A Brisk Baseline

I am smiling, really...

Earlier this week I did not want to go for a morning run.  It was chilly, and there was an obstinant breeze that chased away any warmth.  

But I looked back to a recent baseline and hit the road anyway.

A few months ago I set a baseline to hold myself accountable to run regardless of the conditions around me.  On a brisk, sunny morning in January I completed a 5k trail run with an ambient temperature of -5 degrees (F).  Yes, it was cold but I layered appriately and stuck to my plan.

Often in project leadership it is helpful to establish a baseline, especially when there have been significant delays.  Acknowledge where you are, establish goals for where you want to be, and identify steps to take each day to help the team move foward.  When you can look back to a rough spot and see the progress you've made despite the challenges and uncertainty, it is a lot easier to see a path forward for success.

Here's to hoping 2024 doesn't present me the opportunity to re-baseline!

Disclaimer:  I am not encouraging running outdoors in extreme temperaures.  As a farmer I work outdoors daily in all weather conditions and have spent years learning how to acclimate to cold temperatures.  

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