I Am Not a Runner

I was out for a run recently. It was a beautiful fall morning. The leaves were turning, the air was crisp, and everything seemed calm—except me. My legs felt heavy, my breathing loud, and my pace slow. Halfway up a hill, I caught myself thinking: Ugh, I am not a runner.

But when I glanced at my Apple Watch, I was already past mile two. I actually laughed out loud at the irony of my negative thought. After all, I was outside, putting one foot in front of the other, sweating, and clocking mileage— which is the very definition of running!

How similar is this negative, judgmental thinking to how we think of ourselves as financial advisors? We’re constantly moving the bar higher—comparing ourselves to a colleague who's running faster, further, or seemingly with more ease.

Then we reach an accomplishing milestone... but before we even take a breath, we’re already chasing the next goal. We tell ourselves we’re not “there” yet. Not a top producer. Not successful enough.

But the truth is, you are running. You’re doing the work. You’re helping clients make smart decisions, guiding families through uncertainty, leading your teams, and creating momentum within your business—even during the times when it feels slow and heavy.

You may not be breaking records in this moment, but you are logging the miles. Maybe you're behind on your 2025 goals (I know I am), but you're still showing up everyday, moving the cases forward. The year isn't over yet. You know exactly how many production days you have left. And you keep going.

That deserves recognition. 

We talk so much about what’s next that we forget to honor what’s now. 

Being a runner is like being a financial advisor: Progress happens quietly, often requiring grit, and almost always without applause.

As the year winds down, the pressure builds—we have production goals, recognition trips we're trying to qualify for, year-end reviews we have to tackle. Before you sprint toward the next finish line and cross over into 2026, pause long enough to look back at how far you’ve already come in 2025. You’ve built something meaningful this year—client by client, conversation by conversation, plan by plan.

You’ve been running the race all along. It's been a steady pursuit of growth, service, and impact.

Here's the irony: we are so good at teaching this lesson to our clients and regularly checking in on their  progress toward goals. We build mile markers for them, conduct periodic reviews, celebrate their wins, and adjust the plan when needed.

You need those mile markers, too. 

Take time before year-end to stop and acknowledge your own progress.

Then don't forget the next steps: Rest. Rejuvenate. Recalibrate. And give yourself credit for the miles you’ve already run. 

After you've closed out and celebrated 2025-- no matter how it ends-- look ahead to 2026 with renewed energy and purpose.

You may not think you’re a runner.  But you’ve been running the whole time. And I've been right there with you.