Partner Article

Running a marathon - running a business

Last month saw thousands of runners pounding the streets of Sunderland as the city hosted its first marathon. A fantastic event that is helping put Sunderland back on the map. It really brings a sense of achievement and pride not to mention helping to promote Sunderland’s local economy. Running a marathon puts immense strain on the body and I applaud all those that took part.

I found myself thinking about how similar running a marathon is to running your own business. If the success in business, like in a marathon was easy then everyone would do it.

Planning is vital. Preparing for the race and your business is crucial. You need to plan your time accordingly to be in the best physical shape you can. Understanding a marathon is not a sprint and realising that it will take time to reach your destination and that overnight success is very rare.

Set your goals. Whether it is to beat your personal best or you aim to be a registered company by the end of the year, training and education are stepping stones to bring you to your goal and also keep you in sight of them.

Pace yourself. Any readers familiar of the fable regarding the hare and the tortoise? When starting your business set your own pace and know your limits. Be sure not to burn out at the first hurdle, remembering that a slow and steady pace will eventually complete the race to business success.

Speak to professionals. Speak to those who have been there and listen to their experiences. Here at the North East BIC our experienced advisers have helped hundreds of businesses start up each year.

Think about what your end goal is, whether it be crossing the finishing line or expanding your business. Take a deep breath, wipe your brow and hit the road running.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by John Anderson CBE .