The older gentleman entered the dining room with a beaming smile. Before he had a chance to sit down, the server asked, “How did your son do?” The enthusiastic response, “He made it with 6 minutes to spare!”
We were at a bed and breakfast in the Lake District of England. A popular pastime of the region is hiking or “walking” the local mountains, known as “fells”. There are several different challenges based on the number of peaks a walker can climb in a day. Usually the walker starts and finishes at a hall in the center of town. It appeared that this man’s son has just completed one of these challenges.
His table was next to ours, and I asked if someone had completed a round. He replied that his son had just hiked to the top of 4 peaks over 3,000 feet in less than 24 hours. His voice and face displayed an immense pride in the accomplishment.
As if on cue, his son, wife and daughter-in-law entered the room. The son walked with a slow, stiff gait. His mother and wife had the same smiles as his father.
When we finished our breakfast, we walked over to shake the young man’s hand and wish him congratulations. With the same pride he had displayed earlier, his father interjected, “Do you know he reached the summit of 4 peaks over 3,000 feet in less than 24 hours?”
For the next few minutes, the family told their story. Starting off at the hall at 2 o’clock in the morning. The rain and sleet at the top of several of the mountains. Waiting in a church in the middle of the night. Helping other walkers who were lost. The man and his wife running the last mile back to the hall to beat the clock. Reaching his goal, with 6 minutes to spare.
While it was the walker who had conquered the 4 peaks, this was an accomplishment shared by the entire family. Their support, concern and presence all went into the event. As a result, the joy of his success was felt by them all. It was wonderful to witness that moment of joy.
It’s been said, “Life isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon.” This story shows that life is neither.
Finishing a marathon is a significant accomplishment. Before getting to the start line, a person has to run hundreds of miles. Training in early morning hours, in the rain, the cold of winter or the heat of summer. The race itself is a test of perseverance, with the body wanting to quit and the mind willing the runner to continue forward. Crossing the finish line is a moment filled with emotion.
A marathon is a public event. The organizers provide support on the course with water stations, energy drinks and medical staff. A professional photographer captures the moment as finishers pass under the banner and pass the time clock. Crowds of people line the street and cheer on the racers. Runners receive t-shirts when they register and a medal if they finish.
Most of our achievements in life are much more private. Whether it’s finishing an assignment at work or taking on a personal challenge. Except for the people closest to us, no one is aware of our feats. Any record of our activities are placed in our personnel file or tucked away in a family photo album.
During our attempt, we may feel alone and isolated. We reach out to coworkers, friends and families for support during our endeavors. Sometimes we may be able receive direct assistance in completing the task. At other times, it’s the knowledge that another person is aware of our struggle and cares about us. The ones who provide us support may also be the only people who recognize our accomplishments when we finish.
Yet we still seek out new challenges. We find ways to test our strengths and expand our abilities. A new job. Proposing and leading a project at our company. Creating a piece of art or furniture for our home. Or scaling 4 peaks over 3,000 feet high in 24 hours.
No banner at the finish line. No t-shirt or medal. No record books. Just the personal satisfaction of achieving your goal with the support of others.
Mark M. Fallon is president and CEO of The Berkshire Company, a consulting firm specializing in mail and document processing strategies. The company develops customized solutions integrating proven management concepts with emerging technologies to achieve total process management. He offers a vision of the document that integrates technology, data quality, process integrity, and electronic delivery. His successes are based upon using leadership to implement innovative solutions in the document process. You can contact Mark at mmf@berkshire-company.com.