Our story begins with Ciara Pressler going on a 16-mile run. It’s her best run of the year.
Her hypothesis?
She chose to run well today.
Ciara spent the night before visualizing having an energetic and successful run, and came to the start of it with that purpose and expectation. She was excited as she laced up her sneakers, and met her friends — fellow runners who can push the pace.
At one moment in the long run, Ciara thinks, “I want to fall behind.”
And then corrects herself: “Actually, I don’t.” She decides to keep running with the group, and finishing in amazing fashion.
Musing over and generalizing on the concept, she explains, “There’s a subtle voice in my head, always. When I get into pushup position, some of me is choosing how intense to approach it and how far I’ll go.”
And is it possible that this is everything?
Ranging from technology, marketing, pushups, communicating with your significant other, and even if you’re just going to have a good day or not?
“I run exactly as fast as I decide to.”
Ciara Pressler is a marketing consultant and marathoner based in New York City. Free resources and ways to connect are at Pressler Collaborative. Sebastian Marshall writes long-form actionable insights for history on the 1st of each month at The Strategic Review.