Never Say Never

In November 2013, I ran my “last” Marathon. The Original Marathon to Athens route. Not only do I not enjoy running, but this was by far the most difficult, and subsequently the longest (timewise) I had run. Something like 30 km straight up and 10 Km straight down, starting in the low single figures Centigrade but finishing (over 5 hours later and having twisted an ankle) in 28^oC. I thought then, and for many day, months and years afterwards, “That will be my last marathon”.

Well, for some considerable time, well over 20 years, I’ve thought the expression “Never Say Never” is one I should adhere too. It works as well in Business as in life in general.

So, it should not surprise those who know me, that I did attempt another Marathon. Not only to prove to myself that I still can, which is important to me, but also to get me fit. I need goals which are on the verge of the unobtainable in my mind, to ensure I stick to the goal.

So, I applied for and paid the entry fee for the Verona Marathon in Italy, in November 2016. The temperature at the start was similar to the Marathon to Athens run, but I the finish was nothing like a hot.

So yet again, “Never Say Never” kicks in. the Original Marathon should not be my last one.

But this is true in business and social life as well. Whilst it is perfectly true somethings may ‘never’ happen, one only needs to look at what happened politically last year. How many ‘pundits’ stated clearly the Mr Trump would NEVER by elected by the Republican Party as their candidate, let alone as President for a second time. How many were certain that the British people would NEVER vote to leave the EU.

I will always say to my colleagues, don’t discount the improbable, just because you think it will never happen. Plan for the likely events for sure but look at all possible options so even if you haven’t got a detailed plan, you have an initial response thought through.

Don’t get me wrong, I know that life often throws one a curve ball you didn’t foresee, but if all potential options one can foresee have been considered, then the unforeseen, are easier to deal with too.

I promise I won’t bore you by complaining about the training I needed to undergo to get ready for the Verona jog, but I can’t promise it won’t appear somewhere going forward.

As to “Never Say Never”? Well, if someone says “That will never happen”, I strongly suggest you stop and think about the overall statement that individual has made. Is there a real, if very unlikely, possibility that it may happen? Such thoughts and planning is, in my experience, highly likely to yield more benefits than one may at first think.

True, I cannot imagine that I will ever, for example, fly to the Moon, but with Elon Musk leading the charge, one never knows.