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Rusty Gaillard

To Push or Not to Push, That Is the Question

Published over 1 year ago • 1 min read

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. —Confucius


I tend to overdo things.

So when I started training for a Tough Mudder (10 mile mud run)

I went all in.

Last week I ran 6 miles/day for 5 days.

This week my target was 7 miles/day, but...

I ran out of steam.

Monday I was exhausted.

After pushing through 6 miles, I gave up.

I went home and researched training plans for a half-marathon.

Surprise, surprise...

There was something valuable to learn from others.

Going 100% every day is NOT what they recommend.

A good training plan has hard days and easy days.

There is always enough time to recover.

Why, you ask, didn't I start with the 2-minute google search?

I like to do things my way.

For years I’ve been Type A, high-achiever, persistent...

Going all-in has always worked for me,

Until it didn't.


I see this in so many people I talk to about work.

They've been all-in — prioritizing the job, long hours, delivering high quality work — and it’s worked…

Until it doesn't.

It’s hard to let go of an approach that has worked your whole life.

Grit & grind is celebrated -- especially in Silicon Valley.

But it's not the best way to reach your goals.

Continued success requires a new plan: one with recovery time.

There is still a time to push, but it has to be in the context of a larger, more balanced, plan.


For marathon training, you can Google the best way to train.

When it comes to your career, it’s not that obvious.

It’s worth considering: are there places where you’re pushing too hard, and what would it look like to have a more balanced plan?


To your success,

P.S. Would your team or company benefit from working smarter not harder? I do custom workshops, trainings, and keynotes for companies and organizations. Reply "training" and we'll design something specific for your group.

Rusty Gaillard

Executive Coach, Lifelong learner, Dad, Bass player, Outdoor Enthusiast, Former Apple Worldwide Director of Finance.

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