Fun fact about me…I love OCRs.
What does OCR stand for, you ask?
Obstacle Course Racing. You may have seen some of the popular worldwide OCR companies like Tough Mudder and Spartan out there.
Obstacle course races to me are like going out and spending time in a giant adult playground.
There are monkey bars to cross, walls to climb under, through, and go over, rings to hang on, cargo nets to climb, ropes to climb, barbed wire and/or netting to crawl under, and so much more to play on.
The courses are usually in a location where there are trails to run or in my case hike, mountains, and various other technical trail elements. The various obstacles are sprinkled throughout the course.
One day, as I was out playing in one of my playgrounds, a.k.a. at a race, it dawned on me how much obstacle course racing is like running a business.
When you first consider running an obstacle course race, you have the initial idea that forms in your head. You see someone else doing it and think “I think I want to give that a try.”
When you first set out to start a business, it is pretty much the same thing. One day you decide you are tired of making money for someone else and you decide to take the skills you have and start your own business.
With both, the first thought may be – “Can I actually do this?” “Do I have the motivation and strength to even be successful?
And then you decide to do it.
The next thing you do to get ready for your race is research. “Do I even know what I am getting into?” “Do I have the right gear for this?”
Starting a business is very similar. “What is my business going to look like?” “Do I have all the resources I need to get started?”
After a friend talked me into signing up for my very first OCR, I went to YouTube to do some research. The first thought in my head at that point was “What the heck did you just get yourself into? Can you even do this?”
Pretty much the same though I had when I started my first business over 20 years ago!
Next, you start to gather what you need to start, and with great anticipation, you move forward.
Quickly you realize that you need some training.
You hire a coach.
Your OCR training coach assesses where you are and where you need to be in order for you to successfully make it to the finish line of the race.
Your business coach assesses where you are and where you need to be in order for you to build a successful business.
Are you catching all the parallels here?
Each obstacle at a race has its own peculiarities. You need to learn the techniques needed to successfully complete the obstacle.
Some are super easy. Some, not so much.
In business, you face obstacles every day. Whether it is finding new clients, getting the right tools in place, defining systems and processes, or even hiring virtual or full-time staff.
Some of these tasks may be easy. Some, not so much.
Whether you are running a race or running a business, there will be obstacles.
Some will be easy to navigate…some will be harder.
The key is to keep moving forward.
Whether you are running an obstacle course race or running a business, the key is sticking to it and consistently making progress.
It does not matter how fast you are going. Slow and steady will always win the race!
Come out and play with us in our Facebook community here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bizbliss where you will find lots of information and resources to help you build YOUR successful business.
