To sprint is to run at full speed over a short distance.
Over the summer I watched the Olympics and one of my favorite athletes was Noah Lyles. He won the gold in the 100m sprint by a mere .005 seconds.
You’ve heard the saying “life is a marathon, not a sprint.” In most areas, that’s true. When pursuing your goals, investing in your career, raising kids, or maintaining friendships, it’s more about pace than speed and endurance over a long period of time.
But there are times when success comes from a sprint. Lyles’s victory, decided by thousandths of a second, reminded me of the power and impact of focused, intense effort over a brief period.
The term “sprints” is used a lot in the business world, specifically in the realm of technology. If a company wants to develop something new, they might issue a sprint to make it happen quickly. They will compile all of the research and preparation ahead of time, and then put focused effort and resources on actually building the new solution during a shorter period of time. So instead of taking years to develop a new technology solution or platform, a fully devoted team could be ready to launch in a matter of weeks, or even days.
If a sprint can be effective to accelerate progress in a business, think of how it could help you advance your personal goals.
At times, I struggle with procrastination. I delay starting an important task because it feels like it will take a marathon to complete it. It’s daunting, and the thought of getting it all done is exhausting. But in these instances, viewing it as a spring can help me get started and make progress quickly.
Can’t muster the energy to go through your entire email inbox? Set a timer for twenty minutes of undivided attention and get through as much as you can.
Is the prospect of getting your house organized overwhelming? Start by carving out 30 minutes and pick one area, like your closet, to organize.
Does developing the habit of reading seem impossible? Try this: Commit to reading five pages of a book each night. The average book is 200 pages long, so if you read just five pages a night, you would be on your way to reading up to ten books in one year!
The best way to tackle the tall task in front of you might be to start with a small sprint.
What area of your life could use a sprint? Identify it, define a short period of time that you can run at full speed, and block out the time to do it. A lot of times, the progress we make from a short sprint gives us the energy and momentum necessary to decide to run the entire marathon.
