Be a better You !!

Ironman Race, while it’s one of the hardest things I have done, it’s also one of the most rewarding one and it gives one enough leadership lesson that happens as a result.

#YouVsYou :- Endeavour’s like competing in an Ironman or leading a business, will test you, there will be hurdles, failures(injuries), you will be questioned and sometimes challenged. You will stumble and fall and some of your failures might embarrass and frustrate you, however you will learn from these mistakes and failures and try to do things differently. You will attack with even more resilience, energy, courage and determination which will make you better, faster, stronger. You will be defined not by how you fell down, but rather how you stood up(...too cliché). Remember you are trying to be a better you, so the competition is within... just be #Resilient !!

#Purpose :- Finding your purpose, One of the key reasons one attempts to do an Ironman or any other Endurance Sport is a sense of achievement and a desire to do something bigger than one’s self. When someone prepares for 4-6 months for a race, waking up at crazy hours, weekly train for 12-14 hours, spending time away from family, always fatigued, it’s that purpose that keeps one going!! In business also there needs to be a #Purpose (a Why?) that keeps you and the team going, which is more than just 'making money', maybe its sense of achievement, family, recognition, personal growth or team success, whatever is the purpose, keep it close to your heart and top of your mind and most importantly hold yourself responsible to accomplish that.

#Attitude :- Attitude is more important than Aptitude!! Finishing an Ironman is tough and some athletes are naturally talented(I am not..), however no matter what your build and shape, crossing the finish line is about much more than just natural talent, it’s about how hard one trains, and how much one is willing to push themselves. In business, we sometimes overemphasise natural talent, however we overlook that it’s the hard work and perseverance that eventually brings success. Natural talent is good, however in business, it’s just a head-start and the rest is the effort one is willing to put in. Leaders create work cultures that promotes and encourages hard work and positive attitude, rather than just talent.

#PerformanceMetrics :- Ironman athletes are data junkie's, they analyse and measure every run or ride or swim, measuring training in specific heart rate zones, checking VO2 max, lactate threshold, running cadence, biking power watts etc. In business and in sports, being data-driven in your goals is the best way to measure your progress and improve performance. Leaders and athletes are experts in setting these goals, measuring results and achieving specific performance metrics.

#Team :- I am really really grateful to my family, my wife and my boys and also my friends who supported me throughout my training. My family patiently accepted my crazy weekend schedule, my overall state of fatigue, my cranky mood and my anti-social behaviour and on the race day supported me for 12-13 hours, taking care of my nutrition, giving support, encouraging me, taking pics, I would not be able to cross the finish line without their support, its not about the individual performance, it’s the Team!! Same way for Leaders, it’s the team that matters the most, not you, not individuals, but the Team!!

#EnjoyTheJourney :- Although crossing that finish line gives you a sense of achievement and makes you emotional (I did), however the most amazing and worthwhile part of Ironman for me was the journey; the training itself!! Now, when I think about my business and working as a team, I have a new mindset: The goal is to inspire day-to-day fulfilment, a commitment to professional improvement to your customer and your team and a pride in what we have achieved. The end-game (crossing the finish line/meeting quota) is just part of that journey.

#BeHumble :- Ironman Training is hard work, so is running a business and when we understand the efforts, it’s not just us putting in the long hours, we learn to respect that each person who has gotten somewhere has put in efforts that we probably don’t know of. Each success story, be it fellow athlete or a colleague comes with an untold story of determination, hard work and passion, this helps us to shed our ego, be humble and respect the efforts of others too.

#BeThankful :- Be it Ironman or leading a business, always be thankful and have gratitude in your hearts to enjoy the journey. Be thankful to your family, friends, your organisation and your team and feel blessed that we have been given this opportunity and strength in our legs to run an Ironman and power to lead a business. We should have a sense of #gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity we have been given to prove ourselves, to build something, to learn and to share and we should do everything possible to be successful, and also #inspire others to do the same.

The effort, passion, time management and dedication required to train and complete an Ironman or similar Endurance sports are the same attributes that helps a leader to be successful professionally, enjoy this journey and have fun...

Remember, we don't have to do this, we are fortunate that we get to do this !!

Cheers, Atul

#Ironman #Triathlon #Endurance #Leadership #Sales #Fitness #Resilience