Intersecting Business Success with Ironman Endurance: How To Apply The Principles of Success to You & Your Business
What is the definition of an Ironman? I am talking about the real one…not Robert Downey Jr. An Ironman triathlete completes a full 140.6 mile triathlon. This includes a 2.4 mile swim, followed by a 112 mile bike ride, and then a full marathon which is 26.2 miles. In my case, I completed the 2022 Ironman in Chattanooga, TN, which is a total of 144 miles. They happen to add a bit more to their bike portion. Crossing the finish line for me was enough, as I certainly did not receive an impressive finishing time.
I made it through, and even as a former D1 Ice Hockey player for The University of Vermont it was transformative for me. I experienced every emotion you can imagine. It was humbling, grueling, satisfying, stimulating, joyous, and a really proud moment for myself and my wife. My wife challenged me and called me from the sidelines in 2022 after cheering her on for many years in her own triathlons.
I was hesitant, but ultimately fully committed to the many miles of planning and training. My first training race was a 70.3 mile half Ironman in May of 2022. Having trained up for the half, I decided that this base training would help me leapfrog to a full 140.6 mile Ironman in September of 2022. So I took the leap of faith as a novice competitor. In many respects the preparation and execution reminded me of my almost 30 year career in AR Management.
Participating in an Ironman is a huge commitment physically and mentally. It takes months of preparation, endurance, and strategy. There are many similarities to running a business. As a full and half Ironman participant, Vice President for a commercial collections firm, a husband, and dad of 3 kids, I understand this first-hand. Knowing how similar the journey of participating in an Ironman is to running a successful business, this blog may help you walk away with actionable insights. So let’s run in.
Preparation & Strategy: The True Drivers of Success
You cannot accidentally run a successful business just like you cannot accidentally cross the finish line of an Ironman. For both of these ventures you need to have a roadmap to success. Which needs to have clear milestones, target metrics, and months and even years of consistent preparation before you see true results. To do this, you need to understand how to successfully allocate your resources. In an Ironman, you have your energy, heart rate, and glycogen. In business, you have capital, cash flow, and your team’s bandwidth. To manage your resources strategically, you need to start at the end of your journey. Then ask yourself, the following questions?
What does success look like?
What are the key milestones that need to be achieved along the way?
What learnings can I take from my past failure and apply to these journeys to achieve success?
Execution & Pacing: The Physical Game
For many people when it comes to competing in a race, they naturally assume that speed is always the answer. While speed has its benefits, a long-term consistent commitment in both an Ironman and in business, results in the success you want. The short-term small intense bouts of speed, only let you pass a couple of competitors. A consistent pace throughout the entire journey, will help you mentally and also physically by not using up your energy and resources too quickly.
The other key is logistics. In a race, you cannot miss a fluid station or fail to keep up with your calories. In business, it is the same. You cannot fail to manage your supply chains, cash flow, or administrative logistics. If you do, competing could become incredibly difficult.
Mindset & Resilience: The Mental Game
The ability to adapt to obstacles is one of the greatest skills we can have in life. For every Ironman athlete around mile 18 of the marathon their body is ready to quit. For every business owner, there comes a time when there are cash shortages, lost clients, and market shifts. Knowing how to navigate these moments can be the difference between being left in the dust and crossing the finish line. Surviving both of these scenarios, depends on your ability to control your emotions, have grit, and focus on the next immediate step.
The Crossing: Feeling Your Success
Knowing yourself and knowing your business are one and the same. Knowing how to take yourself and your business to the same level of success as completing an Ironman is a very different challenge. It does not matter what industry you are in or what stage of life you are. If you can take these same principles and apply them I am confident you will find the success you are looking for. Along the way, if you need a partner to support you on that journey, just reach out. I would love to chat with you.