12 Thoughts On Running (And Leading Teams, Building Products, & Life)

About six years ago I started running. I was never a good athlete, and never particularly enjoyed running. But I started running a couple miles at a time, then three, then four to five daily, and this activity has brought much more to my life than I ever expected. Aside from the energy and health benefits, running has influenced how I live, lead, and make things. A recent chat with a few friends prompted this summary of what I’ve learned thus far. I hope these realizations prove helpful and perhaps encourage you…to run, whatever your running equivalent is. (1) Don’t judge because the context you’re missing is everything. As a naturally competitive person, it is tempting to pace myself with other runners I encounter, and you’re liable to judge those you swiftly pass along the way. But such judgment is misleading, as you have no idea when they started or their previous pace. For all you know they’re the world’s greatest runner on a recovery day. Ultimately you learn, don’t judge anyone at a single point in their journey because chances are you are missing context and will be wrong. Simply respect that they’re running. Same applies when you lap someone and are inclined to feel great about yourself. Truth is, you have no idea and any story you tell yourself is likely a false story. This insight has changed the way I view press, cancel culture, and take-down pieces — they’re all moment-in-time judgments and lack context. The noise of inaccurate snap judgements will mislead you in work and life. When you generalize people you marginalize the potential of people. I also challenge myself to be less of a “thin slice” evaluator of talent and avoid the “Fundamental Attribution Error” (described by HBR as “an individual’s tendency to attribute another’s actions to their character or personality, while attributing their behavior to external situational factors outside of their control.”) Everyone is engulfed in their own drama, with a unique series of challenges to overcome. You’re in a lane unique to you, with its own conditions. Stay humble, don’t judge, and focus on beating yourself at your own game. <a href="https://scottbelsky.medium.com/12-thoughts-on-running-and-leading-teams-building-products-life-a83c68830cc6">Visit Now</a>