Matthew Dashper-Hughes

310,000 Steps for Smart Works: Marching through March

I signed up to walk 310,000 steps in March for Smart Works Greater Manchester, spurred on by the fact that my team at gunnercooke are all taking part, and I am never one to shirk a challenge.

I’ll be honest – I wasn’t entirely sure what I was letting myself in for.

I like a good walk as much as the next person. More, probably. I’m a hiker. I get out on the mountains at least once a month. I like a bit of fresh air, stretching the legs, and I identify as one of those ‘country’ types that has a ‘Go Outdoors’ account card.

But committing to that many steps? Every single day? That’s a whole new level in practical terms.

Most weeks I spend an inordinate number of hours firmly fixed to my office chair, staring at a computer screen, and talking to people on Zoom or Teams. In other words – most of Monday to Friday is sedentary.

My Garmin watch speaks to me in a sarcastic tone almost every weekday.

“You’ve had an easy day today”, it says. “Consider doing some exercise to help you sleep”, it says. “You’ve been ‘de-training’ this week”, it says.

So, if my sarcastic watch can’t make me get out and get walking, in the real world, how the heck do I suddenly change my calendar so that I can squeeze in 10,000 steps a day on average?!

Well, I’ve done seven days so far and, cumulatively, I am on 86,653 (a total distance of 45.4 miles) and my Garmin has been a lot less sarcastic this week.  Proof positive, if any were needed, that if something is important enough, if you calendarise it, if you measure it, and you have accountability baked in (I have made a promise and I am damned if I won’t keep it) then you can achieve your priorities.

Like Shane Parrish says: “don’t tell me your priorities – show me your calendar”.

Why?

Because this is about so much more than just the steps. It’s about not letting my team down and it’s about Smart Works – an incredible charity that transforms the lives of women across Greater Manchester, helping them find employment, confidence, and hope. If ever there was a cause worth a few blisters, this is it.

Smart Works is a charity that provides unemployed women with high-quality interview coaching and professional clothing, giving them the tools they need to secure a job and take control of their future.

Imagine walking into a job interview feeling uncertain, lacking confidence, and without the right attire to make a great first impression. Now imagine being greeted with kindness, given an outfit that makes you stand tall, and receiving expert guidance to help you nail that interview.

That’s what Smart Works does.

It’s not just about the clothes – though looking the part can make a world of difference. It’s about self-belief. It’s about walking into an interview not just dressed for success but feeling it too. And the results speak for themselves: over 69% of women who visit Smart Works go on to get a job within a month. That’s real, life-changing impact.

As a business coach I work with a lot of successful professionals, and I know that imposter syndrome plagues even those who have, on paper, ‘got it all’ … in their heads, the inner voice is still one of self-doubt.

At 50, I’ve lived through a few recessions and a global pandemic. I’ve been an employer and been an employee. I’ve seen the introduction of minimum wage. I’ve seen dole queues and poll tax riots. I’ve seen employers start being held to higher standards by improved employment legislation. I’ve seen great management practices and the introduction of unconscious bias training and DE&I policies. I’ve seen the opposite happen, too.

In other words, there have been lots of changes (some good and some bad). For years I’ve seen firsthand how difficult the job market can be.

From a job seeker or candidate’s perspective it’s hard enough when you have experience, confidence, a solid CV and all the unconscious biases are in your favour (let’s address the elephant in the room … personally speaking, I have a lot that is on my side – I am a white, able-bodied, neurotypical, middle class, cis male who was lucky enough to get a decent education, so a lot of doors are wide open for me … so much so, that a lot of times I probably don’t even know there is a door there at all. That's a lot of privilege).

But what if you that’s not true for you?

What if you’ve been out of work for a while, or struggled with personal challenges, or simply need that extra bit of support?

That’s where Smart Works comes in.

Walking 310,000 steps (marching through March) isn’t just about fundraising – though every pound raised makes a tangible difference. It’s about raising awareness. It’s about standing (or, more accurately, walking) in solidarity with women who are fighting for a better future.

So, if you see me out and about, racking up the steps (probably looking slightly red-faced), give me a wave. And if you’d like to support this fantastic cause, whether by donating, spreading the word, or even joining in yourself, I’d be absolutely chuffed.