I came across a post from Seth Godin titled “Where is your N+1” .
If three people are coming over for dinner, does that stress you out?
What if it’s 17?
If you’re giving a talk explaining your strategy to four people, does it feel like a high-risk event? What if it’s 54?
How many more people are required before it flips to stressful? Because the last person is just one person.
If you’re performing in an auditorium, there are still only thirty people you can see from the stage.
N + 1 is just 1 more.
Seth Godin
It reminds me of when I was running, whether it was to train for an upcoming race, participate in an actual race, or just simply push myself. Instead of thinking I have to run 20 km or a full marathon of 42 km, I try to focus on the next 10 meters or the next step I have to take. My mind is on the next thing I have to do to achieve my goal. It sounds easy, but sometimes it’s the hardest thing, and the thought of giving up becomes overwhelming. I remember what Rocky said:
One step at a time. One punch at a time. One round at a time.
Rocky in Creed (2015)
There’s also a clip I came across of an ultra runner sharing a similar experience that helps her running long distance:
Anna Simonsson-Søndenå Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anna.simone.s/?g=5
video source https://www.instagram.com/p/DITL49DItGg/
Like coach Bennett said:
“This is about running, this is not about running.”