Yay! Ken is back from a much deserved and hopefully highly enjoyed vacation and I am so happy about that! I love this article not only because of the truth to the metaphor, but I am a former runner/sometimes runner who has the genetics to train and run a marathon cold turkey in 4 months if I want to. I am almost 31 (on MONDAY! eek!) and I know my days of just picking up and running 5 miles out of no where are going to come to an end if I don’t find consistency and stay with it. Reading this article by Ken makes me feel incredibly guilty and I simply better get my butt back out there and start running and I need to think of Ken  every time I  do.  The same goes for my business….Ken, I have to say that you are truly motivating and your passion, persistence and commitment is inspirational! I want to be just like you when I grow up!!   Okay…so let’s see who holds me to my promise to start running consistently on a weekly basis?? I even have custom fitted Aetrex shoes that are incredibly comfortable and were kindly given to me by their CEO. As Ken would say….no excuses! Thanks for the motivation Ken! And let me motivate you and say KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!! -Julia

The Metaphor of Running  

No this is not a picture of me, although in a few years, it could be.   I need to lose 25 pounds.    My doctor said, “eat less, exercise more”.   Simple.   However, I love all things PF Changs, ice cream, pizza and pretty much anything fried.   I tried Slimfast.   I got through the first day of the program and by day two, the diet was in jeopardy.   I had my shake for breakfast and by 11:00, I was starving.   I had my lunch early(shake) and by 2 p.m., I was ready to eat my steering wheel.   I was on the road in a small town and found a bakery.   I devoured an entire french bread which  I am pretty sure is not what Slimfast had in mind when they said to eat a “sensible dinner”.

I decided to try a new approach.   My Wife and son are both runners, a sport which I had previously failed to find enjoyment.   Regardless, I decided to go out for a run.   The first day, I  was gung ho, started fast, and made it to the end of our street.  Day two, I made it about .5 miles.   Day three, .5 miles.   I was discouraged but I was not giving up.  I kept at it, and very slowly started to add distance.   As I ran, I started to realize that this is a great metaphor for starting and running a business.   For those of you that have not been to Houston in the summer, think in terms of literally walking into a sauna.   It is really that hot and humid.   I quickly realized that I MUST start my run before 6:15 a.m. or else the local ER will need to warm up the paddles for me.

There were days that I did not want to hit it.   There were days that I wanted to sleep in.   There were days that I pretended to hear rain so I would not have to go.  But in my mind, if I give up on running, I am a quitter.   I may have to slow down some times and I am sure people who drive me laugh at my pace, but I keep going.  

What really prompted the idea for this article is a portion of my run.   Right near the end, the path goes two ways.   The “longer” way home is literally 25 extra feet.  I look at this crossroads as my own private reminder to running a business.   Don’t take shortcuts!  It is tempting, especially when I am really exhausted and so close to home.   No one will know but me.  But I am proud to say that I have never taken the shorter way.   Small difference, but huge in my mind.

There are days I want to quit;  running and Twig.   There are days I start out with my son and I am able to stay with him for all of 15 seconds(he runs cross country at school), and I think, why am I killing myself?   In a lot of ways, I realize that running and running a business develops a mental toughness, an expectation and a freedom to live the way I want.  

I cannot say that I have dropped the 25 pounds yet, but the next time I eat an entire french bread, I know that I will be “running it off” the next morning.   

Ken Proctor

Front Man

Twig Footwear, LLC

Ken@twigfootwear.com

www.twigfootwear.com

501-276-0140