As a former Fortune 50 Executive and successful leadership consultant—as well as an endurance athlete and multiple-Ironman finisher—I’ve developed an approach to business and leadership that is rooted in the lessons I’ve learned over many years of training and competing.
Even if you never plan to run a marathon yourself, you can still benefit from these “Top 10” ways of taking an athlete’s approach to business:
- Understand your strengths. Once you understand them, you can tap into them when you need them.
- Celebrate success. Make a list of your successes each week to stay focused. Praise and reward your team for good work.
- Remind yourself of your goals. Keep a visual reminder in sight at all times.
- Develop a regular exercise routine. You don’t have to spend hours at a time at the gym. Choose a routine that works for you and stick to it.
- Organize your tasks. Make a list at the beginning of every day to stay on track and end each day by reflecting on what went well and what didn’t.
- Define your priorities. I spend 95 percent of my time on the five most important things to me: doing good work for my clients, building my business, training for my next Ironman, writing my book, and spending time with family.
- Stop multitasking. Multitasking is ineffective. It can take much longer to finish something if you’re doing two things at once.
- Ask for help. It’s a sign of strength to know what you’re good at and when to ask for help. Collaboration helps us accomplish more than we ever could on our own.
- Make time for yourself. Schedule time to be good to yourself, even if it’s just sitting and reflecting for 15 minutes.
- Don’t give up. My training secret is to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Whatever your goal, large or small, moving consistently forward is the formula for success.
My athletic accomplishments have helped me push myself, understand my potential, and try things I would have never done otherwise. Mental strength, endurance, and a positive outlook make anything possible—whether it’s finishing a 140.6-mile triathlon or building a business. Give these tips a try and see what YOU can accomplish!