A while back I asked the question on LinkedIn Answers "How Does Marathon Running Help You Succeed In Business?". I was expecting a few interesting answers.
I was overwhelmed with the number and the depth of the answers. They covered such a wide and varied ground that I was astounded.
The stories and the short histories provide an amazing amount of encouragement.
If you have never considered running a Marathon - these stories will tell you why people do it and why they are passionate about it.
If you are a beginner marathon or are considering Marathon running as a hobby, these stories will tell you just some of the amazing successes people have.
If you are an experienced marathon runner - these stories will remind you of all the wonderful reasons you do it and let you share with others.
The main themes that I gleaned
Its not about the Marathon - its all about the Marathon training.
Marathon runners are successful in life.
Marathon runners learn that nothing will stop them.
Marathon runners learn the value of managing their time and priorities.
Marathon runners learn not to give up.
Marathon runners learn how important planning is to their success.
Marathon runners learn how many months of effort is required for a single successful day. As you read the stories and comments, you become aware of how much people love Marathon running.
This has been the biggest challenge yet for me with LinkedIn Answers. There are many great answers and most included the personal Marathon running histories. If I kept them, I would have had a very long document and it would have made the LinkedIn Answer page redundant. So I have removed all the running marathon histories with one exception.
The original question and the full answers can be found at: http://www.linkedin.com/answers/using-linkedIn/ULI/78502-1655626
Dan Sheil
Here are things that I believe make me a better more successful employee
1) Running allows you to work on problems with other parts of your brain.
2) Fitness. You are healthier not missing work due to illness. Albeit, it might not be fair or appropriate, you see heavier people struggling to climb the corporate ladder.
3) Confidence. You run a marathon, you feel like anything can be in your reach.
Christian Dahlhausen
It is increasing your health and happiness. And it takes more than training to run a marathon, so are dedication and determination also terms which apply to the workplace.
David COERCHON
1) you look healthier, and people see it
2) suffering blood sugar decreased, and it helped being more attentive in meetings
3) A marathon is a proof a patience and endurance. It helps you understanding where are your limits, and how to blow them up
4) I run in the morning. It helps me in meetings to be fully awaken when I arrive.
Jeremiah A. B. Locanas
The most important thing I learned was to pace yourself. Don't push yourself faster than your body can take things, but push yourself enough to keep getting farther or faster (depending on your goal)...
Gregg Towsley
Running a business is a Marathon. Some of the miles you have to sprint and others you have to walk due to the cramp in your side. Like a Marathon, you always need to be heading in the right direction and never stop moving.
Jon Christensen
I have been helped me by understanding that it isn't necessarily where you are in the beginning of the race, but where you are at the end of the race that matters. In other words, running a successful, sustainable business isn't a sprint, but a longer term endeavor. You have to be willing to work hard even when it seems like nothing is going right.
1. It has trained me to be very goal oriented
2. It has taught me perseverance
3. I've learned about commitment and dedication
4. It has given me a level of fitness that I can use throughout my life, which is reflected in my work
Kirk Honour
Dedication, focus, planning, sacrifices, pain, humility, small achievements, and long term success.
Rick Wielens
For me it was the thrill and kick I got when after months of training I saw myself develop, improve and finally achieve. The realization that after the marathon I started having even more confidence in my ability to schedule, plan and stick to the plan. The learning that whatever the goal, how stretching it may be, I would always be able to take the next step. The learning that after discipline to stick to a training schedule a habit develops and a higher standard emerges.
J.J. Moore
I'm a huge advocate of keeping on top of your health with a combination of a healthy diet, weight training and cardiovascular workouts. By implementing the three in your daily routine, it will increase your energy as well as your confidence. When your high level of energy meets your with your pure confidence the result is SUCCESS!
Jorge Pasquotto
Dealing with a tight schedule, create self-motivation, to deal with frustration, to balance both possibilities: not training enough vs. risk of training in excess and to exceed body limit, etc...all of this gave me key insights about management and I could use them in the business environment.
One time I stopped running for some minutes and the more I stayed stopped more I thought about giving up. I looked around and I could see people giving up everywhere, and people near me just walking slower and slower. But then, I watched a group of 3 people running together, each one supporting and motivating the others. I watched them and then I decided to follow them. I joined them and I re-started running in their pace. Step by step I came back to the race and 2 hours later I crossed the finishing line. What I learnt from that situation? Well, I could have given up...and stay with the losers who were not prepared to run and gave up at km 21, or I could have followed a group of winners who didn't stop, who worked in team, and finished the line.
In my life, that was a practical evidence of how important is to follow the steps of winners and not join the losers in our life.
Mark Somerville
Marathon running helps me persevere through challenging business situations. The lessons I've learned through running apply to every business situation I've encountered.
Chris Miciek
1. Morning runs help me be more alert and focused throughout the day.
2. Better fitness level means I feel healthier and am healthier - less headaches (and less severe) plus stronger immune system.
3. My campus president runs so it is a good point of connection.
4. Our institution fielded a relay team for last year's Detroit Marathon. We took first place in the Colleges & University division. It was a great 'team-building' experience across divisions.
5. Great time to pray, get contemplative, hash out a work problem, or draft a difficult email. All of which reduce stress levels beyond just the workout side of the equation.
6. The sense of accomplishment and knowledge of pushing beyond limits with long runs and speed work improves mental toughness and resilience.
7. Most sports will yield similar results if pursued in earnest, but there is something about solo activities that especially enhance some of what I listed above.
I am my own obstacle, my own rival. I have full ownership of success or failure to meet my goals.
Russell Birk
The biggest lesson that I have learned is that quitting is not an option. I had a tendency in the past to check out when things at work became difficult or boring but now I realize that, like training runs, some days are better than others. The path to success is simply hard work and determination to see things through to completion.
Luca De Stefanis
I would add a fundamental (both in business and marathon) element, that is determination: nothing comes for free, you need to pursue your goal sticking at the plan, even when canceling a training session or postponing a difficult decision would seem the easiest way. A great outcome of running marathons, that is self-awareness: you can make it, and you bring this positive feeling back in the office to face daily challenges and career traps.
Ghada Richani
1. Not to underestimate the power of mentors, coaches and friends. They can help can smooth the path of your success.
2. Determination
3. Attitude counts. Keep a positive attitude because a negative one would spoil success
Emily Vanderzwart
I don't think running a marathon is about the actual race itself; it's the training that is necessary to complete the race that makes it relatable to business.
It's all about the commitment to the training, the lifestyle, the aches and pains that come with the weeks of training. Runners all have great days and terrible days and days we feel like we're just spinning our wheels but we continue to train and commit to making ourselves better. Runners know it's every time we go out for a 40 minute jog, speed work out or a long run that will help us get to the finish line.
Business professionals are the same; it's not one successful deal that determines a career but the ability of a professional to consistently perform and improve the bottom line over time that matters. Business training comes in forms of academics, continuing education or professional training. This is all necessary in order reach a long term business goal.
Marathons help people realize it's all about what they do everyday that will help them reach their goals, one great day isn't enough to carry someone across the finish line. It's the very same in business!
David Dworkin
We were jogging side-by-side and toe to heel. Somewhere a person in front of me tripped, causing me to trip, causing others to trip. The thought going through my mind was if I fall, I'll be trampled. Without thinking, I grabbed at the shoulder of the person next to and he grabbed mine. Arm in arm several of us around each other grabbed the shoulder or elbow of the person next to them. Without a word spoken, we pulled each other up and would not let the person next to us fall. None of us knew the other, yet without a word spoken, about 10 to 15 of us all helped keep each other from falling. All the elements were present, survival, intense consequences if we failed (fell,) and a very cool sense of fellowship that transcended words.
Flash forward to being let go in the semiconductor telecommunications dot.com meltdown. I remembered that experience of people helping people who did not even know each other but were connected by way of common goals and objectives. I immediately got involved in networking and trying to help other people solve problems, find work, while hoping to find work for myself as well. We were all trying to feed our families and return to rewarding full filling employment.
Just like helping others not to fall and be trampled as well as having the incredible sense of accomplishment in running 26.2 miles; life in business involves much more than just taking and receiving. It involves giving, helping and being part of solutions to problems that are deeper and more complex than just doing one's own assignment. Execution is key. Staying power and commitment to completion, recognizing one's limitations are all elements of work that have parallels in the world of running and especially the marathon.
Kathleen Skae-Gambino
I would say it really helps you to prioritize your time as you need to invest so much personal time to train, it is a huge commitment to train.
I am a believer in the more you have on your plate the more successful you are in all tasks in life, work and home.
Alex Kent
Marathon running both helps you to lose weight, look younger and more attractive, but also delivers a great statement on your resume and website profiles....'I'm not afraid to work hard towards a longer term goal. I'm tough and a good person to hire."
Lisa Hendrickson
I find that having an inspiring physical goal always helps me meet my business goals. I am more focused and relaxed when i am training for a marathon. I also have to manage my time better when I am training because it is impossible for me to get the miles in and get the work in that I need to do if I am not organized.
Marathon training has me have breakthrough thinking available to me on a consistent basis. When I am out on long runs, I end up solving my problems even when I'm not actually thinking about them. I have "Aha!" moments and they are always providing me the solutions to issues.
I can envision the future everyday just like I envision the finish line. Running has me realize that every great accomplishment starts with just one step.
Jeremy Muratore
Proper planning, foresight, hard work, perseverance and a little luck should get you to the finish line. How successful you are, means something different to all of us.
You have good days and bad days, but need to keep your eye on your goals at all times.
Jeff Katzen
1) Dedication - you need to be up early and often to train
2) Perserverance/Determination - you have to overcome many obstacles that get in your way, including and especially, mental.
3) Goal Orientation - you have to have a goal in your mind (ie complete a marathon in x time) and work towards that goal
4) Restraint - you need to know how and when to push yourself , both in the race and through training, so that you avoid injury but still achieve your goal
Misty Khan
The discipline required to train for a marathon is addictive. I found that when I trained, the schedule, healthy life style and mental discipline required to make it through training really helped enforce discipline in other parts of my life like work as well. I stayed on a strict schedule which required that I use my time efficiently and I always felt alert and energized because I as in such great shape.
I also met some great people that I still keep in touch with and that in some cases became business associates or partners. Any new place where you can meet people charged with that much positive energy is going to be a great place to network!
Marie McManus
I am very goal focused and have become an extremely good planner. I also understand that everything doesn't go according to plan but getting back on track is critical. With all that said, Goal Setting, planning, and managing changes are key strengths I developed from training for a marathon. Hanging in there, commitment and staying focused are strengths I got from running the marathon
Jay Hamilton-Roth
It puts things in perspective. It becomes your mind, your body, and the goal. It causes you to constantly ask, "Why am I doing this?". It helps you to transcend your basic beliefs; you look at the small picture (the next milestone) and see how that gets you closer to the big picture (the finish line).
Micah Arnold
My marathon training has given me persistence, endurance and stamina to get required jobs done. Not only has it taught me the power of goal setting, visualization and breaking down large accomplishments into small tasks, it has taught me how to gut out the tough times and how to push myself to succeed in the easier times.
Not to mention the pure health benefits, improved energy and outlook on life...
My running time is my time to think and reflect on issues on hand. Whether that's a business decision, a marketing strategy, an MBA case study or a personal matter, it's time away from the computer and the phone which is invaluable to surviving these days.
It's also provided me a very useful quote for getting out of bed in the morning:
"If you are going to win any battle, you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do... the body is never tired if the mind is not tired." - Gen. George Patton
Mike Reynolds
I can say that training for and competing in a marathon is a lot like capital planning.
That is, you need to be patient, realize that your resources are limited, plan conservatively, know your core competencies, and target your strategies.
It's all about prioritization. I live a busy life where family and career come before my training.
Mark MacDonnell
The idea that running a marathon is simply a physical accomplishment is truly a rudimentary look at the idea of Marathon running. In my experience, running a marathon was by no means the act of running the race itself, but rather the four plus months of preparation culminating with one day at work.
People that are capable of running marathons are successful in business because they can commit to the long-term in order to achieve a larger goal. They remain successful because they can then apply what they have learned in regards to time management and commitment to their business lives.
Anyone who has run a marathon can tell you, that after they ran through the proverbial "Wall" there wasn't much left at work that would equal the challenge. And on top of all of this, they are generally healthier, deal with stress better, and have positive attitudes.
Joe Helfrich
This may seem counter intuitive, but you can't do a marathon by yourself. You need encouragement, you need competitors, you need the water station people and most importantly, all along the way before the big day, you need to find within yourself the will power to keep chipping away at a goal that is bigger than you.
And then on the big day yes it's about reaching down and finding out what your made of. It's a lot like business for me. People who are consumed by "winning", who can't fail and get back up again, and who fail to see the big picture and act accordingly ultimately lose. Life and marathons are both long races - winners play smart, enjoy the ride, and find a way to do it.
Mark Black
I've run 3 Marathons all after receiving a life-saving Heart and Double Lung Transplant in 2002. [ZT - This is the exception]
1) Marathoning does a number of great things for me in my business life as a motivational speaker and coach..
2) A sense of accomplishment - There is nothing better for boosting your self-confidence than setting a goal, working hard, and accomplishing what you set out to do
3) Problem Solving - Marathon training is intense. Just fitting the training in to your day is a challenge, let alone completing all of the long distances. In addition, there is nothing like a 3 hour run to give you time to think and work through ideas.
4) Perseverance - In the marathon and the business world, you encounter set-backs and failures. In order to ultimately succeed, we must learn to overcome these things. Marathoning helps you learn how to do that.
Peter Johnson
A picture on my desk of me crossing the finish line has opened numerous conversations with nearly everyone I met on a project team I had joined. I started running with colleagues at lunch and many became good friends. I celebrated others when they ran marathons and we formed lasting bonds. All of this builds personal relationships that make professional relationships that much stronger.
Long distance running allows me to develop rhythm, pacing, dedication, striving and incremental improvement to the point where they become internalized. Training is a fundamental part of the race. Exhaustion is a part of the exhilaration.
When I'm too busy to run, I know I am out of balance. I lose my base and everything becomes harder to do.
Roger Herzler
I've found that running accomplishes two major goals in my life on an ongoing basis:
1) I tend to be much more even keel and less stressed out (who has the energy after running 10 miles?) and
2) It trains my mind to continue to face and beat adversity despite the fatigue in my legs or other parts of my body telling me to stop.
3) Running long distances had made me greatly appreciate the amount of time and effort that it takes to train for such events. It's not simple. It takes time, planning and of course sweat. It has taught me that it's worth it to persevere.
4) The 'free time' your mind often gets, particularly on long runs, can be spent to work out work and life problems with a great deal of clarity.
Susie Wyshak
I specifically trained for a marathon to commit myself to being a long distance runner instead of a sprinter, which I saw as a metaphor for other areas of my life. The experience was amazing that my body could go through that as well as that I had to commit the time and effort to complete the training.
I truly think that experience helped me take longer range views toward my work and projects, vs. thinking short term.
Frederick Le Page
Training for a marathon or any long-distance discipline requires discipline and motivation. It's mind over matter. Very important in business. It also allows you to have time for yourself, time in which you can reflect on your job or life in general. As a result, you get mental and physical benefits of training.
Vanina Mangano
It's amazing when you discover within yourself the ability to have total discipline and commitment to something. Especially when this "something" is a feat that many other people cannot accomplish easily. Once this occurs, you realize that you can hold this type of power and level of success within other areas of your life, including your professional life, where discipline is necessary.
Jacob Lund Fisker
The technical learning curve of long distance running is very shallow. After spending 2 minutes learning how to run, the challenge for the untrained individual is to be sufficiently consistent in training to build up the tolerance to endure aching pains for several hours. E.g. turning oneself from a sedentary person into a regular athlete.
[ZT - I strongly disagree with this Jacob's 2 minute comment. A child learns to run. Marathon running includes: Form, Hills, Hydration, Avoiding injuries, clothing, handling distances, just to name few of the many technical aspects of the sport.]
Finishing the marathon is a proof of that consistency.
Being able to push oneself consistently for months and years tends to separate the wheat from the chaff anywhere, so that's the immediate transfer to business.
I frequently provide people with diet plans and a workout plans (It's a hobby of mine), but the fact remains that well executed mediocre plan will beat a badly executed great plan anytime and execution/motivation is very hard to impart on people.
Thus people who have shown that they can execute consistently are a great asset. I guess you could call them "winners".
Keri M. Zwerner, MA, LMFT
Running a marathon not only helps in business, but in every facet of one's life. While no true athlete by any stretch of the word, Each Marathon posed different challenges throughout the 26.2 miles [42km]- from the physical to the emotional to spiritual to the intellectual. It is a test of character and determination, as well as one's will. It taught me more about myself than almost any other success I have gained in life.
Suzanne Bowen
I remember things people say such as, "Don't stop please. We need your time," or my friend with Down's Syndrome words during his challenging tasks, "Here we go yo yo!" Or executive director of a Pensacola YMCA, "I dedicate each mile to a different person who is important to me and think about them during that mile."
How does this help with success in business? "We" are healthier, can deal with stress better, have more energetic and alert minds, love hanging in there together, and realizing with every step, about what is really important in life. It's not money.
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