I could not agree more.

There’s another quote, somewhere in the lines of “It takes ten years of hard work to become an overnight success” (A perfect match with the “10,000 hours/10 years to become a master” rule lied by Malcolm Gladwell at Outliers).

But this is all rather straight forward (to most. Exclude the people in line for the lottery).

The problem is many things are a out of our control. We can try like crazy, for many long years, and still not make it. Just because we were unlucky. True, chances are better (probably) to getting somewhere if we do try (and try and try), but there is no certainty.

Our carrier, our financial situation, our love life, our health. All somewhat out of our hands.

So why am I ruining the party? Because it just hit me that here lies a good answer to why running a Marathon is a good idea. It’s one of the only fields you can be (almost) sure that if are persistent – you’ll get there. No need to count on others to like you, agree with you, follow you, buy from you. Very little luck is required and almost everybody can do it.

Scratch ‘Marathon’ and put whatever you like, but make sure it’s physical, you do it alone and it takes a long time to get there – and you have control.

Now go see a shrink and get a life.