Running in a digital world

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Bo

In my world of digital marketing, I’ve been learning about website analytics. One of the coolest terms I’ve been exposed to recently is “success events” on websites. In layman’s terms, this is the tracking of activity when people come to your website and the actions they take.

These so-called success events could be anything from clicks on a login button, completion of a shopping cart journey, filling out an application form or simply spending time on the site. You define what those success events are for your specific site. (Okay, enough geek talk.)

So it was on this morning’s run that I decided to define those success events and ticked each one off in my head as I went along.

Getting out of bed to go run. This must be the biggest success event of them all! That negotiation that goes on in your head whether or not to lie in or go for a run is a toughie most weekends.
Running the 1^st kilometre without walking. From my gate to the swimming school is a bit of a pull and the urge to walk is strong. Good job this morning Bron.
Getting through the security boom through Norscot Manor. The guard is very strict and usually doesn’t even allow runners (I know!) to head through the boom unless you specify an address. Dude, I Googled a few options long ago! Boom lifted.
Running the 4^th kilometre at a pace of 7:15 minutes. Nice! I wonder if some of that speed work at the gym is paying off?
Using my cool down time to walk the dogs around my complex as soon as I got home. Bonus! ~~They~~ We loved it!

All in all, my report looked good this morning. Great run! Success!

If you need me, I’ll be at home

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Bo

I’m pretty old school when it comes to my job. I believe in arriving at work before 8am, I’ll eat my lunch at my desk and if I have to, I’ll work late to ensure a project or deadline gets met. But there’s loads of new thinking around ‘where’ you work and corporate jargon such as mobile workers and hot-desking are becoming more and more popular. In addition, this concept of ‘working from home’ has been encouraged.

So on Tuesday, I managed to ~~get out of~~ cancel a workshop and alerted my team that I would work from home. It was all very new for me and I didn’t really think I would manage to get much done. Boy was I wrong. Here’s what happened…

I’m usually sitting in traffic from 6:20 until I get to the office at 7:15 (or sometimes later). But having no need to drive into the office it occurred to me that I had the extra time to either sleep in or even go for a run or get to gym. If I went for my usual 5km run at 6:30, I would get back home at the same time it would’ve taken me to get to work. Get outta here!

I didn’t go for my run or to gym but actually got started on work just after 7am. The house was dead quiet. There were no phones ringing, no loud colleagues, no disturbances. Just the laptop and me and yet I was always connected to my team as we emailed & Lync’ed one another all day long.

In between working through millions of emails, I occasionally walked outside to look at my garden and refresh my head. I might have stopped for a few minutes to check my Facebook feed and the news which I don’t get time to do during a ‘normal’ day. I even had time to stop and cuddle my dogs which I personally feel are all activities that are good for the soul. They loved it too!

When it got to 15h45, my laptop reminded me to leave work to get to the running club in time for time trial. Most afternoons, I feel so guilty when I leave but if I don’t, I can’t get to running or gym on time. On this day, with nowhere to drive to, I still managed to do an extra 90 minutes of work before I shut my laptop and went for a run. Yip, still managed to get out there. The amazing thing is that I got so much work done!

It has truly changed my mind about time management and working from home and I will definitely look for opportunities to do it more often. This WILL be my year of less stress, of giving back to my body, my mind and myself. In a smart way, of course!

(Image: Google)

Reviewing my year…

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Bo

Self-doubt has been a recurring theme of my blog. I have found that in my life it has affected how I respond to other people, my confidence within the work place but also my running ability. In writing my ‘Review of 2013′ blog post, I would have to say that the last 3 months have taught me more about myself than I’ve ever known; it’s been a time of incredibly uncertainty; a period of my life where self-doubt could have easily engulfed me … But that never happened.

If there is one word which describes it all, I would say vulnerability.

Deciding to head down a new path for my career, moving to a new department, being seconded to head up a team for 6 months in a field I had no previous experience in was incredibly overwhelming. The initial few days I feared that I would be exposed and make a mistake. That I would fail…

Instead of allowing self-doubt to take the lead, I used my vulnerability to accept that things were new, every day had its own share of unknowns, that the work was tough and complex and that I was either going to sink or swim. Instead of being in control, I let go and let each day take care of itself. And I was rewarded each and every day. Not only by small successes around me, but on a personal level too.

I’ve learnt that I actually know stuff. Stuff that has been built up in files in my head for years and years, waiting to be released. I realize that I can make a difference and sometimes it doesn’t have to be a big one. I’ve learnt that I can and I do add value – best feeling in the world.

But I guess the biggest surprise is that I’m no longer afraid to let people around me see this part of me. The more passionate I get, the bolder I feel and the more I love what I do. 2013 will definitely go down as the year I found my voice.

Thank you Dipesh for believing in me and making me believe in myself.

Knock off and run

Posted on September 24, 2013 by Bo

Geepers! I’m finding it such a struggle lately to get to gym or go for a run! When I drive home from work, I often see cyclists crossing the road on their cycling path across Delta Park down Barry Hertzog Road. I get so jealous and ask myself, “What time did they leave work to get dressed in cycling kit and get out on the road?” I think that’s the trick though. Finding time.

The reality is that there will always be busy days. It’s the norm for most people, right? Our days have become so busy. There will always be late afternoon meetings. There will always be so much work to do that I couldn’t possibly finish it all in one day. (It’s a blessing). But this is just how it is and it’s not going to change. So what can I do about it?

I’m definitely in a better state of mind if I manage to get to gym or get out on the road to run. It’s important that I make time. I admit that the only person stopping me is … me. I need to put my foot down and leave the office when I need to in order to find that balance. It’s in my hands. Just like those cyclist, I have to manage my time better.

A week ago, I returned to Randburg Harriers time trial after ‘my Winter hibernation’. I had not been for months and oddly enough had butterflies in my stomach when I arrived. I ran on my own, through the tree-lined streets, taking deep breaths and smelling the fresh Spring air. It was awesome! A new PB TT time too. I couldn’t stop talking about it for days how wonderful it was to be back at TT.

But to be honest, I think it was my body feeling so amazing because it was thanking me. My whole body inside and out was smiling!