Hi, I'm Leila Ainge, psychologist and researcher.
2
00:00:07,152 --> 00:00:17,707
Welcome back to Psychologically Speaking, a podcast all about human behavior, bringing
together fascinating research, insights and real life experiences.
3
00:00:17,707 --> 00:00:26,981
This season, we're exploring goals with guests and we'll be following them into the new
year to see how their beliefs, behaviors and actions shape those intentions.
4
00:00:27,959 --> 00:00:31,112
My next guest, Hannah, has been on the podcast before.
5
00:00:31,112 --> 00:00:34,775
Hannah runs a community built around 10 minute marketing tasks.
6
00:00:34,775 --> 00:00:40,981
And the last time she was on, she told us how often people describe it as weird to do
something so fast.
7
00:00:40,981 --> 00:00:43,363
She is a self-confessed under thinker.
8
00:00:43,363 --> 00:00:48,148
Hannah's reframe around marketing is refreshingly direct and simple.
9
00:00:48,148 --> 00:00:51,561
So can we expect the same from her approach to goal setting?
10
00:00:51,561 --> 00:00:52,793
Let's find out.
11
00:00:52,793 --> 00:00:53,955
Welcome back, Hannah.
12
00:00:53,955 --> 00:00:55,521
Thank you so much for having me again.
13
00:00:55,521 --> 00:00:57,117
I'm so excited to be here.
14
00:00:57,117 --> 00:01:05,907
we loved having you on last time and I got loads of comments about your episode where
people go, I definitely overthink and it was really nice to hear somebody say, just post
15
00:01:05,907 --> 00:01:06,637
it.
16
00:01:09,682 --> 00:01:14,168
I'm asking everybody this season about their goals for next year.
17
00:01:14,168 --> 00:01:17,141
Are you thinking of a goal or a resolution?
18
00:01:18,227 --> 00:01:19,067
Goals?
19
00:01:19,067 --> 00:01:25,353
I think I've got two goals and yeah, they feel yeah, they definitely feel like goals not
resolutions.
20
00:01:25,353 --> 00:01:29,164
Okay well let's dive in which one do want to talk about first?
21
00:01:29,164 --> 00:01:30,956
Well, I'd say I've got two.
22
00:01:30,956 --> 00:01:38,045
One, I don't think I can achieve and one I think is a stretch, but maybe I could achieve.
23
00:01:38,045 --> 00:01:40,008
So which one do you want first?
24
00:01:40,008 --> 00:01:46,779
Shall we go for the one that is a stretch that you think you can achieve and then we'll
spend more time on the other one?
25
00:01:46,917 --> 00:01:48,188
Okay, nice.
26
00:01:48,188 --> 00:01:51,469
So the one that I think is a stretch is business goal.
27
00:01:51,469 --> 00:01:57,422
And I want to get 300 members in the best 90 days ever in my marketing membership.
28
00:01:57,422 --> 00:02:01,083
So I've got 170 at the moment.
29
00:02:01,083 --> 00:02:13,998
So that is why it feels like a stretch because it's almost double that, which to me means
I'm probably gonna have to double my audience growth and things like that.
30
00:02:14,319 --> 00:02:14,990
But
31
00:02:14,990 --> 00:02:22,417
I wanted to get 200 and I just thought, well why don't I just add another 100 on and see
what happens.
32
00:02:22,417 --> 00:02:22,988
Why not?
33
00:02:22,988 --> 00:02:23,490
Yeah.
34
00:02:23,490 --> 00:02:28,349
Okay, so how long did it take you to build your current audience?
35
00:02:28,349 --> 00:02:31,143
So it's been going for four years now.
36
00:02:31,260 --> 00:02:34,171
So it's taken me four years to get to 170.
37
00:02:34,171 --> 00:02:37,082
So I want to do that again in a year.
38
00:02:37,082 --> 00:02:48,161
But what you've got on your side this time is you've got all of the knowledge of what
works and you can cut out any faff around anything that didn't serve you and didn't work.
39
00:02:48,161 --> 00:02:50,962
So what's your strategy?
40
00:02:50,962 --> 00:02:55,250
What have you learned that you're thinking, this is definitely gonna help me get to that
300?
41
00:02:55,250 --> 00:03:07,909
So my kind of rough idea is that next year, I say this and I don't, this is what I don't
know if I can actually do, but like, I would like to not really launch anything new.
42
00:03:08,260 --> 00:03:09,791
No, I will launch new things.
43
00:03:09,791 --> 00:03:15,915
I'm sure I know that of myself, but like, I would like a year that is focused on the
membership.
44
00:03:15,930 --> 00:03:19,274
So I would like a year where I just give it everything.
45
00:03:19,274 --> 00:03:22,457
And that doesn't mean I don't give it everything now because I do, but.
46
00:03:22,457 --> 00:03:33,174
I have other things and you know over the last couple of years I've done the retreat which
you came on and things like that which I've loved doing but I just wonder if I just had a
47
00:03:33,174 --> 00:03:46,179
year of membership building what that would look like and I have I've booked a call with
someone who is like a membership specialist and membership expert who is going to help me
48
00:03:46,179 --> 00:03:51,343
with that I think they call like a membership strategist so
49
00:03:51,343 --> 00:03:55,522
Yeah, I just think if I can do that, what would happen basically?
50
00:03:55,522 --> 00:03:58,475
And what's the motivation behind growing it?
51
00:03:58,475 --> 00:04:02,769
I think it would be wrong of me to not say money.
52
00:04:02,769 --> 00:04:09,182
Like obviously there is the income, it's a reoccurring income for me and it is there every
month.
53
00:04:09,182 --> 00:04:10,773
So that is really nice.
54
00:04:10,773 --> 00:04:13,126
But I love bringing people together.
55
00:04:13,126 --> 00:04:15,616
I love having that community.
56
00:04:15,616 --> 00:04:24,763
And I think one of the things I've realised over the last couple of years is that that's
where I thrive and I'm really good at that group setting rather than the one to one
57
00:04:24,763 --> 00:04:25,574
coaching.
58
00:04:25,574 --> 00:04:35,327
So yeah, I think knowing that I would thrive in that kind of position is also one of the
motivations as well.
59
00:04:35,327 --> 00:04:38,941
So what I'm hearing here is it fills two needs and values.
60
00:04:38,941 --> 00:04:46,741
One is that need to bring people together and the value you get from that and it's warm
and energy giving thing for you.
61
00:04:46,741 --> 00:04:51,907
And the second thing is the need to make money and be profitable because that's why we're
all doing what we're doing.
62
00:04:53,061 --> 00:04:58,826
So that sounds amazing and also you are going to scaffold that goal with the right
expertise.
63
00:04:58,826 --> 00:05:00,748
You're not doing this on your own.
64
00:05:00,748 --> 00:05:07,934
You've learnt and failed and learnt and failed on your own to get to 170 so you've got a
good feeling around what things work.
65
00:05:07,934 --> 00:05:12,398
You've got your own evidence base but then you're also going out to an expert as well.
66
00:05:12,398 --> 00:05:19,134
So you're sharing this, em the mental load of building that as well with somebody else.
67
00:05:19,134 --> 00:05:20,836
That's a really smart strategy.
68
00:05:20,836 --> 00:05:22,507
Yeah, that is really true, actually.
69
00:05:22,507 --> 00:05:28,663
And knowing they would have that specific knowledge as well of the things that have worked
and the things that don't quite work.
70
00:05:28,663 --> 00:05:34,227
And I think the other thing that I probably have on my side with this is the momentum of
the four years.
71
00:05:34,227 --> 00:05:41,373
So I have been promoting it, you know, every day for the last four years, and I've been
talking about it and growing it.
72
00:05:41,373 --> 00:05:49,541
And like, is that thing of, you know, when a plane takes off, it takes loads of energy,
but when it's flying, I mean, I'm sure it still takes loads of energy, but, know,
73
00:05:49,541 --> 00:06:03,597
I'm now, I think it will be slightly easier potentially because now some of the
opportunities that I was really trying to get will be coming to me because I've built that
74
00:06:03,597 --> 00:06:07,719
audience and that hopefully like that reputation and credibility and things.
75
00:06:07,719 --> 00:06:11,001
yeah, I think now I have that behind me.
76
00:06:11,001 --> 00:06:14,813
Getting those opportunities for growth will be slightly easier.
77
00:06:14,813 --> 00:06:15,694
That's what I'm hoping.
78
00:06:15,694 --> 00:06:17,154
That's what I'm telling myself.
79
00:06:17,212 --> 00:06:25,929
Well, I think it's great to tell yourself that and you know, I've got this image of a
bird, like kind of um sauntering, you know, through the wind, you know, they have to get
80
00:06:25,929 --> 00:06:31,844
all that energy out there and you're using that tailwind that you've created at MacBenton
to keep going.
81
00:06:32,004 --> 00:06:40,622
The exciting thing for me here is that, you know, you've got that social proof, but a lot
of people who were setting goals and people who've come onto the podcast so far,
82
00:06:40,622 --> 00:06:44,933
are talking about the fact that they feel they need to get to the point that you're at
before they can grow.
83
00:06:44,933 --> 00:06:50,684
So we're now going to be able to follow somebody who's done all of that work and is now
going, now's the time.
84
00:06:50,684 --> 00:06:53,184
This is where I'm going with it.
85
00:06:53,184 --> 00:06:55,415
So I'm really excited to see that.
86
00:06:55,415 --> 00:07:00,686
So how are you going to chunk this goal up?
87
00:07:00,686 --> 00:07:03,446
Because is this by this time next year?
88
00:07:03,446 --> 00:07:05,277
Are you trying to achieve this mid-year?
89
00:07:05,277 --> 00:07:07,868
yeah, I think by the end of the year.
90
00:07:07,964 --> 00:07:11,846
And my so it obviously starts every 90 days.
91
00:07:11,846 --> 00:07:14,298
So the next one is the first of January.
92
00:07:14,298 --> 00:07:29,026
So I would like to, I think I would like that the next January one, I would be looking at
300 members, because that is my biggest one, because people set goals and do this kind of
93
00:07:29,026 --> 00:07:30,036
thing in January.
94
00:07:30,036 --> 00:07:32,699
So I think that January one
95
00:07:32,699 --> 00:07:34,930
will be my biggest one that I've ever had.
96
00:07:34,930 --> 00:07:37,582
So it's almost building that up to the year.
97
00:07:37,582 --> 00:07:48,740
But I suppose the way that it kind of naturally chunks down is that it is because it is
every 90 days, every 90 days I do a launch, every 90 days I can see what's happening.
98
00:07:48,740 --> 00:07:50,821
I can use that data and the information.
99
00:07:50,821 --> 00:07:54,033
I can try different launch techniques and things like that.
100
00:07:54,033 --> 00:07:59,008
So yeah, looking at each of those chunks individually, I think will be really helpful.
101
00:07:59,008 --> 00:08:07,612
And if you put any thoughts into it, because I'm just thinking about your model in
particular, because you not only have people who enroll every 90 days, but you've got
102
00:08:07,612 --> 00:08:10,494
people who are almost like a yearly member as well, don't you?
103
00:08:10,494 --> 00:08:12,104
Yeah.
104
00:08:12,104 --> 00:08:14,705
So are you thinking about having a mix?
105
00:08:14,746 --> 00:08:17,447
What kind of mix your 300 members sit in?
106
00:08:17,447 --> 00:08:23,501
Some of them are, you know, for the year, some of them, like, it's that retention, isn't
it, I suppose, will be important.
107
00:08:23,501 --> 00:08:28,122
Yeah, I think either I'm happy like obviously I'm happy with either of them.
108
00:08:28,122 --> 00:08:34,545
Obviously when they join for a year, it's nice because we kind of both know that they're
in there for a year.
109
00:08:34,545 --> 00:08:43,373
So I can almost like I hear myself saying, oh, you know, we'll look at that next month,
knowing that they're already going to be there the next month.
110
00:08:43,373 --> 00:08:49,484
Whereas when they're only there for 90 days, sometimes they might not stay, they might
skip around and come back and things like that.
111
00:08:49,484 --> 00:08:51,716
But when they're there for the year, we both know.
112
00:08:51,716 --> 00:08:55,662
They're locked in for a year and we are going to work on their goals for a year together.
113
00:08:55,662 --> 00:08:58,219
So that is a really nice feeling, I think, for both of us.
114
00:08:58,219 --> 00:09:08,902
So this sounds like you've got good support around it, you've got an idea of how you're
going to measure it, you've got a mechanism to get it underway.
115
00:09:08,902 --> 00:09:11,444
It feels like what I would call a focus goal.
116
00:09:11,444 --> 00:09:14,487
So it's just, it's like this unilateral focus for next year.
117
00:09:14,487 --> 00:09:22,746
And what you've also described right at the start is this idea of this being that focus
and letting other things fall.
118
00:09:22,746 --> 00:09:28,132
As in, you're not going to go to them, you're going to let them come to you through this
focus.
119
00:09:28,132 --> 00:09:30,385
So that is a shift, isn't it?
120
00:09:30,385 --> 00:09:31,505
Yeah, definitely.
121
00:09:31,505 --> 00:09:42,381
It'll be really interesting to see how that actually pans out across the year, because I
do get shiny object syndrome and I know I will be tempted, but I've kind of tested it for
122
00:09:42,381 --> 00:09:48,825
this part of the year and I've said to myself, no, I'm not doing anything new this year,
like this for these last few months of the year.
123
00:09:48,825 --> 00:09:53,237
So I'm just kind of testing the water with this and it feels really nice.
124
00:09:53,237 --> 00:09:56,189
So I can imagine it will feel nice for the rest of the year as well.
125
00:09:56,189 --> 00:09:57,160
I love that.
126
00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:07,383
Are there any challenges or potential humps in the road that you're now sitting and
thinking and going, yeah, I am worried about that.
127
00:10:07,383 --> 00:10:08,616
Or do you think you've covered them
128
00:10:08,616 --> 00:10:12,786
I think it would be if anything unexpected happens.
129
00:10:12,786 --> 00:10:13,997
I don't know.
130
00:10:13,997 --> 00:10:20,968
I don't know what, like how I would adapt to that because the membership is is very much
like me.
131
00:10:20,968 --> 00:10:24,488
And a lot of it is in my head and this stuff that I deliver.
132
00:10:24,488 --> 00:10:28,619
So if anything unexpected happens, which hopefully it won't touch wood, but
133
00:10:28,619 --> 00:10:34,120
I would need to quickly adapt to that because I don't have a contingency in place.
134
00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:37,804
yeah, that is some that's something that I think about all the time anyway, to be honest.
135
00:10:37,804 --> 00:10:41,997
So I do have, you know, systems and things set up.
136
00:10:42,278 --> 00:10:43,758
It will always continue.
137
00:10:43,758 --> 00:10:50,493
But yeah, it's just thinking about making sure the things that are in my head are also
written down somewhere as well.
138
00:10:50,493 --> 00:10:51,853
That's really interesting.
139
00:10:51,853 --> 00:11:02,378
I have these conversations more with other coaches when they come through supervision and
as a coach, a lot of your work is delivered by a single individual yourself.
140
00:11:02,378 --> 00:11:08,629
And coaches get around that a little bit by sometimes having arrangements like fallback
arrangements.
141
00:11:08,629 --> 00:11:14,120
Our freelance type of way of working or contracts allow us to substitute a lot of the
time.
142
00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:16,291
So in terms of thinking,
143
00:11:16,291 --> 00:11:19,964
It might be low risk that something happens next year and touch wood you.
144
00:11:19,964 --> 00:11:29,904
We don't want anything to happen next week, but in terms of the impact on your business,
that's where you put the contingency in, which is, how do I offset the big impact of me
145
00:11:29,904 --> 00:11:41,534
not being there because I am the face of my business and who would be a person or
individual who I could call in a time of emergency to support for a day or two days.
146
00:11:41,672 --> 00:11:49,494
They're the types of conversations that are quite helpful because you don't have to have a
foolproof system, you just have to have a bit of an idea about where you go next.
147
00:11:49,494 --> 00:11:50,756
Yeah, that makes sense actually.
148
00:11:50,756 --> 00:11:59,823
And I do feel like I could do with that anyway, you know, even not just related
specifically to the membership, just having that as a business, a business thing that is
149
00:11:59,823 --> 00:12:00,184
there.
150
00:12:00,184 --> 00:12:01,918
So yeah, that does make a lot of sense.
151
00:12:01,918 --> 00:12:02,698
Cool.
152
00:12:02,698 --> 00:12:12,538
Well, I have complete faith that you're going to smash this because I feel like you just
really, you're my kind of like pinup person for goal setting because you kind of set your
153
00:12:12,538 --> 00:12:14,029
goals, you go off and you do it.
154
00:12:14,029 --> 00:12:20,771
And you're the person I look to when I'm thinking, right, I need to get some energy and
momentum back in my own business.
155
00:12:20,771 --> 00:12:22,451
not to Hannah Ripps too.
156
00:12:22,511 --> 00:12:25,111
You're very inspiring in that respect.
157
00:12:25,111 --> 00:12:30,402
I think you're quite consistent, which is, I think that's probably why you're really good
at the community building.
158
00:12:30,402 --> 00:12:33,986
So tell me about the one that you're more nervous about and why is that?
159
00:12:33,986 --> 00:12:35,606
I think you'll like this one.
160
00:12:35,806 --> 00:12:40,526
So I have a place for London Marathon next year.
161
00:12:40,526 --> 00:12:41,234
Yay.
162
00:12:41,234 --> 00:12:47,165
And I want to take 43 minutes of my marathon time.
163
00:12:47,165 --> 00:12:49,216
And that is crazy.
164
00:12:49,216 --> 00:12:55,698
So yeah, I did Manchester Marathon a few years ago, and I did it in five hours, 42.
165
00:12:55,698 --> 00:12:59,409
And I would like to do a sub five hour marathon.
166
00:12:59,409 --> 00:13:00,612
totally doable.
167
00:13:00,612 --> 00:13:10,056
Well, yeah, and I've downloaded one of those apps and when I put in all like my half
marathon time and things like that, it came back and said 444 or something like that.
168
00:13:10,056 --> 00:13:14,297
So the app was very confident that I would do it in that time.
169
00:13:15,637 --> 00:13:27,454
The thing for me is that I don't, I find the training for a marathon very boring and long
and I um consider myself to be a slow runner.
170
00:13:27,454 --> 00:13:29,186
and not in a negative way.
171
00:13:29,186 --> 00:13:33,229
I just think factually I'm much slower than Tom is, for example.
172
00:13:33,270 --> 00:13:34,341
And that's fine.
173
00:13:34,341 --> 00:13:37,355
I don't really have an issue with being slow.
174
00:13:37,355 --> 00:13:46,043
But my issue is that running for hours, sorry, running for five hours, 42 minutes is a
really long time.
175
00:13:46,145 --> 00:13:49,907
I just don't want to be running for that long again this time.
176
00:13:49,907 --> 00:13:51,969
So that's my motivation.
177
00:13:52,876 --> 00:13:55,817
wow, so this is so exciting.
178
00:13:55,817 --> 00:13:58,118
As you know, I love running.
179
00:13:59,799 --> 00:14:05,901
I know I'm actually doing a run next year and I've got to get my arse into gear with my
own training plan.
180
00:14:05,901 --> 00:14:11,764
So I'm what I class as a slow runner and my fastest marathon was five and a half hours.
181
00:14:11,904 --> 00:14:17,014
My slowest was six and a half and that was worse because obviously you went...
182
00:14:17,014 --> 00:14:19,946
you're on your feet a long time and it's quite lonely.
183
00:14:19,946 --> 00:14:32,495
To speak to that em kind of loneliness and the monotonous of the training and for anyone
who's listening who's not run a marathon, your training happens in the most brutal months
184
00:14:32,495 --> 00:14:44,342
of the year and it is cold, it is icy, it's dark, it's wet, you know, we're not talking
about, you know, lacing up, going out and getting some Insta-worthy photos of yourself
185
00:14:44,342 --> 00:14:45,443
running or anything.
186
00:14:45,443 --> 00:14:58,550
It is shockingly, you know, kind of mind-numbingly awful, but that is part of the method
in the madness because it allows you to prepare mentally, doesn't it, for that marathon?
187
00:14:59,411 --> 00:15:11,128
I'm intrigued because I think there's a little opportunity for you, particularly around
your training that you can really leverage, but what thoughts have you had around making
188
00:15:11,128 --> 00:15:12,880
that training fun?
189
00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:15,647
because that's what you bring to your marketing business.
190
00:15:15,647 --> 00:15:17,543
So how do you make that fun?
191
00:15:17,543 --> 00:15:18,714
Yeah, that is true.
192
00:15:18,714 --> 00:15:21,993
So I actually do prefer running in the winter.
193
00:15:21,993 --> 00:15:25,277
I don't I'm I cannot run in summer when it's hot.
194
00:15:25,277 --> 00:15:27,748
I just yeah, I'm instantly out.
195
00:15:27,748 --> 00:15:32,331
So I do prefer this time obviously I'd rather not run in the pouring rain and things like
that.
196
00:15:32,331 --> 00:15:41,377
But so my next door neighbor Ben, he is running the Barry Island 10k and he's doing
Cardiff half in October.
197
00:15:41,377 --> 00:15:43,369
and he's downloaded the same app as me.
198
00:15:43,369 --> 00:15:45,791
So we, and we've got a very similar pace.
199
00:15:45,791 --> 00:15:56,772
So we have been running together and that I think is going to be a game changer for this
one because you know, we did like 7K the other day and we just went out and came back and
200
00:15:56,772 --> 00:15:59,055
we were like, whoa, that just went so quickly.
201
00:15:59,055 --> 00:16:02,988
Cause we were just gassing the whole time and like chatting away.
202
00:16:02,988 --> 00:16:06,730
So that I think will be a game changer and
203
00:16:06,730 --> 00:16:14,195
I would like to use the time to like listen to some audiobooks that I haven't got around
to listening to yet.
204
00:16:14,195 --> 00:16:26,864
You know, listening to those podcasts that are always on my list, just like almost having
a bit of time to think and I don't know what the right phrase is, but like absorb some
205
00:16:26,864 --> 00:16:27,824
stuff.
206
00:16:28,385 --> 00:16:29,806
That would be good.
207
00:16:30,552 --> 00:16:43,226
So there's this really interesting idea that obviously running can get us into a state of
flow and a flow state for someone like you might be that, you know, ideas, you're an ideas
208
00:16:43,226 --> 00:16:50,330
person, you know, that content generation being able to listen to something and then
you're in a flow state and you're thinking it through.
209
00:16:50,330 --> 00:17:01,815
And the thing that immediately pops to mind for me is why don't you make this so fun that
you set yourself a challenge to have so many content ideas per run or something and that,
210
00:17:01,815 --> 00:17:09,289
you know, you do something different each month to, to like kind of bring that up, but you
really like challenges.
211
00:17:09,289 --> 00:17:11,500
That's something that you talk about.
212
00:17:11,500 --> 00:17:15,161
It's something that you promote with your people in your community.
213
00:17:15,161 --> 00:17:16,553
So how do you.
214
00:17:16,553 --> 00:17:20,649
break this down and make it challenging on an individual level.
215
00:17:20,750 --> 00:17:29,243
Running with somebody else is perfect and I think you need a combination don't you when
you're doing a running goal of that accountability.
216
00:17:29,243 --> 00:17:31,248
But how do you make it fun?
217
00:17:31,248 --> 00:17:32,719
Hmm, I like that.
218
00:17:32,719 --> 00:17:41,699
And actually that reminded me that I saw someone do a post earlier on and they basically
have had like a theme for each of their months over the year.
219
00:17:41,699 --> 00:17:44,439
And I think she's going to continue that going into next year.
220
00:17:44,439 --> 00:17:54,699
And that would be fun to even just think each month I had a theme of things I was going to
be thinking about while I was on those runs because obviously I've got till the end of
221
00:17:54,699 --> 00:17:56,043
April for this.
222
00:17:56,043 --> 00:17:57,354
And yeah.
223
00:17:57,354 --> 00:18:02,047
I love that, thinking of as many content ideas, because I'm always talking to my
headphones.
224
00:18:02,047 --> 00:18:07,102
I won't say the word that I say to my headphones because it will set everyone else's off.
225
00:18:07,102 --> 00:18:09,665
But I always say, like, hey, can you make a note?
226
00:18:09,665 --> 00:18:14,198
And I'm puffing along, and it records the notes for me.
227
00:18:14,198 --> 00:18:16,010
So yeah, I think that's a really good idea.
228
00:18:16,010 --> 00:18:28,472
So part of that goal setting and strategy is around enjoying the time on your feet because
evidence shows time on feet is probably the single most thing that is going to reduce your
229
00:18:28,472 --> 00:18:40,052
overall running time when it comes to marathon training but there are also other things so
what do you know about the science of reducing your marathon time?
230
00:18:40,052 --> 00:18:43,636
What else do you think there is there that's going to help you?
231
00:18:43,636 --> 00:18:53,723
So when you just said that, did make me think that I would like to sit down and research
this, almost take this on as a project for myself and be like, what is going to help me
232
00:18:53,723 --> 00:18:55,124
with this time?
233
00:18:55,124 --> 00:19:06,811
But interestingly, since I've downloaded this app that gives you the running plan, it's
given me speed work to do, which I didn't do last time and I've never done before.
234
00:19:07,056 --> 00:19:07,500
And...
235
00:19:07,500 --> 00:19:17,699
I'm quite excited about that because obviously the novelty of it like it's brand new for
me and it's something different I want to try but I know that that it's almost like that
236
00:19:17,699 --> 00:19:25,397
is a run that is focused on improving my speed and I do think that that is going to be a
bit of a game changer because I have never done that before.
237
00:19:25,397 --> 00:19:31,090
So that's something else that's really interesting because the variety that comes into the
marathon training is really key.
238
00:19:31,090 --> 00:19:42,556
So we focus a lot of our energy on getting our long runs in each week because they're
usually the hardest around business, work, family life and dogs or whatever to fit in is
239
00:19:42,556 --> 00:19:47,850
getting out for maybe four or five hours for your long runs or whatever, your training
runs every weekend.
240
00:19:47,850 --> 00:19:57,939
So we tend to overly focus on those and then people shortcut the speed work and the
shorter hits kind of stuff and also strength work.
241
00:19:57,939 --> 00:20:10,450
So I'm now going to come to another part of your messaging which is really useful here and
to ask you to just explain to my listeners what you say about good housekeeping every
242
00:20:10,450 --> 00:20:11,041
Christmas.
243
00:20:11,041 --> 00:20:15,029
oh
244
00:20:15,029 --> 00:20:27,313
I did a reel this well recently about how it is a scam because it it just talks about the
same things every single year and yet we continue to buy it.
245
00:20:27,313 --> 00:20:36,731
I continue to buy every single year and it will always have like celebrity gossip and you
know how to cook your turkey how to cook your potatoes.
246
00:20:36,731 --> 00:20:39,852
gift guides and I just lap it up.
247
00:20:39,852 --> 00:20:52,070
I love it so much, but it is repetitive and yeah, it's it follows a structure that works
and you don't need to start like stray from that structure when you know that it works.
248
00:20:52,070 --> 00:20:57,744
So using your own advice, if you were to ask me, Leela, how often do you buy Runners
World?
249
00:20:59,066 --> 00:21:04,210
It is the same magazine with the same kind of issues every year.
250
00:21:04,210 --> 00:21:09,835
You get your summer issues, you get the issue where they tell you all about the new shoes
that have come out every September.
251
00:21:09,835 --> 00:21:16,540
And you can go to a car boot sale, because I you love a car boot, and get an old copy with
the marathon training plan in.
252
00:21:16,540 --> 00:21:20,895
And it is going to be, that is your research, because that gives you.
253
00:21:20,895 --> 00:21:30,349
the tried and tested methods, but also podcasts where people talk about their marathon
training journeys, they all talk about very similar things.
254
00:21:30,349 --> 00:21:39,854
I think unless you're looking at an elite sub three marathon, the stuff that generally
works is going to generally work for you.
255
00:21:39,854 --> 00:21:41,805
So that's something really helpful.
256
00:21:41,805 --> 00:21:45,276
And it's just remembering we don't have to reinvent the wheel.
257
00:21:45,276 --> 00:21:46,468
And this is your...
258
00:21:46,468 --> 00:21:49,381
your view on life is generally about how can I make this simple?
259
00:21:49,381 --> 00:21:50,561
How can I under think this?
260
00:21:50,561 --> 00:21:54,566
Well, you know, that research looks like not a lot of trouble really.
261
00:21:54,566 --> 00:21:58,011
It's going to picking up magazine with a marathon training plan in it.
262
00:21:58,011 --> 00:21:58,762
I love that.
263
00:21:58,762 --> 00:22:00,623
Yeah, that's so true.
264
00:22:00,623 --> 00:22:06,679
And actually, uh obviously, as I'm talking about this, and I've mentioned it to my dad and
things like that.
265
00:22:06,679 --> 00:22:11,803
So my TikTok is now picking up everything that I'm saying and feeding me TikToks about it.
266
00:22:11,803 --> 00:22:21,982
And I've had TikToks of girls who like look like a similar age to me, similar height to
me, because I think that is one of like the reasons I do find it tougher.
267
00:22:21,982 --> 00:22:25,586
And they have massively reduced their marathon times.
268
00:22:25,586 --> 00:22:28,678
And I'm seeing the evidence of it that it is possible.
269
00:22:28,678 --> 00:22:36,738
And I think I just need to get into the mindset of I can be that type of runner as well.
270
00:22:36,939 --> 00:22:39,843
And just becoming that person like the embodiment of it.
271
00:22:39,843 --> 00:22:42,717
And I think that's kind of the challenge of it too.
272
00:22:42,717 --> 00:22:44,697
That's more of a mindset thing, isn't it?
273
00:22:44,697 --> 00:22:55,679
It sounds like that is a, do I believe that I am this runner that can run the, what is it,
four hours 30, you're looking for something around that time.
274
00:22:55,679 --> 00:22:57,059
I?
275
00:23:00,279 --> 00:23:03,159
You know, what does a typical runner look like?
276
00:23:03,159 --> 00:23:11,030
And I think the running community is one of these amazing spaces where we see all shapes
and sizes at park runs and at marathons.
277
00:23:11,030 --> 00:23:15,542
And like you, I really find other women inspiring.
278
00:23:15,542 --> 00:23:21,384
One of my greatest kind of inspirational women to follow is a woman called Susie Chan.
279
00:23:21,505 --> 00:23:32,420
And she started running, I think in her late thirties, and she's gone on to do ultra
marathons and you know, she's broken a world record on a treadmill for the longest
280
00:23:32,420 --> 00:23:33,140
treadmill run.
281
00:23:33,140 --> 00:23:37,283
mean, it does.
282
00:23:37,283 --> 00:23:48,814
I've listened to, in fact, I listened to her podcast, her audiobook a few months ago
because I had a tricky time with running after COVID and couldn't get back into it.
283
00:23:48,814 --> 00:23:57,614
And I have taken on a big challenge next year with my best friend to go and run a
70-mileer in one go.
284
00:23:57,614 --> 00:23:59,785
Very slow, it's like a long buffet, Hannah.
285
00:23:59,785 --> 00:24:05,036
So I go, we do a little bit of running, a little bit of walking up hills and quite a lot
of snacking.
286
00:24:05,036 --> 00:24:07,227
So that's how my approach to.
287
00:24:08,709 --> 00:24:12,891
So, and I find her really inspiring.
288
00:24:12,891 --> 00:24:14,923
So there's a couple of things here, isn't there?
289
00:24:14,923 --> 00:24:18,096
There's the one, what's the tried and tested formulas?
290
00:24:18,096 --> 00:24:19,517
Who's your community?
291
00:24:19,517 --> 00:24:25,832
Because I mean, that's something you have for yourself and for your business, but who is
your running community?
292
00:24:25,832 --> 00:24:27,072
And that might be slightly different.
293
00:24:27,072 --> 00:24:29,034
There might even be people in your own community.
294
00:24:29,034 --> 00:24:31,185
There might be people a bit further out.
295
00:24:31,405 --> 00:24:33,871
And then there's that other thing such as what.
296
00:24:33,871 --> 00:24:42,716
do I do that's different to just doing it the way I trained before, which is the long runs
and it sounds like you've got some ideas around that as well.
297
00:24:42,716 --> 00:24:50,053
Yeah, yeah, I think they're the main things and I and also last time, so my dad's always
said to me, you need to go and join a running club.
298
00:24:50,053 --> 00:24:51,854
And I did last time.
299
00:24:51,854 --> 00:24:59,100
And basically, we went on a long run and they left me and someone else behind at the end
and we didn't know the route.
300
00:24:59,100 --> 00:25:06,205
So we kind of like managed to find our way back, but we didn't do the full run and like it
just left a really bad taste in my mouth.
301
00:25:06,205 --> 00:25:09,508
And that has really, like soured the view.
302
00:25:09,508 --> 00:25:14,642
not of running clubs in general, I know there are good ones, but of me being part of a
running club.
303
00:25:14,642 --> 00:25:25,530
And I do think it's probably time for me to get over that and to find one that I do feel
I'm part of and there's people who are going at a similar speed to me and things like
304
00:25:25,530 --> 00:25:25,630
that.
305
00:25:25,630 --> 00:25:30,706
Because I do think that will be a good way to get those long distance runs in and have
that community.
306
00:25:30,706 --> 00:25:33,970
How do you find that perfect group for you?
307
00:25:33,970 --> 00:25:37,280
I don't know, I just probably social media.
308
00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:43,326
I think I will look to social media and yeah, I'm gonna have a look at the different ones
that there are.
309
00:25:43,326 --> 00:25:45,559
There are loads around like Cardiff and Barry.
310
00:25:45,559 --> 00:25:48,455
So it's just finding the one that I think is a good fit.
311
00:25:48,455 --> 00:25:49,845
And I think it's really interesting.
312
00:25:49,845 --> 00:25:55,627
You know, if we're thinking about gyms, we'll go and visit maybe one or two different gyms
and we have a good look around.
313
00:25:55,627 --> 00:25:59,219
And then it strikes me that with things like running clubs, we'll go to one.
314
00:25:59,219 --> 00:26:02,220
If we don't enjoy it, we kind of go, that doesn't work for me.
315
00:26:02,220 --> 00:26:05,121
And it does need to be a of a try before you buy.
316
00:26:05,121 --> 00:26:11,082
It might be similar to things like car boots, where there are certain car boots which have
got a different vibe to others.
317
00:26:11,082 --> 00:26:16,695
maybe it's just, maybe the research is actually around those communities rather than the
method.
318
00:26:16,695 --> 00:26:21,610
because the communities is the thing that requires your time to research and think about.
319
00:26:21,610 --> 00:26:22,513
Yeah, I like that.
320
00:26:22,513 --> 00:26:24,087
And I like the researching.
321
00:26:24,087 --> 00:26:26,293
So I will enjoy doing that.
322
00:26:26,293 --> 00:26:27,354
Yeah.
323
00:26:28,019 --> 00:26:37,663
And it's a great time of year because I think quite a lot of groups now will have their
Couch to 5k groups starting in January.
324
00:26:37,663 --> 00:26:49,418
And even if you can run 5k easily, joining their Couch to 5k groups is really helpful when
you're a slower runner because there are slower runners in those groups that you can then
325
00:26:49,418 --> 00:26:53,060
say, do you want to go on a regular Tuesday or Thursday run?
326
00:26:53,060 --> 00:26:56,220
to kind of twist it around a little bit.
327
00:26:56,220 --> 00:26:58,380
It's thinking, well, you can create your community.
328
00:26:58,380 --> 00:27:00,091
You're good at creating communities.
329
00:27:00,091 --> 00:27:03,982
A running community can be two or four people or 40 people.
330
00:27:03,982 --> 00:27:07,922
So what do you need next year to get that time?
331
00:27:07,922 --> 00:27:10,504
If that's your focus, make it happen.
332
00:27:10,504 --> 00:27:20,344
you know what that's actually really interesting because that just made me think that when
I did Cardiff Half in October this year I don't know if it's me or someone else I run a
333
00:27:20,344 --> 00:27:30,844
group called Gals Who Do Things in Barry and we have a WhatsApp group and there's about
200 of us in there and two of us did Cardiff Half marathon and we went on a training run
334
00:27:30,844 --> 00:27:39,155
together and it was only because one of us put in the group does anyone fancy going
running you know I'm doing this run so I've got 200 gals
335
00:27:39,155 --> 00:27:43,980
in my phone that live in Barry and the surrounding areas.
336
00:27:43,980 --> 00:27:45,561
So I may do that.
337
00:27:46,323 --> 00:27:48,885
Yeah, I mean, they might even be doing the marathon as well.
338
00:27:48,885 --> 00:27:56,014
So I'm going to message them as well and maybe potentially start my own little running
community.
339
00:27:56,014 --> 00:27:57,825
Like you say, with just a couple of us.
340
00:27:57,825 --> 00:27:59,926
go for it.
341
00:27:59,927 --> 00:28:16,245
There is actually a marketing person called Michelle Mortimer and I know her because she
set up a running club in Lincolnshire originally and then she moved house to Bolton and
342
00:28:16,245 --> 00:28:22,118
she now does like running coaching and stuff but she actually set up a running community
from the ground up.
343
00:28:22,118 --> 00:28:26,121
And she was a marketing and PR person by trade.
344
00:28:26,121 --> 00:28:28,003
So she's very active on social.
345
00:28:28,003 --> 00:28:29,924
She's worth a follow.
346
00:28:29,924 --> 00:28:34,839
She's got loads of experience of running communities and how they work.
347
00:28:34,839 --> 00:28:37,691
And she's got a podcast because she runs with the dogs as well.
348
00:28:37,691 --> 00:28:40,453
think she's got a dog podcast.
349
00:28:40,453 --> 00:28:45,437
yeah, all of these, running is just amazing because there's so much out there.
350
00:28:45,437 --> 00:28:51,262
And like that good housekeeping thing, we don't have to look too far to get the answers
that we need.
351
00:28:51,968 --> 00:28:52,893
I love that.
352
00:28:52,893 --> 00:28:54,034
that's wonderful.
353
00:28:54,034 --> 00:28:56,015
So you've got two goals.
354
00:28:56,015 --> 00:28:58,517
They're both kind of community in a way.
355
00:28:58,517 --> 00:29:12,607
So your first goal is to grow your business community, your uh 90 day marketing uh
membership, and you want to start the new year with a bang with those 300 members.
356
00:29:12,607 --> 00:29:16,929
You've got support in place to look at how you're going to do that.
357
00:29:16,949 --> 00:29:19,011
And we're feeling confident about it.
358
00:29:19,011 --> 00:29:22,055
And I can't wait to hear your strategies and also
359
00:29:22,055 --> 00:29:26,357
how you course correct as well next year because things don't always go smoothly.
360
00:29:26,357 --> 00:29:33,159
And then your second goal is more around, you know, getting that time limit down.
361
00:29:33,159 --> 00:29:39,841
I suppose I should ask you, how will you know, because this is the tricky thing with
marathons, anything can happen on the day.
362
00:29:39,936 --> 00:29:45,453
So, you know, you can turn up to your marathon, it can be the hottest day of the year so
far or whatever.
363
00:29:45,453 --> 00:29:49,275
How will you measure your success?
364
00:29:49,275 --> 00:29:49,556
this?
365
00:29:49,556 --> 00:29:52,828
How will you know that you're getting closer to your target time?
366
00:29:52,828 --> 00:30:01,543
I think I will try and be better at tracking the speeds that I am running, like the
training runs basically.
367
00:30:01,798 --> 00:30:05,227
yeah, just, I want to keep much more of an eye on that.
368
00:30:05,227 --> 00:30:17,016
And also now that I know what the pace is that I probably need to be going out for the
marathon, I do want to start thinking like, is the run that I'm doing near to that pace?
369
00:30:17,016 --> 00:30:19,909
And I also want to check in with how it feels.
370
00:30:19,909 --> 00:30:20,587
Yeah.
371
00:30:20,587 --> 00:30:30,076
running at that pace and I feel awful, that shows me that I'm not going to be able to
continue that for 20, like 26 miles.
372
00:30:30,076 --> 00:30:35,643
So yeah, I need to, I just want to keep an eye on that, I think, and check in with him.
373
00:30:35,643 --> 00:30:47,294
It's really curious because when you get deep into that marathon training, there's about a
month I think that happens where you're going from half marathon distances up to 20 miles
374
00:30:47,294 --> 00:30:55,685
where every run feels much slower and it probably is slower and you might be doubting
yourself and thinking, oh, I'm not going to get it.
375
00:30:55,685 --> 00:30:59,956
But you have to remember that you've built up that mileage in your body.
376
00:30:59,956 --> 00:31:04,302
So one of the things that might be helpful to do is to think about
377
00:31:04,302 --> 00:31:13,786
How am I going to deal with slow progress or slower paces than my target?
378
00:31:13,786 --> 00:31:21,029
And knowing perhaps that that is perhaps part of your success criteria is that you've hit
that period.
379
00:31:21,029 --> 00:31:23,349
And there are other things that are measured.
380
00:31:23,349 --> 00:31:28,382
So you talked about doing the uh interval running.
381
00:31:28,382 --> 00:31:33,896
So maybe another measure is have I been able to keep up doing different things each week?
382
00:31:33,896 --> 00:31:42,671
So even if my runs do feel slow or I'm not feeling great, can I say I've bolstered with
other stuff and can I trust in the process?
383
00:31:42,671 --> 00:31:47,315
That I think is probably one of the challenges that might come up.
384
00:31:47,315 --> 00:31:48,175
Yeah, that's true.
385
00:31:48,175 --> 00:31:48,685
Actually.
386
00:31:48,685 --> 00:31:57,920
Yeah, I think I'm aiming for the consistency, especially as it's going to be over
Christmas, you know, it's going to be my birthday will come up, there will be these
387
00:31:57,920 --> 00:31:58,240
things.
388
00:31:58,240 --> 00:32:08,476
And I do want to maintain that consistency because I do have a bit of a habit of what's
the phrase where you self sabotage where I'll be going really well.
389
00:32:08,476 --> 00:32:10,188
And then I'll just like
390
00:32:10,188 --> 00:32:13,099
I was gonna say go on a bender, but it's not that.
391
00:32:13,099 --> 00:32:14,119
But like, do you know what I mean?
392
00:32:14,119 --> 00:32:20,150
I will just be like, oh, actually, no, I can just eat rubbish all week and not exercise
and all of that stuff.
393
00:32:20,150 --> 00:32:29,992
So yeah, I want to be mindful of that and just think actually, what's more important, the
goal or having a week where I'm gonna probably feel rubbish at the end of it anyway.
394
00:32:29,992 --> 00:32:32,003
So yeah, I think that'd be really good.
395
00:32:32,003 --> 00:32:42,713
And also even just acknowledging that now is about having something on a post-it or
something written down which says when you have a day where you do relax and you're not
396
00:32:42,713 --> 00:32:51,711
focused on it because you needed to have that, the next day you pick yourself up and go
that's okay, I expected this to happen so therefore it's not derailed me.
397
00:32:51,711 --> 00:32:58,857
So that's probably thinking about your derailment strategies which I'm going to talk about
on the podcast on one of my...
398
00:32:58,857 --> 00:32:59,620
em
399
00:32:59,620 --> 00:33:12,649
episodes so you'll have to listen to that one because I've got some strategies around and
I'm terrible I'll admit this you know, coach do as I say not as I do but I'm terrible with
400
00:33:12,649 --> 00:33:22,256
running I'm either all or nothing so I either run most days and really really enjoy it and
think why do I ever stop running because I really love this and then I can go two weeks
401
00:33:22,256 --> 00:33:27,369
and have not stepped foot outside and then I start to feel rubbish and go why am I not
running?
402
00:33:27,591 --> 00:33:29,761
and then it's so much harder to do it again.
403
00:33:29,761 --> 00:33:31,837
So yeah, definitely.
404
00:33:31,837 --> 00:33:39,697
I am so excited to see your goals unfold and thank you so much for coming back on the
podcast again this year.
405
00:33:39,697 --> 00:33:41,316
It was like a real treat.
406
00:33:41,316 --> 00:33:42,956
Thank you so much for having me.
407
00:33:42,956 --> 00:33:47,256
I'm really excited and I'm really excited to follow along with everyone else's as well.
408
00:33:47,256 --> 00:33:48,916
I think this is such a good idea.
409
00:33:48,916 --> 00:33:51,008
So yeah, thank you.
410
00:33:51,008 --> 00:33:51,671
much, Hannah.
411
00:33:52,471 --> 00:33:55,934
I hope you are beginning to see what I'm seeing.
412
00:33:55,934 --> 00:33:58,856
Everybody approaches goals differently.
413
00:33:58,856 --> 00:34:05,292
There are some similarities though sometimes we pitch our goals a little lower than the
dream we actually want.
414
00:34:05,292 --> 00:34:11,047
We keep our momentum modest because we think we need strong foundations before we're
allowed to scale.
415
00:34:11,047 --> 00:34:22,249
And we also worry about failing sometimes more than we admit, especially when what we're
doing can be very visible in January, I'm opening up something new to help you move beyond
416
00:34:22,249 --> 00:34:22,790
that.
417
00:34:22,790 --> 00:34:26,252
And it's called my 2026 Goal Sprint.
418
00:34:26,252 --> 00:34:34,740
It's going to be a live 60 minute session where we're going to use my prompts to craft the
best goal for your 2026.
419
00:34:34,740 --> 00:34:43,784
and it's going to be a goal that's ambitious, it assumes that you can grow from day one,
and it's got built-in space to evolve if it stops serving you.
420
00:34:43,784 --> 00:34:49,279
And what to do to mitigate any possible derailments on the way.
421
00:34:49,279 --> 00:34:59,105
You'll get weekly live check-ins to keep your momentum going, especially past that second
week in February where most resolutions quietly melt away.
422
00:34:59,105 --> 00:35:02,798
You'll get access to a Slack group through January, February and March.
423
00:35:02,798 --> 00:35:08,452
And I will be in there every week to give you the strongest psychological start to your
year.
424
00:35:08,452 --> 00:35:20,792
If you want a 2026 goal that feels exciting, grounded and possible, you can join us for
just £79 and the link is in the show notes or you can go straight to
425
00:35:20,792 --> 00:35:25,903
www.leilaainge.co.uk/goalsprint forward slash goal sprint.
426
00:35:25,903 --> 00:35:27,579
I'd love to see you there.
427
00:35:27,579 --> 00:35:28,561
That's all for today.
428
00:35:28,561 --> 00:35:33,245
Thank you for listening to Psychologically Speaking with me, Leila Ainge.