Just as we pulled up to the starting area for our run, the heavens opened up.  Now let me tell you, we have run in some miserable conditions before, and I do mean miserable.  We have run when it is 10 degrees out with 30 mph winds.  We have run when it is 90+ degrees out with 90% humidity.  Those were extremely miserable runs.  But if there is one thing I don’t like, it would be being drenched.  I don’t know what it is about the feeling, but I just don’t like to get wet unless I am swimming or bathing.  Seriously, as laid back as I am, if Matt wants to get me riled up all he has to do is pour water on me.  So as soon as it started pouring down rain Matt and I looked at each other.

The decision point was now.  Do we drive around the block a few times to see if it slows down?  There was a split second of indecision and then Matt said, “Let’s just do it!”  And we were off.  We jumped out of the car and began our run.  And you know what?  After the first 100 yards it wasn’t that bad.  I mean, there comes a point when you can’t get anymore wet and you just sink into this feeling of, “Wow, this is crazy, but kind of fun!”

But you know what the best part was?  At the end of the run we looked at our time and we had beat our personal best time by over a minute and a half!

Now, I know you are saying, “Wow, Sarah, that is cool and all, but what does it have to do with my business?”  Well, I am glad that you asked. 

Think about it like this.  In business, heck, make that in life, we have to work our way through a series of ups and downs, successes and failures.  Matt and I like to say, “Life is one crisis after another.”  It really is true.  If it isn’t your computer going on the fritz it is your key person getting sick the day of the presentation.  If it isn’t your tire going flat on the way to the airport and causing you to miss your flight it is your luggage getting lost once you actually get to your destination.

Life throws us curve balls.  During this recession, I hear a lot of business people saying that they are just going to stay out of the game for a while.  That is like trying to stay in the dugout until a new pitcher comes to the mound and there are better pitches to hit.  Well, I’ve got news for you.  If you don’t go up to the plate, you’ve got no chance of hitting anything, curve ball or no curve ball.  And if you don’t ever hit anything, you can’t win the game.  And if you think you are going to wait out the pitcher in the dugout or wait out the storm in your car, life will pass you by…and so will your competition.

So, get out there, pull on your running shoes and start splashing through some puddles.  You might get a little wet and uncomfortable for a bit, but once you get going you will realize that it really isn’t so bad.  Who knows, you might run your best time.