The Same, yet Different
As I have started writing my book, it has become apparent to me that there are many parallels to my experience of training for the Olympic Triathlon last year.
The similarities are incredible - which I guess isn’t really a surprise given that they are both things that you have to commit to and achieve over time.
Here are the main things that I have found so far:
Community - Becoming part of the Expert Author Community (EAC) was a must for me in taking on this journey. Not only do I need expert input so that I can generate a quality book, but I also felt that I needed to be around people who are on the same journey as me - same as last year when I was training for the Triathlon. During the Triathlon training I worked with a Coach remotely and trained alone most of the time. We then caught up as a group of ‘Triathletes in training’ to share our experiences once a month. Hearing peoples experiences, their wins and challenges made a huge difference and helped keep me on track. There is a sense of safety in numbers and a wonderful confidence that comes from knowing that your Coach and your team have your back, particularly when you are doing something new, something challenging and something that stretches you far outside your comfort zone.
Process - Having a tried and tested process to follow pays dividends. It means I have absolute confidence that I am on track at all times. It also makes it easier to tackle the planning and writing of the book in ‘bite sized pieces’. It makes it easy to understand and digest the new information that I receive so I can then use it to create the next part of my book.
Consistency - Having a plan to follow makes my efforts consistent. That was most definitely beneficial last year, over the six month process. Having a training schedule that was consistently building in tandem with my capability and stamina, made a huge difference. It enabled me to keep pushing and constantly astound myself at what I was capable of.
Inspiration - Inspiration has come from many sources in both of these journey’s. From my team mates and fellow community members and also from my Coaches. Personally my best form of motivation is inspiration. Experiencing new things keeps my creative juices flowing. I get energy from things that excite me. I have an unquenchable thirst to continually learn. Being around #lituphumans also inspires me - I love seeing people in their flow and challenging themselves. For me, life is all the better for being willing to grab life by the horns!
Persistence - Even on the days I didn’t ‘feel’ like training, I trained and did the work. That is much like writing. There is always something to say. It doesn’t always sounds the way I think it will, and yet it brings me immense satisfaction to simply ‘do the work, the way it’s meant to be done’. One of the draw backs of being fuelled by inspiration is when there isn’t any - it’s more of a challenge. My inspiration for training was always improving, being able to run faster or further. When I am writing it’s about sharing the journey. The ups, downs and inbetween’s.
Rest & Relaxation - If I learnt anything from the training last year it is that the rest days were as important as the training days. We have to give our bodies time to rest and rejuvenate so that we can come back stronger in the next session. When I am writing it doesn’t feel like work. Honestly one of my inspirations is imagining I am Carrie Bradshaw, creating a fabulous story for a big fashion magazine. It somehow makes the process of writing more romantic for me. I used to love watching Sarah Jessica Parker tapping away on her keyboard in ‘Sex in the City’. She made writing look uber glamourous. These days I am much better at practising self-care, whether it’s streaming a fav show or movie, treating myself to a massage or simply mooching around the shops - I do things that make me feel good and increase my dopamine levels. Let’s face it, we all love happy hormones!
Sharing the Experience - Part of the Coaching from the EAC Team is to share your journey whilst you are writing and it was the same when we were training last year. For the Triathlon it was to share the experience, what it felt like and also to inspire people to support the charity we were supporting. With the book it’s similar, but also it’s interesting as to be honest at times I’m not even sure what I’ll be sharing. Whilst I am clear about the content of the book I am writing - the beauty of writing a book is that you get insights and learnings that you weren’t expecting as you move through the process. It opens up new and wonderful areas to explore. As part of EAC I also get to meet AMAZING people on the journey, accomplished authors, aspiring authors and inspiring creative experts who share their wealth of experience with us.
So in summary, the process for both are very much the same…..yet different. I definitely feel more resilient mentally as a result of training last year and of course still train, so my body is healthy and happy which supports my focus and energy levels.
There is also a compound effect of having done the Triathlon last year too. The discipline, commitment and focus that I dedicated last year is serving me well this year. The book isn’t due to be published until late next year so whilst there is still time, there is plenty of work to be done.
Whatever you are working on at the moment, stay with it, particularly if you love it. It may not always be easy, but I can promise you that it will be worth it!
