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I know a lot of people love to run with others. They tell me how much it motivates them, how it keeps them accountable and pushes them out the door, knowing someone is out there waiting for them.
I never understood that.
I’ve always been a solitary runner. I don’t need conversation to distract me, or someone else to motivate me to lace up my running shoes. If I have a run planned, I jump out of bed and get going.
This is why my recent reaction at a running store was so strange. I had dropped my daughter off for orientation at her new school and set off to explore the city of Providence, R.I., on my own. When I came across a running store, like any dedicated runner, I had to go in and check it out.
Inside, about 20 people were laughing and greeting one another throughout the store. I asked one of the employees what was going on and was told it was their weekly running club. Every week they meet to do a three- to five-mile run. Even though I wasn’t dressed for it, they invited me to join them.
Normally I would have rolled my eyes. But as I watched and listened, I started to get it. You could see how everyone helped and supported one another. There was camaraderie in getting out to run together, but there was more than that: They talked about pushing one another to reach new distances and faster paces.
Their excitement was contagious, and for the first time I could see the benefits of group running.
Business is a team effort, too
I was the same way when I first took over our company. I was a solitary business owner. We were a small family business that just didn’t have the means for any management levels. Whether it was running or managing my business, I knew if I didn’t do it, it wouldn’t get done. I guess that’s why I became so comfortable working on my own.
It took time, but I slowly learned the importance of working side-by-side with others. Eventually, I saw how much more we could accomplish as a group than I ever could have on my own.
Association rallies support
Recently, I’ve seen the importance of working together firsthand as a member of the New York Pest Management Association. Our industry is facing legislative challenges on multiple fronts — nationally with the Farm Bill, and here in New York with proposals at both the state and city levels that would severely limit our ability to use rodenticides and glue monitors.
Years ago, I would have sat back and accepted whatever laws were passed against our industry. This time, I was on the front lines with our State Policy Affairs Representatives (SPARs), our Legislative Committee and our legal teams.
I felt like a new runner who could barely finish a mile joining a running club. I was out of my comfort zone. I had never done anything on the legislative side and was unsure what to do. But these smart, dedicated professionals led me along the way. Meeting by meeting, we grew stronger as a team. We met with everyone from local assembly members to U.S. Senators. We stopped these laws from passing this year. The fight might not be over, but together, we’ll tackle it as a team.
Whether you’re trying to run your first mile or run your own business, everything is easier when you work together. Join a running club. Join your state and national associations. Together, you’ll go further than you ever thought possible.
Have a great run!
