Tag Archives: Strategy

Multitasking Workouts

A couple of weeks ago, I decided that I needed to stop multitasking and wrote about it here. As always, there is an exception to this rule: workouts. I believe very deeply in multitasking workouts. Now, I don’t mean that I return emails on the run or made myself dinner while on the bike, but as athletes, especially amateur athletes who have full time jobs, families, friends, and hobbies, we are all short on time. While training for my last couple of marathons, I would spend almost 20 hours a week pounding the pavement. (Too bad I’m not faster and it wouldn’t have taken me so long to get my miles in.)

In order to be able to stay somewhat connected to my social life, here are some ways I’ve learned to multitask my workouts:

  • If I am looking for a little intellectual stimulation, I listen to a book on my iPod while on a long run.
  • I usually plan my sprinting workouts around a soccer game. I hate sprinting workouts, but I don’t notice as much when I’m racing someone to a ball.
  • I almost always bike with friends and grab breakfast afterwards. Soon, a friend and I are planning to ride from Boulder to Ft. Collins to check out a couple of breweries and see an old friend.
  • I also use biking as a mode of transportation. For example, I schedule a hair cut 10 miles away this Sunday. I’m planning on riding to my appointment and back.
  • I use swimming as my quiet time. I think of my swimming sessions as practices more then workouts. I try to stay present and focus on my technique.

What are ways that you multitask your workouts?

Q1-2011 Goals

I am a list maker. I make lists about everything. It makes me feel happy and productive to cross things off (this is my Mom’s fault). During 2010, I took my list making to a new level. I wrote lists of 3 month goals, 1 year goals, and 3-5 year goals in different categories. During 2010, I updated my LinkedIn account Resume, and Facebook account to have current information, and thus, found a new job. I traveled to Costa Rica with friends, I completed my third marathon, I worked on my public speaking, and I reached a financial goal. I also quit drinking soda (for the most part) and visited my family in Iowa. 2010 = success!

Here’s what I have in store for Q1 of 2011:

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

  • Communication. Be honest and straightforward, even if you are going to say something that someone else doesn’t want to hear. If that happens, address the issue without reacting so emotionally
  • Make decisions. When asked a question, I will not just say, “oh, I don’t care.” I will think about what I actually want and ask for it if it’s important to me.
  • Black and White Approach. I will work to just get started on a project or a workout. I don’t have to go all out to make some effort worth it.

Financial & Career

  • Meet with financial advisor
  • Buy a house
  • Accomplish sales goals
  • Become a board member of a local organization
  • Have a review

Fun / Travel / Spirituality

Health and Fitness

Life Space: Community, Authenticity, Personal Growth

On Tuesday, I’m looking forward to starting a new job in business development with a Boulder based social media marketing agency. During my interview process with I met with many of my mentors to discuss whether this opportunity is the right next-move for me. I received a lot of great advice and valuable insights, but above all, one thought has resurface in my mind over the past few weeks: Life Space.

Jana Matthews, a growth consultant and thought leaders who worked at the Kauffman Foundation suggested that I consider the life space that new opportunities consume. Most of the time, jobs don’t just take up the hours between 9am & 5pm, but also dictate what you think about while you are not at work, the problem solving skills you build and your general perception of how you see the world. Purpose, passion and leadership are three things she looks for in each of the opportunities she chooses.

Here are four things I look for: Community, Authenticity, Personal Growth

What are three things you look for?

Personal Strategic Planning Session

My friend, Julie Penner and I were climbing at Movement one day a few weeks ago and were discussing strategic planning. Companies plan for the future all the time, but people so seldom do the same thing for their lives. So, we decided to have a chai and an adorable Indian restaurant in South Boulder and do a little planning. Here’s the framework we used: Strategic Planning session.