The Not-So-Secret Life of the Perpetually Overbooked: Why Your Finish Line Keeps Moving

Find Your True Pace

Apr 25, 2024

Ever felt like your life is less of a well-planned marathon and more of a series of spontaneous sprints?

You know, starting strong at the crack of dawn with a double espresso in hand, ready to conquer the world—or at least the mountain of emails awaiting you. But as high achievers like us know all too well, the hustle doesn’t stop just because the initial burst of adrenaline fades. It's a marathon where the finish line sneakily moves further away just as you start feeling the burn.

Welcome to the Race

The journey from corporate ladder climber to the CEO of your life isn't just about swapping business suits for pajamas on Zoom calls. It's about recalibrating your whole approach to the race. Take my daughter Mia’s cross-country adventure. She is more of a fifty-yard dash champion than a long-distance runner. But there she was, toeing the line, determined yet daunted by the unknown ahead of her.

Mia accepted her 1st gold medal for cross country at 7.

Why It Matters

Here’s the catch—life, like a cross-country race, isn’t about sprinting full speed ahead until you collapse. It’s about pacing, strategic pauses, and sometimes slowing down to smell those roses (or at least to grab another coffee). Mia’s race wasn't just about finishing first; it was about finishing at her own pace, and she rocked it, snagging a gold medal while learning a ton about her own resilience.

The Common Pitfall

Most of us dive in with gusto. We're wired to lead, achieve, and outperform. But here’s the twist: rigidity is the real disaster, not the detours or slowdowns. When Mia felt overwhelmed, she didn’t grind to a halt—she adjusted her stride, kept her eyes on the finish line, and remembered that her real competition was herself.

Here’s What I’ve Learned

Chasing success without acknowledging the need for flexibility is like trying to drink a latte while sprinting—messy and bound to burn. The key lies in:

Understanding that every phase of life and career comes with its own definition of success. From chasing toddlers around the park to chasing deadlines, each has its worth.
Recognizing that it’s okay to shift gears. Sometimes, you’re the sprinter; other times, you're the marathoner catching your breath.
Accepting that the finish line might shift—and that’s okay. Success isn’t a fixed point but a series of checkpoints, each with its own victory dance.

So, if you’re feeling the burnout from the relentless sprint, maybe it’s time to pace yourself. Remember, the best racers are those who know when to push and when to coast. Here's to running our races at our own pace and redefining success.

Now it's your turn!

How do you juggle your life's endless sprints and shifting finish lines?

What does success look like for you today, and how has it evolved?

Share your stories, strategies, and maybe even missteps in the comments below.