Yesterday I ran the Great North Run for the tenth time.  I don’t say that to boast – although I am quite proud.  Every single run was hard.  I’m not a natural athlete.  If I’m a natural anything its a natural party girl who loves to eat good food and drink great wine.  I didn’t take up running until I was in my thirties and have run the Great North Run for a multitude of reasons, just like everyone else.

39,000 runners with 39,000 stories.  Some are running it for themselves – to get fit, to lose weight, to test themselves, to win a bet!  Some are doing it to raise money for charity and help people less fortunate than themselves.  And some are doing it in memory of people they loved and admired who are no longer with us.

So what has that got to do with business and leadership I hear you cry.  Well, it strikes me that if you talked to 39,000 successful business leaders they too would have 39,000 different reasons driving them.  Some would be doing it for themselves – to realise their dreams, to provide a certain lifestyle for themselves and their families, to make the best of themselves, to prove their worth.  Some would be focussed on influencing others so that they’re not alone in achieving goals that are important to many.  And some would be remembering role models they admired and respected and continuing their good work.

Whether they be athletes or business people, what they all have in common is their desire to change something, their decision to do something about it, the actions they are personally taking and their ability to keep going when things get tough.

So, if there’s something you want to change in your business, don’t just sit there hoping others will do what’s needed or admiring others from afar.  Lace up your leadership shoes and just do it!

And, if you’re inspired to run the Great North Run next year, come and join us on Tyneside.  It’s an amazing experience.