Why Make Things Difficult For Yourself

As I sit here writing this I am aching in places I never knew I had places!

Yesterday I ran in the Birmingham Great Run…a grand total of 13.2 miles.

As I ran round I noticed a couple of things that stuck with me.

Firstly that people don’t half know how to make things difficult for themselves.

Let’s face it running 13 miles is not the easiest in the first place…

…but that’s not enough for some.

I saw one guy carrying a full size mattress as he ran.

(I don’t know if his plan was that if he got tired half way round, he could have a quick lie down!)

Another chap decided he was going to run with a washing machine strapped to his back!

And then of course there were guys and girls dressed in fancy dress, including one in full Star Wars Storm Trooper uniform.

I’m sure these all seemed like a good idea when they came up with them as they sat in the pub!

The other thing I noted was the difference the support of the crowd made.

I had been hoping for a time around two hours.

However because of the support around the course, it made running that much easier.

(Please note I said easier, not easy!!)

When we got to the last 400 yards, the crowd was 5 deep and made a hell of a noise, intensifying the support considerably.

The task all of a sudden didn’t seem that difficult.

I even managed as close as my little legs come to a sprint finish.

(I managed 1:53:32, for those who are interested)

So as marketers, what can we pick up from this?

Well the first thing; make life easy for yourself, don’t over complicate things.

Making a go of it online, despite what some say, is not easy.

So forget the bells and whistles…

…or even the mattresses or washing machines…

…build a list and send them mails offering products or services you know will help them.

(You can get my free set of follow up Emails HERE)

Simple is most often best…and easiest.

The second thing I picked up is that everything is easier when you have a bit of support.

You don’t have to be out there alone.

All in all I’m not quite sure which is the harder, succeeding online, or running a half marathon…

…but both can give you a great buzz when it all clicks into place.