Member-only story
The Marathon Mindset
Why Companies Fail by Demanding Constant Peak Performance
What marathoners know about resilience — and why your company needs it
“I’ve emailed 60 investors and got two replies.” That frustration mirrored what I saw too often: talented founders pushing relentlessly, only to hit walls they never anticipated. The truth is, performance isn’t linear, and neither is resilience.
Years ago, during my peak marathon years from 2011 to 2014, I learned firsthand how progress truly works. Success was never a straight line; it unfolded in waves — push forward, experience setbacks, recover, then push again.
Yet many companies operate as if every day must be a marathon race-day performance. I’ve watched this play out repeatedly. One poor quarter, one off-week, even one bad day — and suddenly your worth and future are questioned. These companies, unsurprisingly, didn’t last. They burned out their best people and eventually burned themselves out as well.
Why? Because relentless pressure without strategic recovery isn’t how humans — or companies — thrive.
Last year, I returned to marathon training — not chasing medals, but clarity, discipline, and a deeper resilience. Training properly demands meticulous planning…
