Running the Race you were Built for

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9, verse 24 -

Isn’t it obvious that all runners on the racetrack keep on running to win, but only one receives the victor’s prize? Yet each one of you must run the race to be victorious. — The Passion Translation (TPT)

Ecclesiastes reminds us: “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong… but time and chance happen to them all.”

Put them together and here’s the deeper truth: The point is not to run faster — the point is to run the race you were designed to run.

There’s a line in The Science of Being Great that says:

Every person comes into the world with a predisposition to grow along certain lines, and growth is easier for them along those lines than in any other way.

This gives us endless variety. That predisposition, I’ve found, shows up in five dimensions collectively called your motivated abilities pattern:

• Abilities – Your core talents

• How you work – Analyze, make sense, experiment, teach, execute

• Subject Matter – Topics that light you up

• Setting – Environments where you thrive

• End Product – The outcome you’re built to deliver

The win isn’t about being the fastest — it’s about running in alignment with how you are designed to move through the world.

This is where your Motivational Code (MCODE) comes in. Your MCODE identifies the inner drivers that fuel your best work — the why beneath every action you take. It’s the link between your predisposition (how you were built to grow) and your everyday choices.

When you’re in alignment with your MCODE, your energy is focused, your results are consistent, and your work feels deeply satisfying. When you’re out of alignment, it shows up in predictable ways — red flags you can’t ignore:

• Constant fatigue, even when workload is light

• Feeling resentful or disengaged

• Overthinking simple decisions

• Procrastination on tasks you know matter

• Losing clarity on what the “prize” even is

Paul’s call to “run to be victorious” is about preparing, focusing, and moving in your lane. Ecclesiastes reminds you that the win doesn’t come from speed alone but from trusting that the right opportunities will meet you when you’re already in motion.

When you know your MCODE and honor your predisposition, you don’t just run — you run the race you were built for, in the way you were designed to win.

Strategic Prompt

What red flags are showing up right now that could be telling you you’re running outside your natural lane?

If you’ve been running hard but feel off your game, book a clarity conversation. It’s worth asking: Am I really in alignment? We’ll look at your motivational code, your natural predisposition, and the conditions you work best in — then pinpoint the shifts that will put you back in your lane so you can move with clarity, energy, and focus.