Running could boost self-employed success

Wednesday 18 May 2016

There are many qualities that are important for running a successful business, but new research suggests that self-discipline could be one of the most key.

New findings from CV-Library reveal that many people who train for a long-distance run, such as a marathon, believe the experience has made them better at their job.

Although there are a lot of concerns that the hard work and dedication needed to complete a marathon could result in a burnout, the study of 1,000 professionals found that the majority (85.7 per cent) felt this wasn't the case. This number believed their training had not negatively impacted on their ability to do their job, in fact it could have the opposite effect.

The research suggests that the dedication and commitment needed to complete a marathon could have a positive impact on overall career success, potentially making professionals who do long-distance running better at their job than others.

Nearly three-quarters of those who ran marathons were able to successfully maintain productivity at work, despite having to dedicate a large amount of time to intense running training outside of the office.

In addition, the research found that the majority (87.7 per cent) who regularly exercise outside of work felt it had made them more productive at in the office.

More than three-quarters (78.9 per cent) of the workers surveyed believe that the routine of training for a marathon made professionals more able to commit and focus on their career, the study found.

Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library, said: “Any individual who commits to running a marathon is clearly motivated by personal success, and this level of dedication is likely to influence their working life; a fact that should be positively channelled by employers."

With months spent "honing in on a goal", consistently improving and being completely dedicated to meeting their targets, it's possible for these skills to be transitioned into the workplace, making people more productive and focused, he explained.

For professionals who run their own business, are self-employed or who offer consultancy, being productive and focused is essential for bringing in enough clients and expanding your brand.

By Victoria McDonnell

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