives. Finally, we have addVentures Business Club where we aim to support grass-roots entrepreneurs who are either planning to start a business or are in the process of getting their business to a comfortable peak.
The long and the short is that if you want an excuse, you will find one. Entrepreneurial grit is born from our own personal grit. If we keep on bailing out of whatever looks like too much of a challenge, we will never ever be able to build our companies to where we want them to be.
Starting and quitting multiple ventures is not the way to go if you want to reach the ultimate peak of your entrepreneurial success.
Lesson #3: It is better to do something as opposed to nothing
We often have these massive goals to grow in leaps and bounds. Who wants to add one client a year if you could add a client a month? We look at our fellow entrepreneurs around us (whether we want to admit it or not) and want to climb the same mountains, regardless of their time spent on the ‘mountain’ and all the other resources at their disposal. When we wake up and smell the Proteas around us, the easiest is to quit altogether. James Clear, best-selling author of Atomic Habits is right on the mark with his 1% improvement philosophy.
When I realized I was just not going to make it for the 42km race, I downgraded to the 25km Run-the-Berg race with the help of the very accommodating race organizer. A much better fit for my situation. The reality is that when it comes to entrepreneurial grit something is always better than nothing!
Lesson #4: Shoot to kill
This might sound a bit melodramatic, but trust me, this line was thought out somewhere between my third and fourth hour in my Run-the-Berg Challenge this past weekend! Have you ever heard the quote ‘If your dreams do not scare you, it is not big enough’? All I could think of was that that person should be shot. On the spot! And yes, lesson 4 is a bit of a repeat of lesson 3, but if you get one quote out of your mind, it is this one.
This quote has screwed up so many entrepreneurs over so many years. If you cannot make the massive leaps, you end up feeling like a failure. And that is so insanely far from the truth. One foot in front of the other. Oh boy! I heard that from my unexpected new running buddy, over and over again. And it worked. When I was so nauseous that I couldn’t get any nutrition down. When my calves were killing me. And even down the slippery slopes of the Drakensberg. One foot in front of the other. That is all it takes to persevere.
Lesson #5: Say ‘yes’ to new experiences
We started our podcast episode last week with Simone Musgrave, founder of Musgrave Gin with this Richard Branson quote saying: “If you do not know how to do something, say yes first and go and find out how to do it later.” Saying yes to new opportunities is what drives our entrepreneurial grit and spirit. The fuel on which we run.
One awesome opportunity that I got from the Run-the-Berg race was a ride on the back of a cattle truck. Definitely a first in my life and something I will not easily forget. If we keep on doing the same thing over and over again, we might feel safe and know what to expect every single time, but we are missing out on all the amazing new adventures that await us!
Lesson 6: If it was easy, everyone would have done it
My late dad, who is an extraordinary example of entrepreneurial grit, often said: “if it was easy, everyone would have done it.” This quote has inspired me so many times in my own entrepreneurial journey, but this was especially true on Saturday while running, climbing, and walking. It was insanely hot. At some point, the temperature reached 37 degrees. We passed a number of people who were cramping and dehydrated. Although I never reached the point where I wanted to give up, I had to really dig deep to keep on moving.
In business, we often reach boiling point. When the heat becomes intolerable. We even find situations where we feel very sorry for ourselves. Just remember my father’s wise words: ‘If it was easy, everyone would have done it.’ You might even want to chant Tony Robbin’s affirmations: “I am brilliant. I am bright. I am a radiant being of light.’ Sounds corny, but it helps.
Lesson 7: Imperfections are more than OK
Our medal for the day was a little hand-carved and engraved stone from the region saying ‘Run-the-Berg’. I chose the most imperfectly shaped stone that I could find to remind me of the very imperfect day that I had. I finished almost 2 hours later than what I had planned. So many things went wrong, but so many things went right. I did not fall off the Berg and land in ICU like my dear cousin who had a fall from Table Mountain on 13 September. I did not pass out from heat exhaustion and I definitely did finish. I even had a little bit of energy left to run the last couple of meters to the finish line and smile for the camera.
As with my Run-the-Berg race, entrepreneurial grit includes being OK with the fact that everything did not work out the way we thought it should work out. And that is a 100% OK. We should not beat ourselves up. God is in control and He always knows what is best for us. Even if we do not like it, that is how the cookie crumbles and that little cookie is what will get you to the peak of your adventures. In life and definitely in your entrepreneurial ventures.
The moral of my story
I would not have had this amazing trail running experience if my blue-eyed boy had not shared his honest thoughts with me. In the end, I ran the f**king Berg and I am insanely proud of myself for doing it. With all the imperfections in between and all the major lessons learned. My little imperfect Run-the-Berg momento is a visual reminder of this one extra step that I have taken in reaching my mountain peak. And because of that, I might just go a little bit higher and a little bit faster next time.
Hopefully, this might be an inspiration for you to showcase your entrepreneurial grit. One more time. No matter how high your mountain is you are busy climbing.
One foot in front of the other. One step at a time.
