Starter? Finisher? Or…Somewhere In Between?

“To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift…My philosophy is that I’m an artist. I perform an art not with a paint brush or a camera. I perform with bodily movement. Instead of exhibiting my art in a museum or a book or on canvas, I exhibit my art in front of the multitudes.” – Steve Prefontaine

“The long-distance run of an early morning makes me think that every run like this is a life- a little life, I know- but a life as full of misery and happiness and things happening as you can ever get really around yourself.” ― Alan Sillitoe, The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner

This NYT article on Erik Sowinski, professional pacer, is facinating. One realizes how even something like distance running, which seems like a solitary endeavor, can actually be a team sport.

It’s also an important reminder to know and fully understand what you’re great at it and what you’re not. Especially in the service of being on a team or running a company or producing a passion project.

Ask yourself…

Are you a starter? Someone with vision and big ideas and can start fast when others are afraid to move. An entrepreneur-type.

Are you a finisher? Someone who loves to close the deal. A great salesperson perhaps.

Or somewhere in between? You’re not necessarily gonna start anything and you’re not a closer per se, but man, you just love to get in there and grind. You love details and executing work plans. You can always be counted on to come through. Think of a great line producer in film.

For any collaborative endeavor, all three types are necessary. And in the early stages, you might have to be some version of all of them. But to take the next leap in your organizational development and build a world-class team, ensure that you have people who are remarkable in each category.