Challenge

I ran a half marathon this weekend. It was my first in over six years. I’d let myself get fat and lazy, in no shape to run even a single step, and certainly not 13.1 miles. But I challenged myself to change.

As a leader, manager, coach, corporate trainer, and lifelong learner, I know the importance of challenging oneself. We can always improve and take our performance to the next level. I seek to improve a little bit every day.

What surprises me, however, is how much books on the bestseller list (both present and past) support this. I am sixty years old. Since July, I’ve lost sixty pounds, restarted my exercise regimen, and am no longer a pre-diabetic. I’ve found help and inspiration on my journey to better health with Tools of Titans and Tribe of Mentors by Timothy Ferris, Radical Candor by Kim Scott, Do Over and Start by Jon Acuff, The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg, Made for Amazing by Mark Nation, and many more – my to-be-read stack is huge.

It’s good to challenge oneself, especially if the results are better health, more productivity or capability, increased knowledge or skills, or better job security or earning potential. The feelings that come from meeting challenges are priceless.

Have you challenged yourself lately?