Making a good thing better --- Please share your ideas!

With just a few weeks left in Teens Run Yonkers core season (from March right up to the Yonkers Half Marathon typically mid-to late September), I was already starting to block out a few minutes a day to think through what to do improve upon the program.

I was initially going to just make it a practice to take 10 or 15 minutes and free-think on Evernote - sort of a running journal to myself of what can be done to have a more significant and sustainable impact on both the volunteers and teens we work with. As I was doing it, I realized that in this day and age of social media, what better way to drive change than invite others ideas. So, without much further adue (is that the right word?), I'll share what I had started to write; in fact, here it is...


I like Seth Godin's thinking. Before moving from this model which I've come to believe is good but can be much better and more effective, it might make sense to better (not necessarily re) define the problem (or question). This was right out of one of his recent posts. I'm not linking it here because I've come to realize that linking contest on here can get your posts pulled. And what a drag that is. So, I'll simply say thanks Seth...

I basically started Teens Run Yonkers because I liked what I saw in Philadelphia - Young people (students mostly) I'm guessing, being supported by adults as they completed the marathon. What was the connection I liked? Why did it speak to me so much? This is what I really want to think through

First off, I loved the idea of teens (students whatever) participating in a big, goal-oriented event like a marathon. Even today, when I train for one, there is such
a quality of process to it; the long term goal - visible but far enough out of sight that you recognize the dedication you'll need to accomplish it. Then the pure logic
and metaphorical quality of the training so much like life.

STOP

So, that's literally where I stopped before I cut and pasted my Evernote note into my blog. I know this is very early stage but I'd welcome your thoughts. As you can see, I was thinking through what was the specific thing I saw when seeing this program in action that had such a strong connection for me. Feel free to share:

what drives you when you're passionate about something?
especially if you're an entrepreneur - how you go about continuing to share the quality of your business or venture.
anything else that you think might be interesting, motivating, curious

Welcome to the next phase of Teens Run Yonkers (and this blog too!)