Do you have any idea how to keep your mind occupied while busy trail running, walking, climbing or scrambling on all fours up the Drakensberg? You would think that my number one thought this past weekend, while doing the 42km RuntheBerg Ultra Trail Run, was how this is the best entrepreneurial gift to myself. I hate to break to you, but the natural flow of conversation with myself was: Why do I do this to myself? It was tough. And just when I thought I was over the worst, it became even tougher. But that’s not where this entrepreneur’s story started, and it is not where it is ending.
Definiteness of Purpose
The reality of trail running and preparing for a trail run like RuntheBerg is that you spend hours upon hours running trails up and down hills, or at least the closest thing you can get to a mountain, if you stay in Johannesburg, like I do. One way to keep your mind occupied during those hours is to listen to audiobooks, such as Napoleon Hill’s The Positive Side of the Street. Definiteness of Purpose is the theme that kept on playing back in my mind as I tackled the RuntheBerg Drakensberg hills.
My primary purpose for running the trail runs I do is to prove to myself that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. And yes, it is definitely part of my action plan to inspire my entrepreneur friends whom I mentor and coach through the addVentures Academy. I have to admit that my thoughts wandered to wondering why I can’t go stand on a stage and tell people what to do, instead of doing it myself. Especially while scrambling up Juluka Pass on all fours at 45 minutes per kilometre! But those thoughts were fleeting, and by the time I reached the top of Juluka, I could marvel at the beauty of probably the best gift that I can give myself as an entrepreneur.
The bottom line is that if you do have a definite purpose, the path to achieving it becomes easier.
Good Enough is Good Enough
I don’t know about you, but I can be pretty hard on myself. If I have set my targets on a goal that dwindles in the mist, I have to remind myself that good enough is good enough. I was initially entered in the 65km race, but between a foot injury, a brand new Studio, and a 300% increase in team members during the last two months, my training went off the rails, which ultimately pushed me to downgrade to the 42km race. It almost reminds me of a story that I wrote two years ago called: “So, I ran the f**king Berg!”, when I participated in the 28km Run the Berg race.
I grew up with the book I’m OK, You’re OK, which was initially written in 1967 by Thomas A. Harris, on how to gain control of yourself and your future. As an entrepreneur who is too hard on yourself, implementing the principles of “I’m OK, You’re OK” means cultivating self-compassion and recognising the inner critic voice that judges you way too harshly.
I have even second-guessed myself when the news broke that I was second in my age category. My initial thought was that there were only three girls my age who had completed the race. It is a constant challenge to remind myself that good enough is good enough.
A Promise to Myself
It might sound a little off-topic, but while I am putting my thoughts together on the best gift for myself as an entrepreneur, I am also busy baking All-Bran rusks for my son, who is visiting. I did promise him that he would have my home-baked rusks to take back with him when he leaves for Cape Town in a couple of days, even if it does mean baking these rusks at two o’clock in the morning.
We often go out of our way to keep a promise to the people around us, but forget to keep the promises to ourselves. I have promised myself that I will run UTCT in 2026, and RuntheBerg was part of my training leading up to UTCT 2026. As the days came closer, my mind kept looking for excuses as to why I should bail out of this race. My workload is insane. Between managing our addVentures Communication clients, building the addVentures Academy repertoire and our rapidly growing addShine Corporate Clothing, Gift & Workwear production line, not to mention our very own famous handmade Elnaturel Tallow Balm, there was ample reason to bail on the promise to myself.
But I didn’t, and I am pretty chuffed with myself that I persevered!
You Are Stronger Than Your Fears
Did I mention that I was close to tears while standing in the shoot, before the start of the race? I really had to dig deep into all the drama training from my drama teacher mom back at school to keep the tears back. This was going to be my very first self-navigation trail run. The AccuWeather App predicted rain and thunderstorms while I was going to be at the top of the Drakensberg that day. I had been battling with a foot injury. I knew I did not put in the training that I should have, and then there was the fear of missing out, spending the day with my best friend and supporter.
The reality is that if we want to give in to our fears, it is super easy to stack them up as high as the Drakensberg. Somewhere between the definiteness of our purpose, the promises we made to ourselves and the reality that good enough is good enough, we can muster up the courage to not back out of our plans. It also helps if you have told the world and his dog that you would be running Runtheberg that weekend!
Ultimately, not giving in to your fears is the biggest gift you can give yourself as an entrepreneur. I am stronger than my fears, and you are too.
The Moral of the Story
There are very few things as rewarding as finishing an arduous 9,5 hour journey up and down the mighty Drakensberg. A day to almost forget about all the stresses and strains of entrepreneurship. A day to find out that you are stronger than you think you are. You can overcome your fears, and you can definitely keep promises to yourself. Entrepreneurship is eighty per cent in your head and 20 per cent of what you know. Yes, you had to have the discipline to show of for the training sessions just like you have to show up for work almost every single day. Quitting is not an option. After all, this is the best gift I can give myself as an entrepreneur.
The Expedition Business Story
One thing that we absolutely love doing at addVentures Academy, is to tell entrepreneur stories. In fact, that is the beginning and end of what we do. Helping you to create, develop and share your business story. We would love for you to join us to learn how to create and develop your entrepreneur story, and then we would love to share it with the world.
Warren King, founder and organiser of RuntheBerg, shared his story with us on Expedition Business some time ago. Click here to find out how you transition from a highly successful corporate employee to a Trail Event Organiser and Promoter.
