Keep Your Eyes On the Prize

Jon Gordon explains why maintaining your vision is crucial to attaining goals.

By Jon Gordon

90% of the game is half mental. —Yogi Berra

Here's a question I bet you've never been asked before. At what mile do most people quit a marathon?

If you are like me, you would probably say the 26th mile. After all that's when runners should be the most physically drained and exhausted. Not so. Besides the first mile, the 26th is when the least amount of people quit. While there could be a hundred explanations as to why this is, I believe one reason stands out from all the others: vision.

Most runners don't quit during the 26th mile because they have a vision of where they are going. They see the end in sight so they keep striving for it. Sure they are physically exhausted but their vision—and the power of the mind--fuels them and tells them to keep going to reach their destination.

Most runners quit a marathon at the 20th mile because this is when they lose their vision, lose sight of their goal. This is when they are both physically exhausted and mentally drained. This is when runners feel they have come so far and yet still have so far to go. This is when their goal fades away and their mental power dissipates. Where there is no vision the people perish.

This underscores and important principle that is a key to success, health and happiness. We must keep our vision alive. We must stay mentally and emotionally strong and spiritually fit.

After all, there will be days when our bodies say no. At those times we need our mind to say yes. There will be times when it seems that everything in life conspires to sabotage our goals and dreams. And there will be weeks or even months when we feel like we are hitting the 20th mile. The answer is to maintain your vision and focus on it. Keep your vision alive and it will keep you alive. Don't give up. Keep striving towards the vision planted in your mind and heart.

Here's a simple three-step process to keep your vision alive.

1. Write down your vision for your life and career.
Be as specific as you can.

2. Know your WHY.
Why is this vision significant to you? What do you hope for? What is the bigger reason for your vision? Your why is your purpose and you must know it because vision without purpose is like trying to drive to New York without the gas to get you there. Purpose fuels your vision and it fuels you. Write down your WHY.

3. Read your vision and your "why" statements each morning.
Remember if you keep your vision alive it will keep you alive.