When you have a goal that is as huge as the marathon-it will “keep you honest.” It’s not like a smaller goal that you can announce and then put off or fake your way through. Once you sign up, commit months to training, and take your first step on race day-you better have done your homework.
The beauty of this is that it goes against 99% of the natural tendencies of our culture that favors gratification without effort or devotion. But is that kind of achievement ever as satisfying? Linda Hill once told me she loved the quote, “There is no glory in training, but there is no glory without training.” In no way is this more true than in running.
And business.
One thing I’ve found over the years is that many of the folks I train with (and race against) are for the most part as devoted to their jobs (if not more) as they are to running or cycling or triathlon.
Unlike participation in say, golf or softball or basketball – no offense to club/league sports – the type of determination, discipline and emotional focus that comes with training day in, day out for extremely challenging endurance events (often by yourself) tends to bleed over into people’s 9-5’s.
Whether you’re training for a marathon, a century or the Ironman triathlon, one thing you quickly find out is that there’s no room for bullshit out there on the pavement. You either do the work or you’re screwed. Politics won’t get you to the finish line. It doesn’t matter who you know or how well you can work the system. When you’re out there, every weakness bubbles up to the surface and stares you in the eye. Lack of preparation, lack of motivation, lack of dedication will all come back to bite you in the ass. there’s nowhere to hide. They will all find you and jump up on your back to stop you dead in your tracks. The choice becomes this: Do you let them stop you, or do you accept them and keep going?
You learn a lot about yourself, training for that type of event.
You learn a lot about how to break thresholds and get past your own little ego, training for events like these. When you’re tired and sore and hungry but you still have four miles to go, guess what? You still have four miles to go. How you get through these last four miles is entirely up to you. Nobody cares whether you walk those last four miles or run, or hail a cab. Nobody made you set 26.2 miles as a goal. Or 100 miles. Or 144+.
Once you’ve broken past your lack of will and learned to keep going, you are transformed. A similar thing happens to Marines during training. At some point, who you used to be before you went beyond what you thought your limitations were, before you kissed excuses goodbye, before you left all of the bullshit that stood in your mind’s way ceases to exist. You become someone else.
That someone else, the marathoner, the long distance cyclist, the triathlete, the Ironman, he or she walks into your place of work with you every morning.
We all work with two types of people: Partisans of the least amount of effort, and dedicated professionals.
The latter aren’t all marathoners or triathletes, but I have yet to meet an Ironman or marathoner who didn’t take his or her intensity and dedication to their job.
Not that there’s anything wrong with drinking a case of beer and watching sports on TV all weekend, but who you are outside of your work does have parallels with who you are when you are at work.
Something to think about.
Update: Wow. You guys have turned this post into The BrandBuilder blog’s most popular post ever. Over 2,000 views in less than 24 hours already. Thank you all: Fellow runners, cyclists, swimmers, triathletes… It’s amazing to have so many of you respond to this post with so much enthusiasm. You’ve really made my day. Next time you’re in the Greenville, SC be sure to look me up. Lots of great running, cycling and racing out here.
Train hard! 😉
I think this is a great post. I am a very big believer in healthy mind, healthy body.
It gives people focus and something to aim for. Get work done in work time so they can get on the road and clear their heads.
Nice post. I think you are totally right!
Awesome post. Success in achieving goals in business often means having the discipline to do things that aren’t easy or fun, but that need to be done. I think runners intuitively know this.
I haven’t thought of it that way yet, but I think it might be true. Actually, I hope it is because I am a passionate runner.
I also really love the quote “there is no glory in training, but there is no glory without training.” It all pays off when you run that last kilometer (sorry, but I’m European) with a smile on your face, while everyone else is struggling.
Tobias, I’m European too. I totally understand. 😀
Thanks for the great comments. So many new commenters today. Wow. Very cool. Welcome to the conversation.
Wow. You just took away most of my excuses to avoid restarting running and getting back on my bike in one post.
Thanks?
(Just kidding. I actually owe you a great debt for this post. Just the kick-in-the-pants I need to get back in the saddle. And you reminded me why I enjoy being on my bike–knowing that no matter how bad the ride is, I’m doing more and learning more about myself than folks melting into their La-Z-Boys are.)
I’ll have to go re-evaluate a lot of other commitments I’ve made based on this post. I’ll keep reminding myself that I really made the commitments to myself.
Take care and keep the rubber side down…
Gilbert (@CrazyOnYou)
Great post and so true!
Olivier, great post! So true. I forwarded it on to several other endurance athletes, myself:) Shout out to Holly, as well!!!
Another big reason runners make good employes is that they tend to get sick less often then their co workers. With every thing else equal, the employe who is at work more days then their coworkers will be a more productive person. People out on sick leave are not productive in the work place. Tim
Love this. Sent it to my runner/triathlete friends. So true. I think every employer needs to read it and then make sure that one of the benefits of working for their company is a gym membership or some kind of health & fitness program.
I know that a ton of CEO’s of large corps run marathons and promote this culture at their work:
a short list:
Greg Brenneman of Burger King,
Walt Disney Company’s Robert Iger,
Bill Perez of Nike,
Klaus Kleinfeld of Siemens AG,
Jack Brennan of mutual fund giant The Vanguard Group
PepsiCo’s Steve Reinemund.
As a 9x Ironman finisher, I strongly agree with the ideas and comments. Problem is that I kept it pretty low key. Many do not understand that when you come in with wet hair and disheveled appearance or you are slipping out for a lunch time run that it is a good thing. It is during these times that I figure out how to negotiate that obstacle or pitch a product in a different way outside of the office with the adrenaline flowing. I usually cannot wait to get back in order to capture all the great ideas before the stale office air stifles the creativity that was unleashed.
Having an outside athletic interest that requires commitment forces you to develop and continually work on many other skills that may or may not come naturally such as: time management, efficiency, delegation, accountability, self awareness, etc.
Thanks so much for the great comments. Very cool to be connecting with so many of you. 🙂
Wow, Yesterday we were running Hill Repeats out of Lifetime Fitness in Eagan, MN and Dam, we were tired by #9. I wanted to be done at that time and.. coach concurred. Barry Williamson, team member, reminded us about commitment to 10 and that we HAD to do 10. We DID and I’m glad. Thanks Barry! Way to go and help us build character. It’ll come in handy at Boston on 4/20/09.
Wow, Yesterday we were running Hill Repeats out of Lifetime Fitness in Eagan, MN and Dam, we were tired by #9. I wanted to be done at that time and.. coach concurred. Barry Williamson, team member, reminded us about commitment to 10 and that we HAD to do 10. We DID and I’m glad. Thanks Barry! Way to go and help us build character. It’ll come in handy at Boston on 4/20/09.
Im self employed and if given a choice between two applicants all being the same educations, experience etc.. and one was a runner or triathlete, hands down i would choose the athlete. As stated above the same skill set required to be successful in these sports are the same in being successful in business. Why do you see so many prior professional atheletes become successful in business after their athletic career.
Thanks for a great write up. I agree completely, but have never really thought about it quite this way before.
love this post. thank you.
– hard work, sweat, tears and passion
– no imposters, no shortcuts, no substitutions.
-at the end: one goal: a whole lot of satisfaction.
This is a fantastic post and I couldn’t agree more. Just read an article in Fortune Small Business about a company called CEO Challenges and it was inspiring to see the CEOs of companies who get up at 4 a.m. to train for the next triathlon and then go run a million + dollar company. Best part is that you don’t have to be a CEO to succeed at running, cycling, etc. In the end, it’s all about setting goals and the path to get there. Thanks to @virtual4now for sharing the link.
Great post and I found many items I agree with but I’d like to add that while I am NOT a marathoner, there is discipline AND desire to improve even at the lower levels as well. I think that once a person decides to train at any level, the simple fact of getting out there even if only occasionally can have a huge impact on how they approach their life and their career.
I have always been of the belief that all athletes make better employees… however, this piece gives it a new perspective I hadn’t seen before. I am a marathoner and a triathlete and work in the sales/service field. I can relate. Great post, great thoughts, great job!
Wow, what a great article. I am currently training for Ironman Kona and blogging what it takes to train for an event like this and still perform at work, with family and other aspects of ones life. I am going to post a link to this article. What a great read!!!
This is an excellent post. The marathon or triathlon is all about dedication and commitment and there really are no short cuts. You have to be prepared for setbacks such as injuries during training and be able to manage tons of variables during the race (conditioning, energy, hydration, temperature, etc.). All of these skills come in handy in the work place and teach patience, perseverance and a long-term view of things. I know I’ve become a better employee since I took up marathoning and despite the training schedule, I’ve been able to keep all of my work commitments. It just forces you to be more efficient and more focused.
That’s exactly what I am talking about. You guys rock.
And by the way, having so many athletes respond to this post has officially turned the crank on my training this week. You’ve all inspired me a great deal. 🙂
Wow. Fantastic column. I have always said “the road doesn’t care who you are, what your title is, or how much you make…it’s still the road and you can fake it.”
Thanks. I am going to share this column with others.
I loved your article!! As a runner and an employee, I sure hope it is true. I actually recently started my own running blog and in today’s post, I wrote about your article. Check it out if you’re interested:
http://www.runnerswrite.com/2009/02/running-up-corporate-ladder.html
Thanks for the excellent words!
All I can say in pursuit over 5 years to attain my goal of completing my 1st Ironman is, Wooooooooooooooooooo
Whhhhooooooooooooooooo! (The Hellion Battle Cry). And now I take the skills I learned and relate to all aspects of my life.
Being a business owner, having the good life, then having everything come down on me, losing everything, my house, my truck, my business, my wife, in this tough economic time. I know I can perservere and overcome anything. The power of triathlon keeps that adrenaline pumping, the wheels turning, and a positive attitude that will that will catapult this ordinary person great success. I can feel it!!!!
REMEMBER MY NAME
DAVID HEDLIN
I WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IN THIS WORLD
You guys rock. 😀
One of the best blog posts I have read in a long time! Thanks.
BTW – where did that photo come from? it is awesome.
I was directed to this article from Tim Wilson’s 26.2 Quest blog. It really makes me proud to read all of these validations of the notion that runners tend to be dedicated, conscientious, motivated, and tenacious. We marathoners (and distance runners) are indeed a special breed, and I think that’s why we have a certain comraderie with even strangers who are also runners; who else could possibly understand 1) setting a goal to run a marathon and dedication to training for it and 2) the feeling, as someone wrote above, of hitting the wall and impossibly pushing through it. Marathon running is such an incredible metaphor for so many challenges in life and the parallels are real.
Now – who out there can run me into to cut 7 minutes off of my best marathon to qualify for Boston? I need a 3:45… anyone? anyone? lol.
run on, cyber friends!
Rlink: Thanks! I shot that at the Furman University track maybe 3 years ago. I need to find a higher rez. version of it though. 🙂
funnyrunner: Compression tights and socks from what I hear. Like cwx.
Thanks for the post Olivier!
I wonder if this explains why it seems easier to interact with other marathoners at social events over say softball players even though I actively participate in both? Same goes for those who don’t enjoy their work versus those feel connected or are entrepreneurial.
Hey Olivier,
Thanks for giving me a voice. I found this post by chance while on a late night CQ shift and it made my day. Nice to feel connected to some similar others for once.
I am married to a triathlete who spends all of his time and most of our money on this sport. He is not honest about any of this, and constatntly lies, not only to me, but his emplyoyers. He spends lots of time when he is “on the clock” at the gym. When he’s home, he is recovering from his training, which includes getting up at 4:30 a.m.
The only reason I remain “married” to this jerk is that I am in a financial bind, caused by him. If I could, I would kick him to the curb in a heartbeat!
D. I am sorry to hear that. It sounds like an addiction. (And I don’t mean that in a cute “I’m addicted to triathlon” way. This is the real deal.)
You may want to consider some kind of intervention and some professional help before things get even more out of hand. There is probably something going on that is driving him to do this. As much as some of us go overboard with our triathlon “habit” at some point, most of us don’t let it get to such an extreme that we will risk relationship and career just to log more miles on the bike.
Let me know if I can help. 🙂
could you please tell my boss…..
Just joking – I think this is a great post.
Simply an awesome post. I am sure there are other ways to arrive at the same destination. But, the dynamic you describe has changed my _life_ and I’ve seen it do the same for many others over the years. By life changing, I (we 😉 mean the whole deal: physical fitness, mental fitness, confidence level, psychological outlook, energy level, etc. – at home and at work.
Great post! Completely agree with you!
Its so true …
I feel great and on a real mission, at last !
My advice: Go for it !!!!
I’ve completed two marathons, soon to be three. And am planning to tackle some ultras this year. This article comes at a strange time for me when it comes to what I think about my work. In the past I’ve generally had too much passion for doing the right things well. As I encountered resistance, I gave in to apathy and cynicism. More recently I’ve tried to approach my work simply in earnest. I can’t change people, but I can choose how I will approach work and the people at my work. I am less anxious about my “career” and more thankful that I have a good job, that I enjoy most of the time. Just like, you can’t change the temperature, or the hills. But you can approach your race earnestly, without ego, with respect, hope, and thankfulness.
I’ve completed two marathons, soon to be three. And am planning to tackle some ultras this year. This article comes at a strange time for me when it comes to what I think about my work. In the past I’ve generally had too much passion for doing the right things well. As I encountered resistance, I gave in to apathy and cynicism. More recently I’ve tried to approach my work simply in earnest. I can’t change people, but I can choose how I will approach work and the people at my work. I am less anxious about my “career” and more thankful that I have a good job, that I enjoy most of the time. Just like, you can’t change the temperature, or the hills. But you can approach your run earnestly, without ego, with respect, hope, and thankfulness.
As a long-time runner and swimmer, it’s hard to believe I’m just now training for my first triathlon this year. The crazy obsessive dedication I have to running/swimming/training does carry over into my job and that is NOT always a good thing! Thanks for the great read!
Outstanding post. I do one half marathon a year and run several 5k and 10k’s during the rest of the season. I train hard for every event and love the glory of the finish.
Now, my eight yr old daughter is showing interest in running and I could not be more pleased. If she is able to develop the mindset to set running goals and meet them at an early age I feel she will be setting a solid foundation for a successful life.
Definitely. You have to dig deep to hit the pavement on those so-early-in-the-morning-that-it-is-still-night-and-it’s-pouring-rain-days because it would be too easy to stay in bed and, after all, who will really know or care whether you did the training? For those that get out of bed, they know the answer: You will, and that is the most important reason of all to get your ass out the door. And you can’t turn that personality trait/defect(?) off when it comes to the office. Happy training!
I’m glad you posted this Oliver. As a passionate (some would say crazy) runner, I make my running part of my personal / professional brand, as I do believe it shows an ability to set and meet aggressive commitments that translates well into the business world. In general, I prefer working with disciplined co-workers (who can also have some fun) and commitment to a fitness regime is a good sign of such discipline, as well as personal energy.
Great post. I’ve found that once I worked hard enough to run marathons, it gives me the encouragement to do other hard things. If I can train in rain, snow, heat, etc. and then run for 4+ hours straight (I’m not a fast marathon runner), I can certainly do this (whatever “this” happens to be).
Also agree, those who race tend to be more driven than those who do not.
There is something to it, yeah. You learn more about yourself out there on the road, every day training (and on race day) than sitting at a cubicle, methinks. It does change you.
this made me think again…i love running and in return it gives me fulfillment every time i prepare for a run, running and finishing it with a good time..indeed running is a lifestyle..thank you for this post i have to go back and start all over again and get ready for the earth run i still have two weeks…God bless us all…
Hi! nice entry! 🙂 would it be okay with you if i repost this entry on my blog? 😀
thanks!
Sure! Link back to the post and you’re good to go. 🙂
Olivier–didn’t realize you were in Greenville! I went to Furman! I know the Greenville streets well.
Love, love, love this post. I just finished my first marathon, and I ended up having a really bad day after nothing but pitch-perfect training. But I finished–in spite of asthma issues and puking the last ten miles. Why? Because I said I would.
As an entrepreneur, the marathon is the perfect metaphor. You don’t become successful overnight, and success is always a moving target. But what gets you there is the little steps every day–that short little run, or running up that last hill when you feel like stopping, or making sure you’re fueling properly–that add up to the larger goal.
I’ll definitely look you up for a run next time I’m in town!
That’s why I’m so good at my job! Thanks for a great post!
Running is a more accessible sport to dedicate yourself to. Both for cost reasons and the obvious fact that you can run anywhere, you will go much further before you find a dedicated golfer, baseball player, or basketball player. There are amateurs in every sport whose investment and dedication in their sport bleeds into their 9-to-5 life and has a positive effect on their professional world. It certainly isn’t only the domain of runners, but I agree that the nature of the sport is such that there is a larger pool to choose from. I think it is the nature of competitive athletics (individual or team) that you are actually highlighting, correctly, and as a hiring manager I will always place value on the dedication I see in a candidates personal life as I do their professional life.
As a runner (among other things), I certainly appreciate the positive effect running has had on my focus and dedication so your article rings very true. Great points and well written.
LOVE this. I am a half-marathoner…but it is so much more than I ever thought I could do, and you are right. I do take that intensity with me in everything I aim for, including my job. Love this: “there’s no room for bullshit out there on the pavement. You either do the work or you’re screwed. Politics won’t get you to the finish line. It doesn’t matter who you know or how well you can work the system.” So very, very true.