“About running, I think the hardest challenge is... getting out of bed”
Why should we run? What is the role of running in leading us to a more productive, successful life? As Home is launching a big running campaign, let's meet Mr. Vu Bien Thai Trung - Head of Sales Network, who is not only the king of Sales but also known as a "running warrior", to find some motivation to run and discover the effective formula for running success
💬 Hi Trung, can you share a bit about yourself and your job at Home Credit?
I have 2 times working at Home Credit, but in total, it's been more than 13 years. In 2007, I started working at Home as an IT member. I transferred to Sales in 2010 as a District Sale Manager because the path is more promising, and I also love doing business. Then I gradually worked through many positions, and until now, I have managed the entire Sales Network with more than 3.4 thousand employees :)
💬 In this interview, we would like to put aside your title as Head of Sales Network and the stories (which we believe are also very interesting) from the Sales department, to focus on a different exciting angle: running. You are also well-known as one of the Home family members with a very remarkable running record. Can you share a bit about this passion, as well as the achievements that you have achieved?
I started running in 2019. My boss, the CEO at that time, was also interested in running. He signed up for 10km in a running tournament in Hau Giang and invited me to join. Then I signed up. Just thought that I was the leader and I should set an example 😊 I still remember at that time, the goal was 10km, but I ran only 3km, the remaining 7km... I walked, as I'd never run before. Then my boss continued to ask me to participate in the 21km race. I had to say yes one more time. I just ran 10km, and the rest is a mix of walking and running. But I started to fall into this game. When running, there were a few elderly and children who could run continuously 10km, 21km. There is no reason I can not.
Running gives me a sense of overcoming myself. When the next day, the next month, my record is better than the previous month. It feels like a motivation to get better every day. I also successfully lost weight. I used to be 77kg, but I'm under 70kg now
💬 Talking about running, do you have any memorable moments?
I do. There was a time I participated in a running race in Hue. I was so into breaking the record that when I was less than 500m away from the finish line, I… fell out and fainted. I was brought to the hospital for seawater infusion. I was told that at that time when my teams went to the hospital to visit me, they kept calling me "big brother" (my Sales team usually calls me by that nickname); hence, the doctors and nurses there thought I was a gangster
💬 Is there any lesson that you learned from running?
For me, running is a way to enhance both physical and mental health. My working results have also greatly improved since then. A morning run every day refreshes my mind and helps me deal with problems much faster. Running gives me a lot of energy to work. For example, compared to the old days when I could only focus 4-5 hours out of 8 hours of a working day, now I can do a straight 8-hour working day with high attention and productivity.
When it comes to running, I think the hardest challenge is not how long or how far we can run but...how to get out of bed. Just get out of bed, and the rest would be easy.
💬 Can you share a bit about your feelings during your running journey?
With the same road, when I run faster, in a shorter time, or every time I achieve a new milestone... that feeling is more than awesome. There was a time when I ran in Ha Long, I set a goal of running 21km continuously without walking a single meter. That track also has quite a few up-and-down climbs, but when I was on cloud nine when reaching the finish line
It’s kinda the same as the feeling when you achieve your target, KPI in work.
💬 So, how many running tournaments have you joined so far?
I don’t really get the number. Every tournament, when I finish, I will get a medal. Those medals at my house probably weigh 1 kg now.
💬 Do you have any experience drawn from the time you fainted in Hue?
I guess you should have a practical plan to properly distribute your energy, it's similar to achieving KPIs at work. When do you need to focus on what, what is your goal, understand your roadmap... If you can do that, you'll get there safely
💬 Do you have any advice for those who start to run?
I think everyone should pursue at least one kind of sport. And running is the simplest. You can run anywhere, anytime. For instance, with badminton, you will need at least 2 people, or if it's soccer, you will need 11 people, a yard,... Running is much easier. If you want to lose weight or gain weight, you can run. In some running tournaments, I meet 70-year-old men who can still run 21km, so I believe everyone can run, no matter how old you are.
There are many websites about running schedules, such as yeuchaybo.com, where you can find detailed lesson plans for specific distances you want to conquer. As for books, I strongly recommend "Cuộc cách mạng chạy bộ". They give very detailed instructions on how to run and how to prepare to avoid injury. I read the book and followed their instruction since my starting days, and I have never been injured.
The most important thing in running is the warm-up. It's normal to feel tired when you first run. When you are tired, just walk. The most important thing is that the next day, you can do it better and better, even if it's only a few hundred meters.
Thank you so much for your interesting sharing, hope that you can stay strong and energetic on your roads. And let’s break through more targets with your amazing Sales squads! 😊