Decade In Review: 5 Business Principles I Learned From Being a Triathlete

Happy New Year! As we start off the new decade, it is important to reflect and make changes. Throughout my career as a triathlete, I have learned a lot about being successful in business, pursuing my passions, and what hard work really entails.

During the 2010s, I embarked on a journey towards becoming an Ironman. Ironman is the ultimate endurance event - a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, and marathon 26.2 run all done on the same day. My journey toward becoming an Ironman changed my mindset and ignited a passion and a desire to help others be successful in their businesses. The parallels between training and racing triathlons and starting a business are numerous. Without the discipline, desire, and passion that I learned while training to become an Ironman, I would not have ultimately made the successful leap to leave corporate America and start EDGe Business Planning.

There are five business principles I learned from being a triathlete that have helped me stay true to my business goals and lead a more fulfilling life. I will take these principles with me into the next 10 years, and hope you find them to be helpful whether personally or professionally!

Principle #1 – Discover Your Desire

Open your eyes and your mind to new possibilities.

Take what you are good at and use it to find your path.

Follow the signs.

Principle #2 – Be Comfortable being Uncomfortable

Embrace the unknown!

Train yourself – the unknown becomes the known.

Principle #3 – Stay in the Moment

Check-in with yourself.

Principle #4 – Keep Moving Forward

Don’t fixate on things – move on to the next opportunity.

Principle #5 – It takes a village

You control who is in your village.

Years ago I never could have dreamed I would be where I am today. I was not an Ironman, I did not have my own business. I found my passion in both my personal and professional life, I embraced uncomfortableness, I am still working to be in every moment, I keep moving forward where I see an opportunity, and I am thankful for the village I have that supports me in all that I do. I look forward to seeing what the next ten years have in store!