When people talk about sports and business, they usually think of flashy team sports—football, basketball, maybe baseball. But for me, the sport that made the biggest impact on my life and career wasn’t about crowds, bright lights, or last-second plays. It was cross country. Quiet, focused, and brutally honest—cross country taught me the kind of discipline that doesn’t just apply to the trail, but to the boardroom too.
I started running cross country in high school, and while I wasn’t the fastest on the team, I was committed. It taught me how to push through discomfort, stay focused over the long haul, and prepare my body and mind for a challenge that didn’t always give immediate results. Those lessons stayed with me long after the finish lines faded into memory.
Discipline Over Speed
In cross country, there are no shortcuts. The course is long, the terrain is unpredictable, and how you pace yourself matters more than how fast you start. Business is a lot like that. As I moved up the ladder from manager to senior director, I realized that success rarely comes in bursts—it’s the result of steady, intentional progress over time.
I’ve learned that showing up every day, doing the hard work, and staying consistent often beats flash-in-the-pan brilliance. Just like in cross country, the real wins happen when no one’s watching. It’s in the early mornings, the late-night problem solving, and the willingness to keep going when others tap out.
Running Through the Wall
Ask any distance runner and they’ll tell you about “the wall.” That moment when your legs feel like cement, your lungs burn, and your mind tells you to quit. You hit it hard. But if you keep pushing, something amazing happens—you get through it.
That same wall exists in business. It might be a tough quarter, a difficult project, or a team that’s struggling to find its rhythm. I’ve faced plenty of those moments in my career, and I’ve found that the only way to get through is to keep going. Momentum builds resilience. Cross country taught me that you can’t avoid the wall, but you can outlast it.
Mental Toughness Is a Muscle
Running is as much a mental sport as it is physical. On a long course, you have a lot of time alone with your thoughts. Self-doubt creeps in, and you have to learn how to manage it. That ability to control your mindset—to calm the internal noise and stay locked into your purpose—is something I lean on every day in leadership.
Whether I’m managing a crisis, presenting a strategy, or mentoring a team member, the ability to stay mentally clear and steady makes all the difference. Business has its highs and lows, but mental toughness gives you the edge to stay level and lead with confidence.
Teamwork Looks Different in Individual Sports
Cross country might look like a solo sport, but it’s incredibly team-oriented. Every runner’s score contributes to the team’s standing, and success depends on everyone doing their part. That kind of accountability—where your performance matters to the bigger picture—mirrors the dynamic of a healthy team in the workplace.
As a senior leader, I always try to emphasize that individual effort supports collective success. Whether it’s hitting performance targets or supporting a colleague through a tough stretch, the team wins when everyone runs their leg with integrity. That mindset came straight from those early races in high school, where we pushed each other to finish strong not just for ourselves, but for each other.
Preparation Beats Panic
Before a big race, I learned the importance of preparation. Hydration, nutrition, proper rest, knowing the course, setting a pace—all these things had to be thought through in advance. You couldn’t wing it and expect to win.
In the corporate world, especially in senior roles, the stakes are just as high. If you’re not prepared, it shows. Whether I’m entering a strategic planning session or responding to a market shift, that ingrained habit of preparing thoroughly gives me an edge. Cross country taught me to think ahead, anticipate challenges, and control what I can—so I’m ready for what I can’t.
The Finish Line Is Just the Beginning
One of the hardest lessons to learn in running—and in business—is that the finish line isn’t the end. There’s always another race, another challenge, another goal. That might sound exhausting, but it’s also what makes the journey meaningful.
When I think about my career so far—from those early managerial roles to where I am today—I see it not as a series of finishes, but as a continuous run. Cross country helped me fall in love with the process, not just the result. It taught me to embrace the grind, find joy in the small wins, and treat every day as a step forward.
Closing Thoughts
Looking back, I never would’ve guessed that the sport I picked up in high school would shape my professional life so deeply. But cross country planted values in me—discipline, endurance, focus, and teamwork—that have carried me through some of my biggest leadership moments.
If you’ve ever run long distance, you know the feeling of hitting your stride, finding your rhythm, and pushing past what you thought was possible. That’s the same feeling I chase in my work today. It’s not about being the fastest. It’s about staying the course, running with purpose, and bringing others along for the journey.
And just like in cross country, when you cross the finish line, you’ll know you earned every step.