HERE’S WHAT I LEARNED FROM… · Success is a System

HERE’S WHAT I LEARNED FROM…

STU MITTLEMAN

A personal training session with Stu Mittleman in Hawaii inspired me to run my first marathon in 2002. I’ve run several since.

I’ve long associated Stu with Forrest Gump.

I believe he may have inspired the running story, although I haven’t been able to verify that connection.

His own achievements are remarkable enough. In 1986, he ran 1,000 miles in 11 days and 20 hours, setting a world record....and also had records for running 100miles in just over 12hours and 3000 miles in 56days.

Stu helped me see possibilities I hadn’t seen before.

And much of what I learned applies just as much to business as it does to running:

YOU CAN STILL START SOMETHING NEW

That session in Hawaii led to my first marathon in 2002 and several more afterwards. It’s easy to decide you’ve left something too late without ever testing that belief. A new skill, a business, a different direction. Give yourself the chance to find out.

FIND A PACE YOU CAN SUSTAIN

Working flat out for three weeks means little if you spend the fourth exhausted and making poor decisions. Find a rhythm that lets you deliver consistently, with something left for your family and yourself.

RUN YOUR OWN RACE

Someone else opens another branch or announces record turnover. Good for them. You don’t know their debt, their margins or what it’s costing them personally. Be clear about what success means to you. Learn from others, but measure your progress against your own goals.

LEAVE YOUR EGO BEHIND

One thing I remember is the encouragement to let your belly expand as you breathe, rather than pulling it in to look good. That stuck with me. How often do we hold ourselves back because we’re worried about appearances? Choose what helps you perform, even if it looks less impressive.

BREAK THE DISTANCE DOWN

A marathon can feel impossible when you think about the whole distance. A big business ambition can feel much the same. Bring it back to the next useful action. Make the call. Send the proposal. Solve the problem in front of you.

BUILD HABITS THAT KEEP YOU MOVING

You won’t feel motivated every day. Regular customer contact, weekly financial checks and consistent follow-up help you make progress on ordinary days too. Put the important work in the diary.

GIVE YOURSELF ROOM TO BREATHE

If every minute is booked, when do you think? When do you notice the warning signs or question your direction? Leave space to step back, look at the numbers and listen to your team. Adjust your pace before circumstances force you to.

MAKE SMALL IMPROVEMENTS STICK

A better question in a sales meeting. A clearer handover. One less mistake in a process. Each improvement gives you something to build on. Write down what works, share it and make it part of how you operate.

REST SO YOU CAN CONTINUE

Going the distance includes recovery. Take the break. Let your team take theirs. Build enough support around you that the business doesn’t depend on you being available every minute. Give yourself the energy to enjoy what you’re building.