Only two people can win the Boston Marathon, and that leaves out most of us. But anyone can win a much more important event, namely, the one we call life.

To do anything worthwhile, you must do three things, and they’re exactly the three things marathon winners do.

First, you must start. This involves a lot more than showing up on the morning of the race. It involves making a decision to do it. It takes courage to leave the comfort of the sidelines. “It’s the start that stops most people.”

Second, you must stay on course. Life is full of detours and distractions. You can’t win the race if you leave the track and follow side roads.

Third, you must finish. There has never been a marathon winner who failed to cross the line. “‘Finished last’ will always be better than ‘Did not finish,’ which always trumps ‘Did not start.’”

Every project in your life comes down to these three things: start, stay the course, and finish.

If you can do them consistently, you will achieve your own version of a victory in the Boston Marathon.

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Thank you for visiting Total Game Plan. While you’re here, you can find many other articles to help you reach your potential.

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To improve at anything, check out “The Improvement Factor: How Champions Turn Practice into Success.”

Need some motivation? Everyone needs it now and then. Open any page of “Thank God You’re Lazy! The Instant Cure for What’s Holding You Back” for a story or a quote to lift your spirits.

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